Rhapsody in Blue

Rhapsody in Blue


(The Story of George Gershwin)

Warner Bros., 1945, B/W, 139 minutes, ***

Released September, 1945



Good biopic of George Gershwin, loaded with Gershwin music from end to end! Critics often bemoan its (relatively minor) innacuracies, but just remember it's not a documentary - it's a musical! Enjoy the music! Appearances by Al Jolson, Paul Whiteman, Oscar Levant and Hazel Scott.



Produced by: Jesse L. Lasky

Directed by: Irving Rapper

Original Story by: Sonya Levien

Screen Play by: Howard Koch and Elliot Paul

Musical Director: Leo F. Forbstein

Musical Score: George Gershwin

Music and Lyrics by: George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin

Orchestral Arrangements by: Ray Heindorf

Orchestral Arrangements of "Rhapsody in Blue" by Ferde Grofe

"Rhapsody in Blue" Orchestra Conducted by Paul Whiteman

Piano Solo Recordings by: Oscar Levant

Additional Piano Solo Recordings: Ray Turner

"135th Street Blues" Lyrics by Buddy De Sylva

"Swanee" Lyrics by Irving Caesar

"Yankee Doodle Blues" Lyrics by Irving Caesar and B. G. DeSylva

Music Adapted by: Max Steiner

Vocal Arrangements by: Dudley Chambers

Dance Numbers Created and Directed by: LeRoy Prinz

Art Directors: John Hughes and Anton Grot

Set Decorations: Fred M. MacLean

Gowns by: Milo Anderson

Makeup Artist: Perc Westmore

Sound by: David Forrest and Stanley Jones

Director of Photography: Merritt Gerstad and Ernest Haller, Sol Polito

Special Effects by: Roy Davidson, Willard Van Enger

Montages by: James Leicester

Film Editor: Folmer Blangsted



Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Score (Musical) and Best Sound Recording



Cast: Robert Alda [George Gershwin], Joan Leslie [Julie Adams], Alexis Smith [Christine Gilbert], Charles Coburn [Max Dreyfus], Julie Bishop [Lee Gershwin], Albert Basserman [Professor Frank], Morris Carnovsky [Poppa Gershwin], Rosemary DeCamp [Momma Gershwin], Oscar Levant [Himself], Paul Whiteman [Himself], Al Jolson [Himself], George White [Himself], Hazel Scott [Herself], Anne Brown [Bess], Herbert Rudley [Ira Gershwin], John B. Hughes [Himself], Mickey Roth [George Gershwin as a Boy], Darryl Hickman [Ira Gershwin as a Boy], Charles Halton [Mr. Kast], Andrew Tombes [Mr. Million], Gregory Golubeff [Mr. Katzman], Walter Soderling [Mr. Muscatel], Eddie Marr [Buddy De Sylva], Theodore von Eltz [Foley], Bill Kennedy [Herbert Stone], Oscar Lorraine [Ravel], Johnny Downs [Dancer], Ernest Golm [Otto Kahn], Martin Noble [Jascha Heifetz], Hugo Kirchhoffer [Walter Damrosch], Will Wright [Rachmaninoff], Additional Cast: Tom Patricola [Himself], Robert Shayne [Christine's Escort], Ivan Lebedeff [Guest in Nightclub], George Riley [Comic], Virginia Sale [Cashier], Yola D'Avril [Prima Donna], Claire DuBrey [Receptionist], Christian Rub [Swedish Janitor], Odette Myrtil [Mme. De Breteuil], Jay Novello [Orchestra Leader], Robert Johnson [Sport], William Gillespie [Porgy], Mark Stevens [Singer], Louanne Hogan [singing voice of Joan Leslie]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture: "Rhapsody in Blue" / "Embraceable You" / "I Got Rhythm" (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:14] Smiles (sung by Louanne Hogan dubbing for Joan Leslie); [0:15] Swanee (sung by Robert Alda and Louanne Hogan dubbing for Joan Leslie); [0:26] Swanee (danced by Chorus, sung and whistled by Al Jolson); [0:34] 'S Wonderful (sung by Chorus, danced by Joan Leslie and Chorus); [0:38] Somebody Loves Me (sung and danced by Joan Leslie and Johnny Downs, Louanne Hogan dubbing for Joan Leslie); [0:43] (I'll Build a) Stairway to Paradise / Oh Lady Be Good (medley / montage, sung by Chorus, danced by Joan Leslie and Chorus); [0:44] Blue Monday Blues (aka "135th Street") (sung and danced by Chorus); [0:56] Rhapsody in Blue (played by Orchestra conducted by Paul Whiteman with Ray Turner dubbing for Robert Alda at the piano); [1:10] The Man I Love (played and sung in French and English by Hazel Scott); [1:12] Fascinating Rhythm / I Got Rhythm (played and sung by Hazel Scott); [1:15] Yankee Doodle Blues (sung by Hazel Scott); [1:25] Gershwin Medley (piano duet played by Oscar Levant and Ray Turner dubbing for Robert Alda); [1:26] Bidin' My Time (sung by party guests); [1:29] Embraceable You (sung by Louanne Hogan dubbing for Joan Leslie); [1:38] An American in Paris (excerpt played by Orchestra in background); [1:46] Cuban Overture (exerpt played by Orchestra); [1:48] Mine (sung by Robert Alda and Oscar Levant); [1:53] Delishious (sung by Louanne Hogan dubbing for Joan Leslie); [1:57] Summertime (from "Porgy and Bess", sung and danced by Anne Brown and Chorus); [2:01] Concerto in F (excerpt played by Orchestra); [2:12] Love Walked In (sung by Mark Stevens [?]); [2:14] Concerto in F (excerpt played by Orchestra with Oscar Levant at the piano); [2:18] Rhapsody in Blue (excerpt played by Orchestra with Oscar Levant at the piano); [1:21] Medley of Gershwin tunes played by Orchestra behind end credits; Many other bits and pieces of Gershwin and non-Gershwin tunes scattered throughout the film