Rhythm on the River
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| Original title | Rhythm on the River |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1940 |
| length | 94 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Victor Schertzinger |
| script |
Dwight Taylor Billy Wilder Jacques Thery |
| production |
William LeBaron for Paramount Pictures |
| music |
Victor Young Arthur Franklin John Scott Trotter |
| camera |
Ted Tetzlaff Karl Struss |
| cut | Hugh Bennett |
| occupation | |
| |
Rhythm on the River is an American film from 1940. Directed by Victor Schertzinger . Oliver Courtney ( Basil Rathbone ) employs a ghostwriter each for composition and text. When Bob Summers ( Bing Crosby ) and Cherry Lane ( Mary Martin ) meet, fall in love, pool their work and want to write songs under their own name, they are accused of imitating Oliver Courtney.
action
When the celebrated composer and lyricist Oliver Courtney fell victim to writer's block , he hired a ghostwriter for both composition and text. The melodies are written by the hermit Bob Summers, who he discovered and who lives with his uncle Caleb in Tarrytown, the lyrics are by Cherry Lane. Both had to sign that they are subject to the strictest secrecy with regard to their work. Cherry therefore prefers a quiet place where she can write texts in peace and, as luck would have it, she ends up in the hotel of Bob Summers uncle Caleb in Tarrytown. That's where she meets Bob. Neither knows of the other that they have the same client. Since both love music, they begin to compose and write together and feel more and more drawn to each other. Their first collective work, they assume, is the song Only Forever . When they find out that they both work for Courtney, they decide to work on their own and to market their songs under their own name. However, this turns out to be more difficult than expected, because publisher after publisher rejects their songs on the grounds that they would copy the Courtney style. When they audition for Westlake Musik, the orchestra leader John Scott hears Trotter Cherry sing and offers her a job in his band. Since they get another rejection of their compositions, Bob advises Cherry to accept Trotter's offer. In order to be able to buy a suitable dress for her performance, Cherry borrows 200 dollars from Courtney and leaves him Bobs and her song Only Forever as security .
When Courtney is pressured by Broadway producer Charlie Goodrich to fulfill his contract and deliver the promised music, Courtney's assistant Charlie Starbuck Goodrich gives the sheet music for the song Only Forever . Goodrich passes it on to Trotter, who in turn gives it to Cherry, who is supposed to sing the song. The young woman now believes that Bob betrayed her. Fortunately, Courtney tells Cherry what it really was like and also admits that Bob and Cherry have worked for him in the past.
Production and Background
Filming for the film began in early May 1940. On August 29, 1940, Rhythm on the River premiered in New York . On September 6, 1940, it was generally released in cinemas in the United States.
The working title of the film was Ghost Music . According to a message in the film magazine The Hollywood Reporter , Karl Struss replaced the cameraman Ted Tetzlaff, who fell ill while filming. John Scott Trotter was a popular orchestra conductor at the time. For the composer and concert pianist Oscar Levant, this was his second film as an actor. His first film, The Dance of Life (dt. Titles artists ) he made in 1929 for Paramount Pictures .
Music in the film
- unless otherwise stated Music: James V. Monaco , Text: Johnny Burke -
- I don't want to cry anymore
- written by Victor Schertzinger, sung by Mary Martin
- Ain't It a Shame About Mame - sung by Mary Martin
- Only Forever - sung by Bing Crosby alone and by Mary Martin and Bing Crosby together
- Rhythm on the River - sung by Bing Crosby
- When the Moon Comes Over Madison Square Garden - sung by Bing Crosby
- What Would Shakespeare Have Said? - sung by Bing Crosby
- That's for Me - sung by Mary Martin and also by Lillian Cornell
- Tiger Rag - played by Wingy Manone and his band
- Music: Edwin B. Edwards, Nick LaRocca , Tony Sbarbaro , Henry Ragas and Larry Shields
criticism
Bosley Crowther of the New York Times spoke of one of the most lovable musical films of the season, referring to Bing Crosby's outspoken and innocent indifference that was beautiful to watch. Looking at Miss Martin also gives a comfortable feeling and the beautiful songs she sings are quite tasty. The other main actors were also mentioned in their roles with mostly positive words. The criticism closes with the fact that the film slowly creeps into your mind and then you somehow feel good .
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops sums up their verdict in the following sentence: Squeaky, cheerful music with a thoroughly enchanting romance.
Awards
In 1941 , James V. Monaco and Johnny Burke were nominated for an Oscar in the Best Song category for their song Only Forever, written for Rhythms on the River . The award went to Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for When You Wish Upon A Star from the cartoon Pinocchio .
Web links
- Rhythm on the River in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Rhythm on the River at Turner Classic Movies (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Rhythm on the River (1940) Original Print Information at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
- ↑ John Scott Trotter at stevenlewis.info (English). Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- ↑ Rhythm on the River (1940) Notes at TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
- ↑ Bosley Crowther: Rhythm on the River (1940) In: The New York Times, August 29, 1940 (English). Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- ↑ Rhythm on the River at old.usccb.org (English). Retrieved January 28, 2014.