The Man I Love

Ida Lupino was a magnificent actress who fulfilled the promise of intelligence and talent that always seemed to burn in her eyes by demonstrating her creative moxie as a director. Unfortunately, her career in front of the camera often found her in cast off looking pot-boilers (she got to rummage through what was rejected by Davis, Crawford, and whoever else might be hot at the moment).

This noir-ish romantic weepy with a bad nicotine cough was typical of the sows ears she tried to make fit like silk. Filmed in 1945....and not widely released til early in 1947...it is filled with competent but rather second string talent...many of whom never quite made it to the top rung. Bruce Bennett (who deserves great credit for being one of the few actors to survive being cast as Tarzan without forever being typed and stymied) does his usual low key but very sincere turn as Ida's Piano whiz turned world weary seaman (don't ask). Robert Alda is effectively smarmy as the dame hungry club owner...after Ida and just about every other female with a pulse...it is a shame that playing George Gershwin (in "Rhapsody in Blue") and having this meaty part in a film based around one of the Gershwin's greatest standards didn't lead to bigger and better film roles.

The world weary atmosphere of jaded postwar funk that lingers over the film like a cloud of smoke and stale perfume is More persuasive than the rather clunky script...( you have to give the writers credit for gaul however...the final clinch lines are lifted almost verbatim from "Now Voyager" and "Casablanca"...and tend to make this end up looking more shallow and tacky than it is).

The musical sequences are great...and Ida seems ideally suited for the role of a jam session diva...even if she did have to borrow a voice for the part. The atmosphere of electric bluesy ambiance was seldom captured better on film until Garland nailed it to perfection wailing about "the Man that got away" in 1954.

Unfortunately several numbers are missing from the print shown on TCM (which runs only 89 minutes...and is in DREADFUL shape...with many scratches, spices, breaks, and reals where the images look like something from a cheap public domain dupe of a dupe).

Here's hoping someone in the Warner Brother's Library does some digging...finds the original negative...and restores this..because Ida deserved the very best...even if she seldom got it.

The plot of "The Man I Love" to me is not as important as the snappy dialog and atmosphere...the reasons to see this film. The story just meanders....and I can live with that.

Petey (Ida Lupino) comes to town to see her sisters and brother. During this time, Petey gets a job with a slick but somewhat notorious nightclub owner (Robert Alda) and he's nuts for her. But instead of responding to his many advances, she falls like a ton of bricks over a down and out pianist (Bruce Bennett/Herman Brix). Other stuff happens.

The reason to see the film is to watch and listen to Ida Lupino. She captures the camera with her radiance...and her self-assured and VERY snappy dialog. She's like a combination of a feminist with a touch of NICE femme fatale! Well worth seeing despite the story itself only being mildly interesting.

I had never been an big Ida Lupino fan until I recently saw THE MAN I LOVE. The film was fun, frothy and, ultimately, forgettable, but Ida was terrific. As the eldest of four siblings, she holds the clan, as well as the film, together with her tough, wisecracking, heart of gold persona. Even while lip syncing the title song, Ida makes an impression. Check out her reading of the lines, "From which I'll never roam, Who would, would you?" She really nails it.

THE MAN I LOVE is a fun way to pass an evening but Ida Lupino is a revelation.

I saw this movie and feel it is truly one of the all American classics along with Body & Soul and The Helen Morgan Story. Ida Lupino was magnificent in the role as well as Robert Alda. Bruce Bennett was well cast as the piano man and if nothing else, The Man I Love by Ira and George Gershwin is the most beautiful song ever written. The music is outstanding and the simple lyric by Ira Gershwin compliments this most haunting refrain.

I had the opportunity to become friends with George Gershwin's sister, Frances who performed at Carnegie Hall singing her brother's memorable song Embraceable You. I sent her a tape of my version of The Man I Love and after her death, her maid LaLa said she played it every night for one year. This was the highest compliment for me. I have always been an avid fan of the Gershwin Brothers and as a professional cabaret singer, I have included many of their beautiful songs in my shows. God Bless All of Them. They have gifted the world with the most beautiful music.

My favorite of the movie was the "bitch-slappin'" scene where she is on the staircase knocking some sense into neighbor Johnny's head. What a hoot and what a total surprise! And right in front of her wanna-be gangster boyfriend, Nicky! I cheered and clapped myself silly. Fine film,lots of plot twists and turns. San, the piano player, was a dour disappointment. Too stiff and unemotional for me. Looked a lot like Charleston Heston, too. Ida Lupino's gowns were simply divine and she looked simply fine in them. Great costuming for the whole cast. The neighbor's wife, Gloria, was hilarious with her anti-Mom comments that were decidedly politically incorrect. All in all, great fun.