Mr. Music
Production:
- Released by Paramount Pictures December 1950, bw, mono sound, 110 mins.; VHS released 1992
- Directed by Richard Haydn
- Written by Arthur Sheekman, based on the Samson Raphaelson play "Accent on Youth" and the 1935 Paramount film Accent on Youth
- Produced by Robert L. Welch
- Original music by Joseph J. Lilley, Troy Sanders
- Lyrics by Johnny Burke, James Van Heusen
- Cinematography by George Barnes
- Film Editing by Everett Douglas, Doane Harrison
- Art Direction by Hans Dreier, A. Earl Hedrick
- Costume Design by Edith Head
- Special Effects by Farciot Edouart
- Choreography by Gower Champion
Cast:
- Bing Crosby .... Paul Merrick, Broadway musical songwriter
- Nancy Olson .... Katherine Holbrook, Merrick's secretary
- Charles Coburn .... Alex Conway, Merrick's producer
- Ruth Hussey .... Lorna Marvis, Merrick's girlfriend
- Robert Stack .... Jeff Blake, star school athlete
- Tom Ewell .... Haggerty, Merrick's butler "Cupcake"
- Ida Moore .... Aunt Amy, Katherine's live-in chaperone
- Richard Haydn (Claud Curdle) .... Jerome Thisbee, Aunt Amy's friend
- Irving Bacon .... Jewelry Salesman
- Charles Kemper .... Mr. Danforth
- Donald Woods .... Tippy Carpenter
- Marge & Gower Champion .... Themselves, dancers
- Groucho Marx .... Himself, comedian
- Dorothy Kirsten .... Herself, singer
- Peggy Lee .... Herself, singer
Notes:
Bing Crosby plays a songwriter who returns to Lawford College to stage a musical production of one of his musical plays, but he is overshadowed by the school's star athlete who "came within one-half inch of the world high jump record." Crosby recorded in early 1950 most of the songs used in the film: "Once More the Blue and White" and "Milady" and "And You'll Be Home" and "High on the List" and "Wouldn't It Be Funny?" and "Accidents Will Happen" and "Life is So Peculiar" and "Was I There?" and "Mr. Music"
Scenes:
20' - Crosby playing golf in his trademark hat and sweater
33' - Crosby composing song "Wouldn't It Be Funny?" at the piano
50' - Crosby and Olson listen to tape recorder playing "I'll Never Let My Heart Get Out of Hand" (later becomes song "Wouldn't It Be Funny"); Olson takes tape reel off to store in metal can, but gets phone call from Jeff, gets flustered and turns tape into handful of "spaghetti"
1-02' - Crosby composing at the piano new words for "Wouldn't It Be Funny" and writes 8 new songs in 3 weeks to get ready for new musical show
1-08' - Peggy Lee and Crosby sing "Life Is So Peculiar" at the piano
1-11' - Crosby composing song "Accidents Will Happen" using tape recorder
Links:
History Department | Filmnotes | revised 8/11/99 by Schoenherr
