Rhythm on the River

Rhythm on the River


Paramount, 1940, B/W, 94 minutes, ***

Released August, 1940



Bing Crosby and Mary Martin make a delightful discovery in this tuneful tale of star-crossed melodymakers who step out from the shadows in the hopes of making it big.



Basil Rathbone plays Oliver Courtney, a well-known composer of hit songs who is very much in demand by the folks who produce musical shows. But beneath the gloss of a well-polished performance lies the truth about Oliver's talent - it's the work of ghostwriters! Bob Summers (Crosby) writes the tunes and Cherry Lane (Martin) writes the lyrics, only neither knows the other exists and both believe they are collaborating with Oliver. When the two meet at a musical retreat, they discover they have a lot more in common than they ever imagined and decide they'd like to go out on their own together. But the road to fame is rough and they wind up needing help from the one person who has the least interest in making their names known to the world of music - Oliver. Rhythm on the River is full of life, laughter and love. Songs include "Only Forever," "Ain't It a Shame About Mame," "Moon Over Madison Square" and "That's for Me."


Produced by: William LeBaron

Directed by: Victor Schertzinger

Screen Play by: Dwight Taylor

Based on a Story by: Billy Wilder and Jacques Thery

Musical Direction: Victor Young

Musical Adviser: Arthur Franklin

Songs: Lyrics by Johnny Burke, Music by James V. Monaco

"I Don't Want to Cry Any More" by Victor Schertzinger

Songs Arranged and Conducted by: John Scott Trotter

Art Direction: Hans Dreier, Ernst Fegté

Costumes: Edith Head

Sound Recording: Earl Hayman, Richard Olson

Director of Photography: Ted Tetzlaff

Editor: Hugh Bennett



Awards: Academy Award nomination for Best Song ("Only Forever")



Cast: Bing Crosby [Bob Summers], Mary Martin [Cherry Lane], Basil Rathbone [Oliver Courtney], Oscar Levant [Starbuck], Oscar Shaw [Charlie Goodrich], Charley Grapewin [Uncle Caleb], Lillian Cornell [Millie Starling], William Frawley [Westlake], Jeanne Cagney [Country Cousin], Helen Bertram [Aunt Delia], John Scott Trotter [Orchestra Leader], Ken Carpenter [Teddy Gardner, Announcer], Charles Lane [Bernard Schwartz], Harry Barris [Bass Player], Wingy Manone and His Band, Additional Cast: Phyllis Kennedy [Patsy Flick], Wingy Manone [Woody], Brandon Hurst [Bates], Pierre Watkin [Uncle], Billy Benedict [Elevator Boy], Christian Rub [Pawnbroker]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:01] Conga (played by small orchestra, danced by party guests); [0:04] What Would Shakespeare Have Said (sung by Bing Crosby with Oscar Levant at the piano); [0:05] What Would Shakespeare Have Said (sung by Lillian Cornell); [0:20] That's for Me (sung by Mary Martin with Oscar Levant at the piano); [0:24] Tiger Rag (excerpt played by Wingy Manone and His Band); [0:42] Only Forever (sung by Bing Crosby); [0:45] That's for Me (excerpt sung by Bing Crosby); [0:52] When the Moon Comes Over Madison Square (The Love Lament of a Western Gent) (sung by Bing Crosby); [1:02] Rhythm on the River (played by Wingy Manone and His Band, sung by Bing Crosby); [1:08] Ain't It a Shame About Mame (sung by Mary Martin with Wingy Manone and His Band); [1:16] I Don't Want to Cry Any More (sung by Mary Martin); [1:32] Only Forever (sung by Mary Martin and Bing Crosby with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra)