If I Had My Way | |
---|---|
![]() Theatrical re-release poster, 1946 | |
Directed by | David Butler |
Written by | |
Story by | David Butler |
Produced by | David Butler |
Starring | |
Cinematography | George Robinson |
Edited by | Irene Morra |
Music by | Charles Previn |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $700,000 [1] |
If I Had My Way is a 1940 musical comedy film directed by David Butler and starring Bing Crosby and Gloria Jean. [2] Based on a story by David Butler, the film is about a construction worker who takes charge of the daughter of a friend killed in an accident.
Filming took place in Hollywood between February and April 1940. This was another independent production for Crosby outside his Paramount contract and he took a financial interest in it. The film had its New York premiere at the Rivoli Theater on May 5, 1940. [3]
Buzz Blackwell, Fred Johnson, and Axel Swenson are construction workers in San Francisco who are helping to build the Golden Gate Bridge. They are close friends, and Buzz and Axel even help Fred in raising his daughter Pat. When Fred dies in a tragic accident, Buzz and Axel resolve to find her relatives in New York City, whom she has never met. Buzz notifies Fred's brother, Jarvis Johnson, of Fred's death and Pat's impending arrival.
Jarvis and his wife Brenda are snobby socialites. Jarvis has received Buzz's telegram, but wants no part in raising Pat. When Buzz and company arrive, Jarvis denies knowledge of the telegram, pretends to be someone else, and sends them to "the other J. B. Johnson" across town. Joe Johnson -- Jarvis's uncle -- and his wife Marian are poor ex-vaudevillians, but welcome the girl with open arms. Buzz wants to give Joe the money he and his friends saved for Pat, but finds out a drunken Axel used this money to buy a failed Swedish restaurant.
Buzz allows Jarvis to think that Pat's stock certificates, left to her by her father, are valuable. Jarvis greedily pays Buzz $5,000, which Buzz uses to convert the Swedish restaurant into a vaudeville-themed nightclub. Jarvis returns to claim his money back, but the club is a success and Pat's friend -- a banker -- settles with Jarvis. The Johnson family feud is resolved.
Reviewers had kind words for Bing and Gloria, but some complained about the timeworn storyline, which was reminiscent of Crosby's 1936 film Pennies from Heaven , with Edith Fellows in the Gloria Jean role of the orphaned girl. Modern Screen noted the familiar plot: "What it lacks in story, it more than makes up for in cast. With Bing Crosby and Gloria Jean, the picture can't help but be entertaining. The trouble with the film lies in the fact that you know exactly what is going to happen from one reel to the next. You're sure that Gloria Jean's father will be killed in the beginning of the film, leaving Bing and El Brendel to take her to her wealthy New York uncle. You know the uncle will pack her off to her great-uncle... You realize that the restaurant Bing and Brendel are stuck with will turn out to be a whopping success. The director, David Butler, helps the story by handling it with a deft and sure touch." [5] Publisher Pete Harrison dismissed the plot altogether: "When Crosby and Gloria sing, one forgets all about the story in sheer enjoyment of the music; Gloria's voice has matured and she is really charming." [6]
Boxoffice also ignored the plot and classed the film strictly as a vehicle for the stars: "Bing is ably aided and abetted by Gloria Jean, captivating miss of the silvery voice. In fact the teaming of these two song birds is a ten-strike in smart casting and the resultant feature has much to offer customers of all ages and tastes, with a bonus for the oldsters who will enjoy a nostalgic thrill through the appearances of Blanche Ring, Eddie Leonard, and several other oldtimers whose stars shone brightly during the golden era of the theatah." The preview audience "greeted wildly the return of the oldtimers, and applauded the picture at its finish," reported Vance King of Motion Picture Daily who noted that (unusually for a Crosby picture) "there is no love interest in the film." [7] Showmen's Trade Review saw it as a winner: "Universal has shown good judgment in teaming Bing Crosby, that sure-fire performer, with Gloria Jean, that youngster with the thrilling voice, and the result looks like a money attraction from all angles. All in all it's swell entertainment for the family trade." [8]
Other critics assessed it as a tired plot resulting in a tired film. Bosley Crowther of The New York Times was not impressed: "The sum total is but a moderately amusing musical, more often flat than sharp—and this we say in spite of the fellow sitting next to us who kept telling his girl-friend solemnly, 'This is very entertaining, indeed.'" [9] Variety did not think much of the film's chances either. "Bing Crosby will likely want to forget this cinematic adventure just as quickly as possible. Way below par as compared with his releases for both Universal and Paramount during the past two years, If I Had My Way will need all of his draw strength to get it through the key runs for nominal grosses." [10]
Universal reissued If I Had My Way in 1946, when Bing Crosby was the number-one boxoffice star. The studio removed 11 minutes of material, including most of the vaudeville specialties. Gloria Jean, no longer under contract to Universal, was barely acknowledged in the reissue, with newly filmed titles removing her equal billing, and new posters emphasizing Bing Crosby and downplaying his young co-star. Featured comedian El Brendel, who had been the screen's leading comic in 1930, [11] was considered too dated a name and removed from the new posters completely. The shortened, 82-minute reissue print was itself re-released by Realart Pictures in 1950, [12] and all prints prepared for the rental market and for television were the abridged version.
