THE EDDY DUCHIN STORY

The Eddy Duchin Story
Columbia, 1956, Color, 123 minutes, ***
Released June, 1956

Tyrone Power stars as the pianist/bandleader who was the talk of '30s New York cafe society but whose personal life was marred by tragedy. Glossy, song-filled biodrama also features Kim Novak, James Whitmore, and the keyboard work of Carmen Cavallaro. Songs include "What Is This Thing Called Love?," "Till We Meet Again."

Solid entertainment. Lots of great music, and a fine performance by Ty Power. Ironically, he would pass away just two years after making this movie. Interesting that the year the story begins (1927) is not just plopped on the screen, but told to us subtly by newspaper headlines of Lindy landing in Paris, and a group of youngsters singing "Ain't She Sweet."

Producer: Jerry Wald
Associate Producer: Jonie Taps
Director: George Sidney
Screenplay: Samuel Taylor (based on a story by Leo Katcher)
Music Supervised and Conducted by: Morris Stoloff
Original Music by: George Duning
Piano Recordings by: Carmen Cavallaro
Song Score: various (none original)
Art Direction: Walter Holscher
Set Decoration: William Kiernan, Robert Priestley
Gowns: Jean Louis
Cinematography: Harry Stradling
Film Editing: Jack W. Ogilvie

Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Motion Picture Story (Leo Katcher), Best Color Cinematography (Harry Stradling), Best Score - Musical (Morris Stoloff and George Duning) and Best Sound Recording

Cast: Tyrone Power [Eddy Duchin], Kim Novak [Marjorie Oelrichs], Victoria Shaw [Chiquita], James Whitmore [Lou Sherwood], Rex Thompson [Peter Duchin as a Boy], Mickey Maga [Peter as a Young Child], Shepperd Strudwick [Mr. Wadsworth], Frieda Inescort [Mrs. Wadsworth], Gloria Holden [Mrs. Duchin], Larry Keating [Leo Reisman], John Mylong [Mr. Duchin], Gregory Gaye [Philip], Warren Hsieh [Native Boy], Carlyle Mitchell [Doctor], Lois Kimbrell [Nurse], Richard Sternberg, Andy Smith [Peter's Friends], Ralph Gamble [Mayor Jimmy Walker], Richard Cutting [Captain], Richard Crane, Brad Trumbull [Seamen], Kirk Alyn, Richard Walsh [Young Men], Howard Price [Range Recorder Operator], Gloria Ann Simpson [Mrs. Rutledge], Oliver Cliff [Man], Joan Reynolds, Jacqueline Blanchard [Girls], Butler Hixon [Butler], Peter Norman [Waiter], Arline Anderson [Guest], Jack Albertson [Piano Tuner], Xavier Cugat [Cameo]

Musical Program: [0:00] Manhattan (Orchestra behind titles); [0:01] Ain't She Sweet (Chorus dubbing for young people in car driving through Central Park); [0:08] Chopin's Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 in E Flat Major [piano solo by Eddy Duchin] (Carmen Cavallaro off-screen, Ty Power on-screen); [0:11] unidentified instrumental (Played by Leo Riseman and His Orchestra; danced by guests at the Central Park Casino); [0:12] Shine On, Harvest Moon [piano solo by Eddy Duchin during Reisman break] (Carmen Cavallaro off-screen, Ty Power on-screen); [0:14] Will You Love Me in December as You Do in May (Chorus dubbing for guests at the Central Park Casino); [0:19] unidentified instrumental [Eddie Duchin with Leo Reisman and His Orchestra] (Carmen Cavallaro off-screen, Ty Power on-screen on piano, with Orchestra); [0:25] unidentified instrumental [Piano solo played by Eddie Duchin at party] (Carmen Cavallaro off-screen, Ty Power on-screen); [0:27] What Is This Thing Called Love (?) (played by Leo Reisman and His Orchestra, fading to background music behind montage of Duchin and Chiquita wandering around town falling in love); [0:29] Dizzy Fingers [Eddie Duchin with Leo Reisman and His Orchestra] (Carmen Cavallaro off-screen, Ty Power on-screen on piano, with Orchestra); [0:38] Manhattan (Duchin recording played on Victrola, danced by Ty Power and Victoria Shaw); [0:43] You're My Everything [Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra at the Central Park Casino] (Carmen Cavallaro off-screen, Ty Power on-screen); [0:45] unidentified instrumental (excerpt played by Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra on-screen; Carmen Cavallaro and Orchestra off-screen); [1:09] Chopsticks [Eddy Duchin at bombed out village in Pacific Theater during WWII with a little orphaned Asian boy] (traditional and "ragged" versions played by Ty Power and Warren Hsieh; dubbed by Carmen Cavallaro); [1:18] Medley (played by Peter Duchin on-screen, Carmen Cavallaro off-screen); [1:24] On the Sunny Side of the Street [Eddy Duchin and Orchestra rehearsing] (played off-screen by Carmen Cavallaro and Orchestra); [1:25] unidentified instrumental [played by Peter Duchin on piano, one of his friends on clarinet, and his other friend on drums; Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra join in] (played off-screen by Carmen Cavallaro and Orchestra); [1:29] Theme Song (?) [short excerpt played by Eddie Duchin and His Orchestra] (played off-screen by Carmen Cavallaro and Orchestra); [1:33] Brazil [played by Eddie Duchin and His Orchestra with Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra at the Waldorf Historia] (played off-screen by Carmen Cavallaro and Orchestra); [1:33] unidentified instrumental (played by Eddy Duchin's Orchestra and Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra at the Waldorf Historia); [1:59] To Love Again (finale) [played by Peter Duchin and Eddy Duchin at home; Eddy Duchin disappearing as Peter continues to play] (played off-screen by Carmen Cavallaro and His Orchestra)