A young trumpet player is torn between an honest singer and a manipulative heiress.A young trumpet player is torn between an honest singer and a manipulative heiress.A young trumpet player is torn between an honest singer and a manipulative heiress.
Fred Aldrich
- Doorman
- (uncredited)
Oscar Blank
- Derelict
- (uncredited)
Willie Bloom
- Derelict
- (uncredited)
Paul Bradley
- Nightclub Patron
- (uncredited)
John Breen
- Bartender
- (uncredited)
Paul Brinegar
- Stage Manager
- (uncredited)
Bridget Brown
- Dancing Girl
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe film contains a reference to homosexuality, although the Hays Office--the industry's censor--required any mention of it be subtle. The character of Amy (Lauren Bacall) is lesbian, which is why Rick (Kirk Douglas) walks out on her, telling her that she is "a very sick girl." The exchange between Amy North and Miss Carson (Katharine Kurasch) after Amy's party, and their facial expressions, indicate this: Amy North: "I'm dying to see the rest of your sketches."
Miss Carson: "We'll have dinner out and then go back to my place."
Many decades later, Bacall told a Turner Classic Movies interviewer that the reference was so subtle (and she was then so young and naive) that she didn't understand until years later that the character she played was supposed to be lesbian. This is one of three mainstream movies from 1950 to reference lesbianism, the others being "All About Eve" and "Caged," according to "The Celluloid Closet" by Vito Russo.
- GoofsWhen a young Rick Martin is looking out the rear window of the car as it drives away from the cemetery, a light or reflector and its articulated stand is clearly reflected on the glass.
- Quotes
Amy North: People try to find security in a lot of strange ways. You seem to have solved your problems - at least while you're playing that trumpet.
Rick Martin: I don't understand a word you're saying, but I love the sound of your voice. It's got a wonderful rough spot in it.
- SoundtracksIn the Sweet By and By
(uncredited)
Music by J.P. Webster (1868)
Lyrics by S. Fillmore Bennett
Sung by a chorus
Featured review
...in this musical biopic based on the life of Bix Beiderbecke, American pianist, coronist, and composer who died at age 28. Directed by Michael Curtiz and produced by Warner Brothers, this film tells the tale of RIck Martin (Kirk Douglas) who is orphaned as a child and raised by a much older sister who moves around the country, finally settling in LA. A loner both by nature and nurture, he becomes interested in music in general and then the trumpet specifically, with trumpeter Art Hazzard (Juano Hernandez) becoming both a tutor and father figure to him. His sister disappears from the story early on, and this makes Rick a convincing latchkey kid at this point.
As a grown man he meets two women. One is a singer in a band, Jo Jordan, who is just too sweet and understanding to be true to the point that nothing romantic develops. Doris Day is wasted in this part except when she sings. The other is socialite Amy North (Lauren Bacall) who Martin sees as an interesting enigma to the point that he marries her. This is where the film loses its way as Amy's characterization is all over the place. Other than the fact that she seems to enjoy tormenting Rick I really don't get her motivation.
I read the portion of director Curtiz' biography dealing with this film, and apparently Bacall didn't like her character either and clashed with Curtiz on a regular basis on this subject. The lesbian angle for Amy was written in intentionally, but with the production code still being in full force, it's really hard to see it unless you know it's there.
This is worthwhile with Kirk Douglas' electric portrayal, the touching relationship between Rick Martin and Art Hazzard, the great portrayal of night life and jam sessions, and Hoagy Carmichael's narration, all outweighing the goofy ending.
As a grown man he meets two women. One is a singer in a band, Jo Jordan, who is just too sweet and understanding to be true to the point that nothing romantic develops. Doris Day is wasted in this part except when she sings. The other is socialite Amy North (Lauren Bacall) who Martin sees as an interesting enigma to the point that he marries her. This is where the film loses its way as Amy's characterization is all over the place. Other than the fact that she seems to enjoy tormenting Rick I really don't get her motivation.
I read the portion of director Curtiz' biography dealing with this film, and apparently Bacall didn't like her character either and clashed with Curtiz on a regular basis on this subject. The lesbian angle for Amy was written in intentionally, but with the production code still being in full force, it's really hard to see it unless you know it's there.
This is worthwhile with Kirk Douglas' electric portrayal, the touching relationship between Rick Martin and Art Hazzard, the great portrayal of night life and jam sessions, and Hoagy Carmichael's narration, all outweighing the goofy ending.
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Música en el alma
- Filming locations
- Aragon Ballroom - Lick Pier, Venice, Los Angeles, California, USA(Martin's first gig site)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 52 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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