Starring Bill Shirley, Ray Middleton, Muriel Lawrence, and Eileen Christy
Directed by Allan Dwan
Music and Lyrics by Stephan Foster
Our other nostalgic musical this week stays in the Victorian era, but takes us back to 1849 to revisit some of the most beloved music ever created in America. Stephan Foster was the first major American composer, whose songs, such as "Beautiful Dreamer," "Oh Susannah," and the title song, are still sung to this day. Republic Pictures, long a "B" movie outfit, was only just starting to raise the budgets on its own "beautiful dreaming" when they released this take on his life. How well do they do with depicting these songs that continue to resonate in Americana even over 170 years later? Let's begin with Rex Allen (Himself), playing the banjo for a group of children on a steamboat, and find out...
The Story: Stephen Foster (Shirley) is delighted that his "Oh Susannah!" is the biggest hit song in the US right now, but he already gave it up to several music houses free of charge and without credit. His girlfriend Inez McDowell (Lawrence) prefers opera and detests popular music, especially the ubiquitous "Oh Susannah." Her little sister Jeanie (Christy), on the other hand, loves the song and popular music...and has her own crush on Stephen, too, though he can only see Inez.
Stephen is flabbergasted when not only does the great singer E.P Christy (Middleton) of the Christy Minstrels sings "Oh Susannah," but he argues over how Stephen has let other men perform the song. Inez still wishes Stephan had never written the darn thing to begin with and encourages him to give up writing, even as she's being pursued by Stephen's brother Dunning (Richard Simmons). Jeanie, however, likes Stephen the way he is...and so does Christy, who hires him to write the music for his Christy Minstrels.
The Song and Dance: Not the greatest thing in the universe, but there's some charming bits here. Christy in particular is adorable as the yearning title character. The costumes are lovely for a low-budget film, with pretty lacy gowns for the ladies and tight breeches and ruffled shirts for the men. The songs are also relatively well-presented, particularly when the sisters sing together. The pastel color is a bit softer than Technicolor, giving it the look of a historical storybook.
The Numbers: We open with Rex Allen briefly singing "Come Where My Love Lies Dreaming" to the kids before we make it to shore. "Oh Susannah" is performed exuberantly by the chorus after Allen's narration...to the frustration of Inez, who can't escape it. Even the kids who were with Allen before dance to a bit of it while playing the harmonica. "Old Dog Tray" is Stephen's duet with his own dog as he works on a song. Stephen and Jeanie have a charming but brief duet to "Camptown' Races," followed by "Jeanie's Home Polka," an sprightly instrumental dance number for the duo, even as he continues to play his flute...at least until a shocked Inez wanders in and ends the song.
Inez does unbend enough to sing Stephen's "Haunting My Dreams at Night"...with Jeanie doing a hilarious imitation of her in another room. Stephen plays the flute for Inez's "Lo, Hear the Gentle Lark" and "On the Wings of Song" at the party, even as Christy nearly drowns her out with "Oh for Louisiana." Christy finally joins the party, introducing Steven as the writer of "Oh Susanna," to Inez' horror, and sings "Nelly Bly" and "My Old Kentucky Home, Good-Night." The Christy Minstrels burst in as Inez wants to go see Jenny Lind with "Ring de Banjo," angering Inez yet again. He sings "Beautiful Dreamer" at Inez's window to try to appease her.
Jeanie wonders how she's fallen in love with Steven with "Lo, Hear the Gentle Lark." The sisters charmingly perform "You Must Wear a Dainty Ribbon In Your Hair" together. Rex Allen is heard on the river near the end as they search for Stephan, briefly singing "Old Black Joe." Christy ends a brawl Stephan starts in a bar with a reprise of "Oh for Louisiana." Romantic Jeanie and Stephen sing "I Can Still See Her In My Dreams" at the docks, then perform "Jeanie With the Light Brown Hair" with Christy in the finale.
What I Don't Like: This is pure Hollywood malarkey that has not at thing to do with Stephen Foster's real life. Shirley is whiny and dull, not at all suggesting a driven musician. Robust Middleton is far more magnetic than he is with a much smaller role. The costumes are lovely, but sometimes smack more of 1952 than 1849. (And someone at Paramount really needs to take a crack at restoring this. Though the color looks decent on the copy at Tubi, it's also quite a bit scratchy.)
The Big Finale: Charming enough time-waster if you're a fan of 50's musicals or want to hear Foster's songs, but nothing you need to go out of your way for.
Home Media: Easily found on DVD and many streaming services, usually for free with commercials.
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