If I Had My Way was restored to its original 93-minute length and content for a 2006 DVD release, as part of a Bing Crosby boxed set. DVD Talk praised Crosby and thought Jean was cute, but criticized the plot, and called the film "strictly second-run material". [13] Universal now offers If I Had My Way as a standalone single disc, as part of its "Vault" series.
Bing Crosby recorded a number of the songs for Decca Records. [14] "April Played the Fiddle" enjoyed seven weeks in the Billboard charts, peaking at No. 10. "Meet the Sun Half-Way" reached the No. 15 mark during four weeks in the charts. [15] Crosby's songs were also included in the Bing's Hollywood series.
Going My Way is a 1944 American musical comedy drama film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. Written by Frank Butler and Frank Cavett based on a story by McCarey, the film is about a new young priest taking over a parish from an established old veteran. Crosby sings five songs with other songs performed onscreen by Metropolitan Opera's star mezzo-soprano Risë Stevens and the Robert Mitchell Boys Choir. Going My Way was followed the next year by a sequel, The Bells of St. Mary's.
The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) is an American musical comedy-drama film, produced and directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman. Written by Dudley Nichols and based on a story by McCarey, the film is about a priest and a nun who, despite their good-natured rivalry, try to save their school from being shut down. The character Father O'Malley had been previously portrayed by Crosby in the 1944 film Going My Way, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. The film was produced by Leo McCarey's production company, Rainbow Productions.
That's Entertainment! is a 1974 American compilation film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to celebrate the studio's 50th anniversary. The success of the retrospective prompted a 1976 sequel, the related 1985 film That's Dancing!, and a third installment in 1994.
Road to Bali is a 1952 American comedy film directed by Hal Walker and starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour. Released by Paramount Pictures on November 19, 1952, the film is the sixth of the seven Road to … movies. It was the only entry in the series filmed in Technicolor and was the first to feature surprise cameo appearances from other well-known stars of the day.
Gary Evan Crosby was an American actor and singer. His parents were Bing Crosby, of whom he wrote a highly critical memoir, and the singer and actress Dixie Lee.
Gloria Jean was an American actress and singer who starred or co-starred in 26 feature films from 1939 to 1959, and made numerous radio, television, stage, and nightclub appearances. She is probably best remembered today for her appearance with W. C. Fields in the film Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941).
Road to Utopia is a 1946 American semi-musical comedy film directed by Hal Walker and starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour. Filmed in 1943 but not released until 1946, Road to Utopia is the fourth film of the "Road to …" series. Written by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, the film is about two vaudeville performers at the turn of the twentieth century who go to Alaska to make their fortune. Along the way they find a map to a secret gold mine. In 1947, Road to Utopia received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Road to Singapore is a 1940 American semi-musical comedy film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour and Bob Hope. Based on a story by Harry Hervey, the film is about two playboys trying to forget previous romances in British Singapore, where they meet a beautiful woman. Distributed by Paramount Pictures, the film marked the debut of the long-running and popular "Road to ..." series of pictures spotlighting the trio, seven in all. The supporting cast features Charles Coburn, Anthony Quinn, and Jerry Colonna.
