The West Point Story

Movie
Original title	The West Point Story
Country of production	United States
original language	English
Publishing year	1950
length	103 minutes
Rod
Director	Roy Del Ruth
script	John monks jr. , ; Charles Hoffman , ; Irving Wallace
production	Louis F. Edelman
music	Ray Heindorf
camera	Sidney Hickox
cut	Owen Marks
occupation
	James Cagney : Elwin Bixby; Virginia Mayo : Eve Dillon; Doris Day : Jan Wilson; Gordon MacRae : Tom Fletcher; Gene Nelson : Hal Courtland; Roland Winters : Harry Eberhart; Alan Hale junior : Bull Gilbert;

The West Point Story is a musical film by Roy Del Ruth from the year 1950. The film was for his music at the Academy Awards in 1951 for the Oscar nominated.

action

Formerly successful Broadway musical director Elwin 'Bix' Bixby is at a rock bottom in his career. At this time, Broadway producer Harry Eberhart made him the offer to produce the annual 100th Night Show at West Point Military Academy . His talented nephew Tom Fletcher wrote the piece. But Bixby is secretly supposed to convince Fletcher to give up his military career in favor of show business after the success of the play. Bixby's fiancée Eve Dillon convinces him to accept the offer.

Bixby, accompanied by his fiancée as an assistant and befriended actress Jan Wilson, goes to West Point. Complications arise because, as a decorated US Army veteran, Bixby doesn't care much about the military rules that rule West Point.

production

The West Point Story is not only set according to the script at the United States Military Academy in West Point, but was actually shot there.

reception

In a contemporary critics judged Variety that the film with a fresh treatment and new changes to the formula for musicals was a useful conversation. The New York Times , on the other hand, suggested that it would be the best musical of the season if only everything else was nearly as good as Cagney. If he wasn't there, the romance would be absurd and the patriotic breast drumming would degenerate into a choirboy parade.

In a recent review it is written that James Cagney shows a lot of energy, but has trouble glowing. His teammates Virginia Mayo , Doris Day and Gordon MacRae sang through songs that desperately needed a public hit. Roy Del Ruth should have been able to direct the film with his eyes closed, and may have done just that.

Nominations

Oscar 1951: Ray Heindorf was nominated in the category Best Music in a Musical Film . The Oskar went to Adolph Deutsch and Roger Edens for Duel in der Manege ( Annie Get Your Gun ).
Writers Guild of America Award 1951: John Monks Jr. , Charles Hoffman and Irving Wallace were nominated for the WGA Award for Best Written American Musical . This WGA Award went to Sidney Sheldon for Duel in der Manege ( Annie Get Your Gun ).

Web links

The West Point Story in the Internet Movie Database (English)

Individual evidence

^ Movie at West Point , Assembly, Volume 37, United States Military Academy. Association of Graduates 1978. p. 28. ( Google Books )
^ The West Point Story , Variety, December 31, 1949.
↑ Bosley Crowther, THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; Cagney Sparkles in Warner's' Musical, 'The West Point Story,' at the Strand , New York Times, December 23, 1950.
^ Adrian Turner, The West Point Story on Radio Times
↑ 1951 Oscars on IMDb .
↑ WGA Award 1951 at the IMDb .

[1] Movie at West Point , Assembly, Volume 37, United States Military Academy. Association of Graduates 1978. p. 28. ( Google Books )

[2] The West Point Story , Variety, December 31, 1949.

[3] Bosley Crowther, THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; Cagney Sparkles in Warner's' Musical, 'The West Point Story,' at the Strand , New York Times, December 23, 1950.

[4] Adrian Turner, The West Point Story on Radio Times

[5] 1951 Oscars on IMDb .

[6] WGA Award 1951 at the IMDb .