Make a Wish

Make a Wish
Principal Productions / RKO, 1937, B/W, 75 minutes, **½
Released August, 1937

While at summer camp in the Maine woods, little Bobby Breen befriends composer Basil Rathbone, who left the city to try and break his creative block, and is soon playing matchmaker for his widowed singer mother and Rathbone. Lively family musical also stars Marion Claire, Leon Errol; songs include "Music in My Heart," "Old Man Rip."

Producer: Sol Lesser
Associate Producer: Edward Gross
Director: Kurt Neumann
Assistant Director: Joseph Boyle
Screenplay by: Gertrude Berg, Bernard Schubert, Earle Snell
additional dialogue by William Hurlbut and Al Boasberg
(from an original story by Gertrude Berg)
Musical Score: Oscar Straus
Musical Direction: Hugo Riesenfeld
Musical Supervision: Abe Meyer
Music Published by: Leo Feist, Inc.
Songs: "Make a Wish," "Music in My Heart," "Old Man Rip," "Birchlake Forever" Music by Oscar Straus, Lyrics by Louis Alter and Paul F. Webster. "Campfire Dreams" Music and Lyrics by Louis Alter and Paul F. Webster.
Art Direction: Willy Pogany and Harry Oliver
Dance Direction: Larry Ceballos
Costume Supervision: Albert Deanno
Gowns: Brymer
Photography: John Mescall
Sound Engineer: Hugh McDowell
Film Editor: Arthur Hilton

Awards: Academy Award nomination for Best Score

Cast: Bobby Breen [Chip Winters], Basil Rathbone [Johnny Selden], Marion Claire [Irene Winters], Henry Armetta [Moreta], Leon Errol [Brennan], Donald Meek [Joseph], Billy Lee [Pee Wee], Ralph Forbes [Walter Mays], Leonid Kinskey [Moe], Herbert Rawlinson [Dr. Stevens], Spencer Charters [Station Agent], Johnny Arthur [Antoine], Lew Kelly [Mailman], Charles Richman [Wagner], Fred Scott [Minstrel], Lillian Harmer [Clara], Barbara Barondess [Secretary], Dorothy Appleby [Telephone Girl], Richard Tucker [Grant], Phillip McMahon [Chunky], Billy Lechner [Judge], Jackie Egger [Bud], Dorr's St. Luke's Choristers [vocals]

Musical Program: [0:02] Birchlake Forever (Bobby Breen and Boys Chorus); [0:13] Taps (excerpt sung by Boys); [0:14] Campfire Dreams (sung by Bobby Breen and Boys Chorus); [0:16] Taps (excerpt sung by Bobby Breen); [0:28] Make a Wish (sung by Basil Rathbone then by Bobby Breen); [0:35] Polly Wolly Doodle (Bobby Breen and Boys); [0:39] Old Man Rip (sung by Boys then by Bobby Breen); [0:45] Music in My Heart (sung by Marion Claire); [0:50] Birchlake Forever (sung by Bobby Breen and Boys); [1:08] Music in My Heart (reprised sung by Marion Claire and Bobby Breen); [1:10] Music in My Heart (sung by Marion Claire, Fred Scott, Bobby Breen and Children; danced by Children); [1:14] Make a Wish (reprised by Bobby Breen and Chorus); [1:15] Birchlake Forever (Bobby Breen and Boys behind end credits)