A tuneful account of the life of Ernest R. Ball, composer of many popular Irish songs, including "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling".A tuneful account of the life of Ernest R. Ball, composer of many popular Irish songs, including "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling".A tuneful account of the life of Ernest R. Ball, composer of many popular Irish songs, including "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling".
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 1 nomination total
Leo Mostovoy
- Pawnbroker
- (scenes deleted)
Ray Walker
- Hoofer
- (scenes deleted)
Eddie Acuff
- Harry
- (uncredited)
Lester Allen
- Heming
- (uncredited)
Gurney Bell
- Member of Sportsmen's Quartette
- (uncredited)
William H. Benter
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
Billy Bester
- Minor Role
- (uncredited)
Teddy Blue
- Dancer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- Trivia"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on March 15, 1948 with Dick Haynes reprising his film role.
- GoofsIn playing the piano while singing "Boy of Mine", you can see a wedding ring on Dick Haymes' hand. He was married to Joanne Dru at the time the movie was being filmed.
- Quotes
Belle La Tour: [to Mary] What are you doing in my $85 feathered robe? Take it off!
- SoundtracksBessie in a Bustle
(uncredited)
Music by James V. Monaco
Lyrics by Mack Gordon
Copyright 1944 by Bregman, Vocco & Conn, Inc.
Performed by June Haver, unidentified singer and chorus
Featured review
The film is part of a long line of musical biographies of songwriters that has hardly any interest in the person's actual life story. Instead, calling them biographies allows the musicals to cull songs from their catalog for various musical numbers. Still, at times, these films can be pleasant time-wasters. This one, ostensibly about turn-of-the-century songwriter Ernest Ball, is one of these pleasant but unexceptional entries.
Judging from the songs presented in the film, Ball specialized in Irish hokum ("Mother Macree" for example)--lugubrious ballads that wallowed in maternal sentimentality and dreams. Consequently, Dick Haymes portrayal of Ball presents him as a weak passive sort, who is easily pushed around. Seemingly to balance him, June Haver as his romantic interest is incredibly butch--growling, aggressive, and constantly popping people in the eye. While Haymes sings Ball's slow ballads, Haver performs peppy up-tempo numbers (that were not written by Ball). One of these underlines the reversal of gender-expected behavior: "Bessie in a Bustle." Here, Haver sings in male clothing, as various men in drag (with bustles naturally) cavort around her!
It's a pretty out-of-nowhere moment, but seems to fit the general attitude about aggressive women and passive men that's going on in the rest of the film.
Overall, it's a colorful period piece, with plenty to keep a viewer diverted for an hour and a half--and some interesting ideas if you stop to notice them. But it's no landmark musical.
Judging from the songs presented in the film, Ball specialized in Irish hokum ("Mother Macree" for example)--lugubrious ballads that wallowed in maternal sentimentality and dreams. Consequently, Dick Haymes portrayal of Ball presents him as a weak passive sort, who is easily pushed around. Seemingly to balance him, June Haver as his romantic interest is incredibly butch--growling, aggressive, and constantly popping people in the eye. While Haymes sings Ball's slow ballads, Haver performs peppy up-tempo numbers (that were not written by Ball). One of these underlines the reversal of gender-expected behavior: "Bessie in a Bustle." Here, Haver sings in male clothing, as various men in drag (with bustles naturally) cavort around her!
It's a pretty out-of-nowhere moment, but seems to fit the general attitude about aggressive women and passive men that's going on in the rest of the film.
Overall, it's a colorful period piece, with plenty to keep a viewer diverted for an hour and a half--and some interesting ideas if you stop to notice them. But it's no landmark musical.
- SGriffin-6
- Oct 11, 2000
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- En sång, en kyss, en flicka
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 30 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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Top Gap
By what name was Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1944) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer