HIGHER AND HIGHER

Higher and Higher
RKO, 1943, B/W, 90 minutes, ****
Released December, 1943
When wealthy Mr. Drake goes broke, the servants hatch a plan to restore his fortune and save their jobs: have a lovely maid pose as Drake's debutante daughter, hoping she'll find a rich beau. Soon a suitor arrives. "Good Morning," he says. "My name is Frank Sinatra."

Making his acting debut (he was a vocalist in earlier films) in this merry musical comedy, Sinatra plays the boy next door and (naturally) knows his way around a song, taking on five here, soloing on "The Music Stopped," "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" and "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night." Sinatra may be the enduring main attraction, but he's not the only star on view: Victor Borge, Leon Errol, Barbara Hale, Jack Haley, Michele Morgan, Mel Torme, Mary Wickes and Dooley Wilson are also on hand.

An unusual kind of storyline, bright and witty dialogue, funny, great cast, good music... The musical numbers are brilliantly staged. This is a definite must-see... Lots of fun!

Produced and Directed by: Tim Whelan
Associate Producer: George Arthur
Assistant Director: Clem Beauchamp
Screen Play by: Jay Dratler and Ralph Spence
Additional Dialogue by: William Bowers and Howard Harris
Based upon the Musical Play "Higher and Higher" Book by Gladys Hurlbut and Joshua Logan, Produced by Dwight Deere Wiman, Music and Lyrics of Song "Disgustingly Rich" by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
Songs: Music by Jimmy McHugh, Lyrics by Harold Adamson
Musical Director: C. Bakaleinikoff
Musical Score: Roy Webb
Vocal Director: Ken Darby
Musical Numbers Staged by: Ernst Matray
Orchestra Arrangements: Axel Stordahl, Gene Rose
Art Directors: Albert S. D'Agostino, Jack Okey
Set Decorations: Darrell Silvera, Claude Carpenter
Gowns by: Edward Stevenson
Recorded by: Jean L. Speak
Rerecorded by: James G. Stewart
Director of Photography: Robert de Grasse
Edited by: Gene Milford

Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Score - Musical (C. Bakaleinikoff) and Best Song ("I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night")

Cast: Michele Morgan [Millie Pico], Jack Haley [Mike O'Brien], Frank Sinatra [Himself], Leon Errol [Cyrus Drake], Marcy McGuire [Mickey], Victor Borge [Sir Victor Fitzroy Victor, K.B., O.B.E.], Mary Wickes [Sandy], Elizabeth Risdon [Mrs. Georgia Keating], Barbara Hale [Miss Catherine Keating], Mel Tormé [Marty], Paul and Grace Hartman [Byngham and Hilda], Dooley Wilson [Oscar], Ivy Scott [Miss Whiffin], Additional Cast: Rex Evans [Mr. Green], Stanley Logan [Hotel Manager], Ola Lorraine [Sarah], King Kennedy [Mr. Duval], Robert Anderson [Announcer], Elaine Riley, Shirley O'Hara, Dorothy Malone, Daun Kennedy [Bridesmaids], Rita Gould [Woman Assistant], Harry Holman [Banker], Warren Jackson [Contractor], Anne Goldthwaite [Debutante], Drake Thornton [Bellboy], Edward Fielding [Minister], Buddy Gorman [Page Boy], Martha Mears [singing voice of Michele Morgan], Louanne Hogan [singing voice of Barbara Hale]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture: "The Music Stopped" / "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" (played by Orchestra); [0:01] It's a Most Important Affair (sung by Mel Tormé and Marcy McGuire, Ivy Scott, Grace Hartman, Martha Mears dubbing for Michele Morgan, Dooley Wilson and Paul Hartman); [0:15] Today I'm a Debutante / Disgustingly Rich (sung by Mel Torme and Marcy McGuire, Jack Haley, Ivy Scott, Leon Errol, Grace Hartman, Mary Wickes, Paul Hartman, Michele Morgan dubbed by Martha Mears, Jack Haley and Mary Wickes); [0:26] I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night (sung by Frank Sinatra with Dooley Wilson at the Piano onscreen); [0:37] The Music Stopped (sung by Frank Sinatra at the Butlers' Ball, dancing with Michele Morgan and Barbara Hale); [0:42] The Music Stopped (instrumental arrangement danced by Michele Morgan and Jack Haley with other guests at the ball); [0:48] I Saw You First (performed by Marcy McGuire and Frank Sinatra); [0:55] A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening (sung by Frank Sinatra at the Piano); [0:56] Pathétique (excerpt played by Victor Borge at the Piano in the house, the music continues as Frank Sinatra and Michele Morgan go walking to the park where Borge is accompanied by an orchestra at a concert in the park); [0:59] A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening (reprised by Frank Sinatra with concert in background); [1:03] You're on Your Own (sung by Dooley Wilson, Mel Torme, Marcy McGuire, Frank Sinatra, Louanne Hogan dubbing for Barbara Hale, Victor Borge, Martha Mears dubbing for Michele Morgan, Ivy Scott, Paul and Grace Hartman, Leon Errol, Mary Wickes and Chorus); [1:11] You're on Your Own (reprised by Frank Sinatra); [1:14] Minuet (played on music box in attic, danced by Jack Haley and Michele Morgan); [1:22] I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night (sung by Frank Sinatra on radio); [1:23] Minuet in Boogie (sung by Mel Torme and Marcy McGuire, Mary Wickes, Leon Errol, Martha Mears dubbing for Michele Morgan, Ivy Scott and Chorus); [1:25] I Saw You First (reprised by Marcy McGuire and Louanne Hogan dubbing for Barbara Hale) / A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening (reprised by Frank Sinatra); [1:28] The Music Stopped (reprised by Frank Sinatra and Chorus, danced into the clouds by Frank Sinatra and Michele Morgan)