Sing, You Sinners

This movie has three of the most unlikely actors playing brothers--Bing Crosby (Joe), Fred MacMurray (David) and a very young Donald O'Connor (Mike). The three occasionally make money singing together as an odd little trio. Why the studio put MacMurray in the film is odd. He looks nothing like Crosby and his singing is only fair. As for O'Conner he's 20 years younger than the other two...but at least he sings nicely for a kid.

The film is about a family where the oldest brother, Joe, is an irresponsible dreamer. He always has a scheme and does things like drives drunk and makes promises he never can keep. When he announces he's bought a business and he's going to take care of the family, they're all shocked to see that instead he's bought a race horse...and no longer has a dime to his name. So, on occasion, the three brothers need to sing to make ends meet and life if tough for their Ma (Elizabeth Patterson)...as well as David who wants to be able to marry and settle down.

The film is extremely slight--with singing and dancing and a lot of clichés. Also, Crosby plays such an unlikable guy that after a while, I found my attention waning and I was looking forward to it all ending. Not a terrible film but certainly not all that good considering the stars.

One of the great early Bing Crosby films, and probably the one that first displayed Bing's real acting ability that would lead to more dramatic roles in the future. But first and foremost it has Bing singing at his best, before Sinatra, before Presley, Bing had already done it all. It also featured a very young Donald O'Connor in a breakthrough role and the always delightful Fred MacMurray, and the 'Pocket Full of Dreams' number they all perform is one of the best musical numbers every put on film in my opinion. There's a lot more to the film as others have mentioned, but do yourself a favour, check it out if you haven't seen it, and see what real Hollywood entertainment was all about!

I thought I was the luckiest kid alive. I sat in complete attendence of what was the best movie I can remember. It was very exciting to me and I think of it whenever I am depressed, because of It's upbeat outlook on life. I can stoll remember the words to the song "pocket Full Of Dreams" I've heard it played a few times,- once at the race track. I wish I could see it once more, or own a tape copy of it.

This Wesley Ruggles souffle, in which Bing Crosby, Fred MacMurray and Donald O'Conner are singing brothers who... well, it doesn't much matter, does it? Every character and situation is written right in the middle of the performer's comfort zone (not that Fred MacMurray ever felt much stretched; he claimed that Billy Wilder was the only director who ever called on him to act).

I had a good time and can't remember much of anything. It's just the sort of movie with production values meant to anchor a film program you go to because of Bing Crosby and the next day you tell the guys about the Popular Science short or maybe the latest Popeye. With Ellen Drew as MacMurray's fiancee and Elizabeth Patterson as everyone's mother.

This film featured Crosby, Fred MacMurray and a 13-year old Donald O'Connor (!) as a trio of brothers who sing, dance and play instruments to bring money into their household. Their mother, played by Elizabeth "Miss Trumbull" Patterson, is widowed and has spent all the money her husband left her on paying for music lessons for her sons. MacMurray also works as a mechanic at a garage, a job he prefers over singing. Crosby plays one of those ne'er-do-well types who is always at the track trying to win money or some other money making scheme in lieu of actually holding down a 9-5 job. Mother Patterson desperately wishes Crosby would follow the lead of the responsible MacMurray. O'Connor plays their kid brother who just wants to be a kid and doesn't want the pressure of having to perform in order to earn money to support the family. All three of the brothers express disdain for having to be singers, stating that "they want to be men", whatever that meant in 1938.

It was crazy seeing Donald O'Connor as a child in this film. He got to do a little bit of hoofing, mostly while holding an accordion. MacMurray "plays" the clarinet (not sure if he was actually playing or not, I know MacMurray played saxophone) and Crosby sings. MacMurray also sang at one point, but his voice was not as good (obviously) as Crosby's.

One thing I think is strange in studio era films is the trend of having the lead actor/actress playing an oldest sibling who is at least 20 years older than all the other siblings. In this film, Crosby's character has to at least be in his 30s and I'm guessing MacMurray's character was probably supposed to be a little bit younger, but probably late 20s - early 30s. Then there's O'Connor who is only 13 and looks it. Why the huge age difference? Patterson looks like she could be the brothers' grandmother! I also thought it was odd that the racetrack would allow a 13-year old to be a jockey.