La dominatrice del destino

This rousing tribute to singer Jane Froman succeeds at every level and why not?

With a brilliant cast led by the great Susan Hayward, how can anything else be true?

Though Froman did the singing, Hayward's dubbing and movements of Froman were outstanding. She merited a well earned Oscar nomination for best actress in 1952.

The film begins with Froman, a co-ed from Missouri U, auditioning for radio. By accident, she meets a fellow-want-to-be in showbusiness, Don Ross, wonderfully played by David Wayne, a very under-rated actor for his time. Wayne is highly believable helping Froman to the top, loving her and then after marriage, turning on her as his career wanes.

A sinking marriage is temporarily quieted by a tragic plane crash which occurs at the height of Froman's career in 1943. Only 15 of the 39 passengers aboard survived. The crash and hospitalization allowed Froman to meet and fall in love with pilot, John Byrne, competently acted by Rory Calhoun, a cowboy favorite.

Thelma Ritter is outstanding as the wisecracking nurse Clancy. Nominated for best supporting actress, Ritter certainly should have won for her ability to go from wise-cracking to a no-nonsense nurse, who tells a complaining hospitalized Froman that she stayed with her because she had guts.

The musical numbers are fantastic. Hayward, in the rendition of Get Happy, with that gorgeous red dress, is phenomenal. The Blue Moon sequence is terrific and the dancing sequence, while singing the title song, will forever be memorable to all.

The end of the film is a salute to our fighting men and nation. Our states are saluted in this grand film!