Till the Clouds Roll By

Till the Clouds Roll By
MGM, 1946, Color, 137 minutes, ****
Released December, 1946
The music of Jerome Kern is fabulous, and this gorgeous film really pours it on! The film is also notable for a mini-version of "Show Boat" with Kathryn Grayson playing Magnolia as she would in the 1951 MGM film production. Lena Horne plays Julie in this version, giving us a chance to see what she could have done with the role in 1951, if only...

Jerome Kern was technical advisor on this film, but he died before the film was completed, making it all the more poignant.

NOTE: This film is apparently in public domain, so there are many different companies selling it on VHS and DVD. Most of them use poor prints, so if you want one with a good print, you should buy the real thing from MGM!!

The film opens with the statement, "This story of Jerome Kern is best told in the bars and measures, the quarter notes and grace notes of his own music -- that music that sings so eloquently his love of people, love of country, love of life. We who have sung it and will sing it to our children can only be grateful that he gave his life to music -- and gave that music to us.

On December 27, 1927, the curtain went up on the most exciting night of his life -- the opening of his immortal 'Show Boat.' And there we join him..."

Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol. 1 DVD Box Set (shown right) includes this film and
Produced by: Arthur Freed
Directed by: Richard Whorf
Screen Play by: Myles Connolly and Jean Holloway
Story by: Guy Bolton
Adapted by: George Wells
Based on the Life and Music of Jerome Kern
Musical Direction: Lennie Hayton
Musical Score: Conrad Salinger, Roger Edens and Lennie Hayton
Song Score: Jerome Kern
Orchestration: Conrad Salinger
Vocal Arrangements: Kay Thompson
Judy Garland's Numbers Directed by: Vincente Minnelli
Musical Numbers Staged and Directed by: Robert Alton
Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons, Daniel B. Cathcart
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Associate: Richard Pefferle
Costume Supervision: Irene
Costumes Designed by:Helen Rose
Men's Costumes: Valles
Hair Styles Created by: Sydney Guilaroff
Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Directors of Photography: Harry Stradling, George J. Folsey
Special Effects: Warren Newcombe
Montages by: Peter Ballbusch
Photographed in Technicolor
Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus
Associate: Henri Jaffa
Film Editor: Albert Akst

Cast: Robert Walker [Jerome Kern], Judy Garland [Marilyn Miller], Lucille Bremer [Sally Hessler], Joan Wells [Sally as a girl], Van Heflin [James I. Hessler], Paul Langton [Oscar Hammerstein], Dorothy Patrick [Mrs. Jerome Kern], Harry Hayden [Charles Frohman], Paul Maxey [Victor Herbert], Mary Nash [Mrs. Muller], Ann Codee [Miss Larouche], Mary Hatcher [Chorus Girl], Matt Mattox [Dancer], Esther Williams [Cameo], Trudi Erwin [singing voice for Lucille Bremer], Guest Stars: June Allyson, Kathryn Grayson, Lena Horne, Van Johnson, Tony Martin, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Gower Champion, Cyd Charisse, Angela Lansbury, Ray McDonald, Virginia O'Brien, Caleb Peterson, William "Bill" Phillips, Wilde Twins

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture: Till the Clouds Roll By / The Touch of Your Hand (played by MGM Studio Orchestra behind titles); [0:03] Cotton Blossom (sung and danced by the MGM Studio Chorus); [0:05] Where's the Mate for Me? (sung by Tony Martin); [0:07] Make Believe (sung by Kathryn Grayson and Tony Martin); [0:10] Life Upon the Wicked Stage (sung and danced by Virginia O'Brien and Girls Chorus); [0:12] Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (sung by Lena Horne); [0:16] Ol' Man River (sung by Caleb Peterson and the MGM Studio Chorus); [0:24] Ka-Lu-A (played by MGM Studio Orchestra); [0:36] How'd You Like to Spoon with Me? (sung by Angela Lansbury and the MGM Studio Chorus); [0:47] They Didn't Believe Me (Dinah Shore dubbing for Dorothy Patrick); [0:54] They Didn't Believe Me (sung by Dinah Shore); [1:03] Till the Clouds Roll By (sung and danced by Ray McDonald, June Allyson and Chorus); [1:11] Leave It to Jane / Cleopatterer (sung and danced by Ray McDonald and June Allyson with Chorus); [1:17] Look for the Silver Lining (sung by Judy Garland); [1:32] Sunny (sung by Chorus); [cut] D'Ya Love Me (Outtake: sung by Judy Garland and two men); [1:34] Who? (sung and danced by Judy Garland and Mens Chorus); [1:49] One More Dance (sung and danced by Lucille Bremer, Trudi Erwin dubbing for Lucille Bremer); [1:50] I Won't Dance (sung and danced by Lucille Bremer and Van Johnson, Trudi Erwin dubbing for Lucille Bremer); [1:59] She Didn't Say Yes (excerpt sung by The Wilde Twins); [2:00] Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (sung by MGM Studio Chorus, danced by Cyd Charisse and Gower Champion); [2:01] The Last Time I Saw Paris (sung by Dinah Shore); [2:04] The Land Where the Good Songs Go (sung by Trudi Erwin dubbing for Lucille Bremer); [2:06] Yesterdays (excerpt sung by the MGM Studio Chorus); [2:06] Long Ago (And Far Away) (excerpt sung by Kathryn Grayson); [2:07] A Fine Romance (excerpt sung by Virginia O'Brien); [2:08] All the Things You Are (excerpt sung by Tony Martin); [2:10] Why Was I Born? (excerpt sung by Lena Horne); [2:12] Ol' Man River (crooned by Frank Sinatra, final few bars reprised by Chorus)