Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Apr 12, 1952)

April 12, 1952 CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST Page 3 RAY PRESENTS We A Song In My Heart is the Jane Froman story, and what a heart-warming story it is, a story which is appealing to man or woman, irrespective of their respective ages. Youth, beauty, talent and love, an opportunity for a successful career, and then, as it were, out of the blue, in fact right from the blue of the sky, it happens, there is an explosion, followed by a crash as a plane lands and is dismembered, with its wings dropping off like dismembered arms, its body a broken heap of metal, and from its burning wreckage, there emerges humans, inarticulate, dead, and others robbed of limbs, of health, of beauty, and some of hope. This is what actually happened to a radiant, talented girl, Jane Froman, who, in 1930, enjoyed the thrill of fame, and who was the first important entertainer who answered the call of the USO to entertain our troops overseas during World War II. N-ROUTE to that assignment, in 1943, the plane, in which Jane Froman was a passenger, crashed in Lisbon harbor, almost causing her death, and leaving her crippled by injuries which were of so serious a nature, it seemed that Jane Froman would never walk again. But Jane, encouraged to fight for a normal life by her nurse, and the love which surrounded her, keeps the song in her heart pouring forth its melodious music. She endures twenty-four surgical operations, and comes back to thrill the people who were praying and hoping with her, and for her. Jane Froman appears in a musical-comedy-show, wearing a thirty-five pound cast, she sings at a nightclub, held erect by a metal bar attached to the back of her gown, and to the cheers of thousands of G.I.’s, and with the aid of crutches, Jane Froman returns overseas to finish the assignment she had selected when she suffered the crippling crash. NTO this story is woven a web of love, love for the vaudevillian, who helped to give her the opportunity which led to fame, love for the pilot of the crashed plane, who, although battered and wounded, saves her life, and whom she eventually married. Susan Hayward was a happy selection for Jane Froman, and as you watch Susan Hayward in the joy and happiness, the tragedy, of the Froman story, you forget completely that the voice which thrills you with numerous songs, is not the voice of Susan Hayward, as a matter of fact, you quite forget that Susan Hayward is Susan Hayward, for, in listening to the voice of Jane Froman, the voice and the woman you see blend into one. AUGHTER and tears, heartache and joyous scenes interblend and when, A Song In My Heart, fades out from the screen, you sit quietly for a few moments, reluctant to break the charm of its spell. There are many scenes, as you watch the G.I.’s at play, which will provoke hearty laughter, you will join in their fun; there are many scenes, when, as you watch these G.I’s gripped by fear, broken in body, | will make you curse war for what it has done to these fine young men. Thelma Ritter, as a nurse, contributes one of her very fine performances; David Wayne as lyricist and vaudevillian seems to have been born for the role of Don Ross; Rory Calhoun, who as, John Burn, one of the pilots on the plane which crashes at Lisbon, could not look nor act more like a pilot, if he really were one. HE producer is Lamar Trotti, the director is Walter Lang, the author of the story is Lamar Trotti. The color is by Technicolor, and it is luscious in its beauty. They say that Jane Froman cheered Susan Hayward in watching her match the Froman voice with gesture and action, and the perfect timing of both even made the director, Walter Lang, suppress a cheer, nevertheless, his beaming face registered the success of the perfect blending. Imagine listening to, Tea For Two, Embraceable You, Theyre Either Too Young or Too Old, Blue Moon, It’s a Good Day, California Here I Come, Give My Regards to Broadway, Carry Me Back to Old Virginny, and dozens and dozens of equally melodious favorites of your favorite songs. Imagine thrilling to the theme-song from which 20th Century-Fox captured its lilting title for this delightful production, and you will then realize why, With a Song In My Heart, is perfect entertainment, an endearing, lovable motion picture, which will send your audience away from your theatre, in a singing happy mood, with a song in their heart. There is no competition that can compete with pictures of the entertainment value of this picture, and as long as our producers give us pictures like, With a Song In My Heart, we will continue to sing, “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” EVERAL weeks ago, I heard members of our Film Trade talking about this picture, and talking about it as proudly as if their respective companies had produced it. To make the Film Trade grow enthusiastic about a picture, seen in a screening room, is certainly a great compliment to such a picture. With a Song In My Heart, won such approbation and distinction. I will enjoy going to Shea’s, where this picture will usher in the Easter Holiday Season, and to watch the audience reaction to its warmth, its beauty and appeal. Not any of its interest will be dimmed, of this I am certain, for this is the kind of a picture which can be equally enjoyed, when seen again and again, HERE is something about, With a Song In My Heart, which brings back to memory, Columbia’s, The Jolson Story, which latter picture sky-rocketed its attendance because people went back again and again to see it. Not all good pictures possess this magnetic charm, this desire for a repeat-performance. It is difficult to define what makes a picture possess this quality, but this I believe is the possible answer, a quality in a picture which appears to be natural, so sincere and realistic, that we unconsciously transport ourselves into the story, we live it with the players, until it becomes a part of ourselves, an experience which is our own. From Bathsheba to Jane Froman is a test which few actresses could take successfully. Susan Hayward made it, upon her white shoulders rested the weight of the Jane Froman story-appeal, and she has carried this weight with an ease which swings her up into the Milky Way, among the galaxy of our most brilliant Stars.