The only biopic less truthful than TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY is probably NIGHT AND DAY based on the life of Cole Porter and played by...of all people, Cary Grant.
Maybe Robert Walker is no more convincing as Jerome Kern, but it hardly matters. After all, at least MGM's greatest interest in the presentation of the spectacular musical numbers did avert the possible deadly insignificance of overwhelming life detail of the great composer, a huge financial risk due to the big budget and the public ever hungry for a spectacular musical from MGM.
Jerome Kern died during the production of the film, so in all, it became a tribute to his life and his impact on music for four decades, rather than the supposed dramatic life story. However, with romance, tragedy and plenty of glamour, colour, songs and anyone contract star with a reasonably minor name not already involved in more than two projects at the studios, MGM proved as the king of the Hollywood musical, they could get any story to boot.
As with the majority of musicals, the actual story was the second priority. Despite knowing nothing about Jerome Kern other than his great music contribution, the most part of it is not believable other than the creation of fictional conflict, and all in the controlled environment of the studio. Yet the songs, musical direction and all the other elements are first rate. Perhaps the only complaint could be that Gene Kelly is missing.
And in the grand MGM manner, the musical highlights make up for it all, and there are plenty of them.
Beginning with the opening of the first 'real' musical of the American theatre, SHOW BOAT, Kathryn Grayson, Tony Martin, Virginia O'Brien, Caleb Peterson and Lena Horne perform the superb musical within the musical, also allowing a glimpse of the superb Lena Horne as Julie, had she not lost the role to an unconvincing Ava Gardner in the actual 1951 film remake.
Judy Garland as the legendary Marilyn Miller, performs her two numbers "Who?" and "Look for the Silver Lining" brilliantly. Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore and June Allyson are also memorable performers within the musical.
With the inclusion of approximately two dozen musical numbers and additional dancing sequences, TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY, despite its faults with the facts of the concerned subject matter, is a prime example of MGM's creative musical grandeur and brilliance.
TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY is extremely likeable viewing entertainment, similar to sitting down at a soda fountain for a couple of hours with Judy Garland, Robert Walker, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Tony Martin, Kathryn Grayson, June Allyson, Cyd Charisse, Virginia O'Brien, Gower Champion, Lucille Bremer, Van Johnson, Angela Lansbury, Van Heflin and in short, any employee at the MGM studios, and enjoying the sight.
Rating: 8/10
Maybe Robert Walker is no more convincing as Jerome Kern, but it hardly matters. After all, at least MGM's greatest interest in the presentation of the spectacular musical numbers did avert the possible deadly insignificance of overwhelming life detail of the great composer, a huge financial risk due to the big budget and the public ever hungry for a spectacular musical from MGM.
Jerome Kern died during the production of the film, so in all, it became a tribute to his life and his impact on music for four decades, rather than the supposed dramatic life story. However, with romance, tragedy and plenty of glamour, colour, songs and anyone contract star with a reasonably minor name not already involved in more than two projects at the studios, MGM proved as the king of the Hollywood musical, they could get any story to boot.
As with the majority of musicals, the actual story was the second priority. Despite knowing nothing about Jerome Kern other than his great music contribution, the most part of it is not believable other than the creation of fictional conflict, and all in the controlled environment of the studio. Yet the songs, musical direction and all the other elements are first rate. Perhaps the only complaint could be that Gene Kelly is missing.
And in the grand MGM manner, the musical highlights make up for it all, and there are plenty of them.
Beginning with the opening of the first 'real' musical of the American theatre, SHOW BOAT, Kathryn Grayson, Tony Martin, Virginia O'Brien, Caleb Peterson and Lena Horne perform the superb musical within the musical, also allowing a glimpse of the superb Lena Horne as Julie, had she not lost the role to an unconvincing Ava Gardner in the actual 1951 film remake.
Judy Garland as the legendary Marilyn Miller, performs her two numbers "Who?" and "Look for the Silver Lining" brilliantly. Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore and June Allyson are also memorable performers within the musical.
With the inclusion of approximately two dozen musical numbers and additional dancing sequences, TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY, despite its faults with the facts of the concerned subject matter, is a prime example of MGM's creative musical grandeur and brilliance.
TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY is extremely likeable viewing entertainment, similar to sitting down at a soda fountain for a couple of hours with Judy Garland, Robert Walker, Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Tony Martin, Kathryn Grayson, June Allyson, Cyd Charisse, Virginia O'Brien, Gower Champion, Lucille Bremer, Van Johnson, Angela Lansbury, Van Heflin and in short, any employee at the MGM studios, and enjoying the sight.
Rating: 8/10