Rhapsody in Blue (Warner Bros.) (1945)

‘Rhapsody In Blue’ At Strand Theatre Friday Warner Bros.’ Long-Awaited Musical Biography Of George Gershwin Boasts Full Star Roster, Rich Music Background (Advance Theatre Story) Warner Bros.’ the Strand Theatre, Sreat musical film biography, sody In Blue,” which has its “Rhap local premiere on Friday at is based on the life story of the late George Gershwin. Taking its title from the famed composers best known work, the film boasts an all-star cast headed by Robert Alda, a newcomer, in the role of Gershwin, Joan Leslie, Alexis Smith, Charles Coburn and many top celebrities of «tage and screen — among them Oscar Levant, Paul Whiteman, Hazel Scott, George White, Anne Brown and Tom Patricolaswho appear as themselves. Still RB 20 ‘to music. Mat 205—30c Paul Whiteman lifts his baton and the melodic strains of George Gershwin's immortal music spring to life in the above scene from Warner Bros.’ "Rhapsody In Blue,’ Robert Alda, Joan Leslie, Alexis starred in this rousing tribute to the man who set America's heart ‘ currently at the Strand Theatre. Smith and Charles Coburn are Produced by Jesse L. Lasky and directed by Irving Rapper, “Rhapsody In Blue” is the third of the producer s biographies of great Americans, its predecessors being the memorable “Sergeant York” and “The Adventures of Mark Twain.” Twenty-nine of Gershwin’s compositions, including all of his more serious works, and the most popular of his song hits, provide the pictures musical framework. Eighteen of the compositions receive featured treatment. The remaining eleven are more briefly sketched in time lapse and transition scenes. The compositions used were selected from one hundred and sixty Gershwin works available, and represent the cream of a talent which many critics acknowledge as full-blown genius. Ira Gershwin, brother of, and lyricist for thé late composer, aided materially in bringing the story to the screen. Portrayed in the picture by the New York stage actor Herbert Rudley, Ira visited the studio sets frequently and saw many of the poignant and dramatic moments of his own life reenacted, including the death of his father (played on the screen by Morris Carnovsky). George Gershwin died a bachelor, but “Rhapsody In Blue” presents two feminine stars, Joan Leslie and Alexis Smith, in fictional characters as the women in his life. He does not marry either, the story adhering to the fact in having him die a bachelor. But it does suggest that he loved the girl 28 played by Miss Leslie and would have married her except for his untimely death. As a musical comedy star of several Gershwin composed shows, she sings and dances in four of the production number specialties. Paul Whiteman, close friend and associate of Gershwin, relived the most dramatic moment of his career during the re-enactment of the Aeo lian Hall debut presentation of “Rhapsody In Blue.” Oscar Levant, probably the greatest living piano interpreter of Gershwin music, interrupted a concert tour to do his life portrayal in his friend's story. Levant is heard, and seen, playing the “Concerto In F” and “Rhapsody In Blue.” Like Whiteman, he carries an important speaking role, too. AI Jolson, who introduced Gershwin’s “Swanee’ — the composer s first song hit — in his “Sinbad the Sailor’ show back in 1918, pays tribute to the memory of his friend by singing the number again in the film. He wears the identical costume he wore for the original presentation. Based on an original story by Sonya Levien, the screenplay was adapted by Howard Koch and Elliot Paul. LeRoy Prinz conceived and directed the many specialty dance numhers. Ray eindorf accomplished the orchestral arrangements under the supervision of music director Leo F. Forbstein, with the exception of the special orchestral arrangement of “Rhapsody In Blue” which was executed by Ferde Grofe. ‘Rhapsody In Blue’ Makes Local Debut Tonight At Strand (Opening Day Reader) Warner Bros.’ inspired film tribute to George Gershwin, “Rhapsody In Blue,” which opens tonight at the Strand Theatre, boasts an all-star cast headed by newcomer Robert Alda, in the role of the immortal composer, Joan Leslie, Alexis Smith and Charles Coburn. Taking its title from the famed musician’s best known work, the musical biography also features twenty-one reallife characters who figured prominently in relationship to the composer during his lifetime. Of these, Paul Whiteman, Oscar Levant, Al Jolson, George White, Anne Brown, Hazel Scott and Tom Patricola play themselves in the m. Covers Life Span Covering Gershwin’s _ life span from the time he was ten, through July, 1937, when he died at the age of 38, the film’s main story thread follows the musician from the age of 18 and depicts, through story and music, his deve opment into one of America’s foremost musical artists. More than two dozen Gershwin numbers—including all of his more serious work as well as his best-known popular song hits ~ comprise the film's remarkably rich musical background. Fight songs are given theatre production number treatment with ensemble dancers and showgirls supporting featured performers. Howard Koch and Elliot Paul collaborated on the picture s script which was adapted from an original story by Sonya Levien. Irving Rapper directed for producer Jesse iL. Lasky. The numerous dance numbers were created and directed by LeRoy Prinz. Orchestral arrangements were executed by Ray —Heindorf under musical director Leo F. Forbstein. Actor’s Offspring Chooses To Follow In Father’s Steps Studio Ice Cream Helps Him Decide Herbert Rudley, who plays Ira Gershwin in Warner Bros.’ “Rhapsody In Blue,” currently at the Strand, brought his twoyear-old son, Joel, to the Warner set during the film’s production, to attend the surprise birthday party the cast and crew gave producer Jesse L. Lasky. The actor now has an heir who is determined to be come an actor @because he thinks the job consists of eating ice cream and cake. Starred in the film, which is a musical biography of George Gershwin, are Robert Alda, as the composer, Joan Leslie, Alexis Smith, Charles Coburn and many other top-ranking personalities of stage and screen. Mat 111—15c Herbert Rudley 29 Gershwin Numbers Provide Warner Film’s Lavish Musical Backdrop ‘Rhapsody In Blue,’ Now At Strand, Traces Life And Music Of Composer (Current Theatre Story) Based on the life of the late George Gershwin, War ner Bros.’ lavish and inspiring musical film biography, “Rhapsody In Blue,” currently at the Strand Theatre, takes its title from the famed composers best known work. Covering the musician’s life span from 1908 when he was ten, through 1937 when he died, the main story thread picks up Gershwin, portrayed on the screen by the newly-created star Robert Alda, at the age of eighteen. Others sharing top starring honors with Alda are Joan Leslie, Alexis Smith, Charles Coburn, and numerous stars of stage and screen who portray themselves in the film. Among the latter are Paul Whiteman, Oscar Levant, Al Jolson, George White, Hazel Scott, Anne Brown and Tom Patricola. In important supporting roles are Julie Bishop, Albert Basserman, Morris Carnovsky, Rosemary De Camp and Herbert Rudley. Twenty-nine of Gershwin’s compositions provide an exciting musical background for the film. Presented in full, the “Rhapsody In Blue” number is conducted by Paul Whiteman with the piano solos recorded especially for the. film by Oscar Levant, lifetime friend of the composer and foremost exponent of his works. Music Played In Film Also played in the film, in full or in ‘part, are: “Concerto in F,” “An American in Paris,” “Porgy And_ Bess,” “Cuban Overture,” “When You Want "Em You Can't Get “Em” (Gershwin’s first published song), ‘‘Swanee,” which is sung on the screen by Al Jolson exactly as he originally presented it back in 1918, “’S Wonderful,’’ “Somebody Loves Me,” “Lady Be Good,” “Blue Monday Blues,” “The Man I Love” (effectively sung in the film in both French and English by Hazel Scott), “Someone To Watch Over Me,” “Embraceable You,’ “Strike Up the Band,” “Mine,” “Delicious,” “Love Walked In” (the last number Gershwin composed), “Nobody But You,” “Do it Again,” “Nashville Nightingale,” “I Was So Young, You Were So Beautiful,” “Drifting Along With the Tide,” “I Found A Four-Leaf Clover,” “Pepita,”’ “Stairway to Paradise,” “That Certain Feeling,” “Liza,” and the unforgettable “T Got Rhythm.” Painstaking Research Many of George Gershwin’ s personal possessions were loaned to Warner Bros. studio by his brother Ira, as research documents and for use as properties. These included the composers thirteen volume scrapbook, his combination desk and worktable, the silent piano keyboard he always carried with him as a practice instrument, and _ six original paintings from the George and Ira Gershwin collection. One of the paintings was the famed self-portrait done by George, which occupies a prominent niche in the screen story. “Rhapsody In Blue” was filmed on eighty-one different studio settings, fifty-eight of them __ interiors, twenty-three exteriors. These settings represent graphically the Gershwin rise from obscurity to fame, running the gamut from the humble East Side New York flat of his boyhood to the penthouse apartment and Beverly Hills mansion of his maturity; ranging from a cheap vaudeville theatre where he held his first professional job as relief pianist, to Carnegie Hall, where his music received the plaudits of the foremost critics who credited him with “makinga Lady out of Jazz.” LeRoy Prinz, working with a complete production unit of his own, staged and directed the picture's eighteen specially featured musical numbers. Produced by Jesse L. Lasky, whose two earlier film biographies won him wide praise— they were “Sergeant York” and “The Adventures of Mark Twain’’—the film was directed by Irving Rapper. Adapted from an original story by Sonya Levien, the screenplay was written by Howard Koch and Elliot Paul. Ray Heindorf executed the numerous orchestral arrangements under the supervision of musical director Leo F. Forbstein; excepting the “Rhapsody In Blue” orchestration which was accomplished by Ferde Grofe. Still RB 381 Mat 124—15c Al Jolson sings the unforgettable "Swanee" in the above scene from Warner Bros.’ stirring tribute to George Gershwin, “Rhapsody In Blue," currently at the Strand Theatre. Starred in the film are Robert Alda, as George Gershwin, Joan Leslie, Alexis Smith and Charles Coburn.