Elmer Goodfellow "El" Brendel was an American vaudeville comedian turned movie star, best remembered for his dialect routine as a Swedish immigrant. His biggest role was as "Single-0" in the sci-fi musical Just Imagine (1930), produced by Fox Film Corporation. His screen name was pronounced "El Bren-DEL".
Dixie is a 1943 American biographical film of songwriter Daniel Decatur Emmett directed by A. Edward Sutherland and starring Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. Filming in Technicolor, Dixie was only a moderate success and received mixed reviews. Contrary to rumor, it has not been withdrawn from circulation due to racial issues but is simply one of hundreds of vintage Paramount Pictures from the 1930s and 1940s now owned by Universal and not actively marketed. The movie was broadcast several times in the late 1980s on American Movie Classics channel. The movie produced one of Crosby's most popular songs, "Sunday, Monday, or Always".
Riding High is a 1950 black-and-white musical racetrack film featuring Bing Crosby and directed by Frank Capra. The songs were performed live during filming instead of the customary lip-synching to studio recordings. The film is a remake of an earlier Capra film with screenwriter Robert Riskin titled Broadway Bill (1934). While the film is generally a light musical comedy, its plot contains an unexpected tragic turn.
Anything Goes is a 1936 American musical film directed by Lewis Milestone and starring Bing Crosby, Ethel Merman, Charles Ruggles and Ida Lupino. Based on the 1934 stage musical Anything Goes by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, the stage version contains songs by Cole Porter.
Rhythm on the River is a 1940 musical comedy film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Bing Crosby and Mary Martin as ghostwriters whose songs are credited to a composer played by Basil Rathbone. Crosby and Martin sang "Only Forever", for which James V. Monaco (music) and Johnny Burke (lyrics) were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Too Much Harmony is a 1933 American black-and-white pre-Code musical film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and starring Bing Crosby, Jack Oakie, Richard "Skeets" Gallagher, Harry Green, and Judith Allen. It was released by Paramount Pictures.
Doctor Rhythm is a 1938 American musical comedy film directed by Frank Tuttle and starring Bing Crosby, Mary Carlisle, Beatrice Lillie, and Andy Devine. Based on the 1907 short story The Badge of Policeman O'Roon by O. Henry, the film is about a doctor who pretends to be a policeman assigned as the bodyguard of a wealthy matron, whose beautiful niece becomes the object of his affections. The film features the songs "On the Sentimental Side" and "My Heart Is Taking Lessons".
East Side of Heaven is a 1939 American musical film directed by David Butler and written by William M. Conselman and James V. Kern. The film stars Bing Crosby, Joan Blondell, Mischa Auer, Irene Hervey, C. Aubrey Smith, Robert Kent and Jerome Cowan. Filming took place in Hollywood from January 13 to March 7, 1939. The film was released on April 7, 1939, by Universal Pictures and had its New York premiere at Radio City Music Hall on May 4, 1939. This was another independent production in which Crosby had a financial interest.
The Star Maker is a 1939 American musical film directed by Roy Del Ruth, written by Frank Butler, Don Hartman and Arthur Caesar, and starring Bing Crosby, Louise Campbell, Linda Ware, Ned Sparks, Laura Hope Crews, Janet Waldo and Walter Damrosch. Filming started in Hollywood on April 17, 1939 and was finished in June. The film was released on August 25, 1939, by Paramount Pictures, and had its New York premiere on August 30, 1939. It was the only film in which Crosby played a happily married man.
Out of This World is a 1945 American romantic comedy film directed by Hal Walker and starring Eddie Bracken, Veronica Lake and Diana Lynn. The picture was a satire on the Frank Sinatra "bobby soxer" cult.
If I Had My Way may refer to:
Duffy's Tavern is a 1945 American comedy film directed by Hal Walker and written by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama. The film stars Ed Gardner, Bing Crosby, Betty Hutton, Paulette Goddard, Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamour, Eddie Bracken and Brian Donlevy. The film was released on September 28, 1945, by Paramount Pictures.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires |journal=
(help)