The life and career of famed American composer Stephen Foster.The life and career of famed American composer Stephen Foster.The life and career of famed American composer Stephen Foster.
- Dunning Foster
- (as Richard Simmons)
- Milford Wilson
- (as Robert Neil)
- Glenn Turnbull
- (as Glenn Turnbull)
- …
- Freddie
- (as Carl Dean Switzer)
- Chitlin
- (as Freddie Moultrie)
- Cop
- (uncredited)
- Kid
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film shows an extremely rare historical accuracy in films for costumes. Mrs. McDowell wears black dresses through the entire film; which is what a widow of the time would have done.
- GoofsEarly on in the film, one of Foster's young friends is critically injured when a buggy runs over him. Foster then gives all his money to the doctor to help pay the hospital bill and other costs. After this scene, we hear nothing about whether the boy has recovered or not...
- Quotes
[Stephen shows the sheet music from his first song to two of his friends]
First Co-Worker: Let's see where it says you wrote it!
Stephen Foster: Well, I guess it doesn't say.
Second Co-Worker: Did you get much for it?
Stephen Foster: Oh, he didn't pay me anything.
First Co-Worker: Did you even get any royalties?
Stephen Foster: Listen, he's doing me a big favor just to print it - didn't charge me a cent.
Second Co-Worker: Boy, how 'bout that minstrel man, Christy? Didn't he pay ya?
Stephen Foster: Certainly not. I'm proud to have him sing it.
First Co-Worker: Gee, it looks like you oughta get a little something just for thinkin' it up!
- ConnectionsReferenced in Tales of the Grim Sleeper (2014)
This Republic production is, nevertheless, a colorful diversion with a third-rate cast scoring quite nicely with their enthusiastic performances, and especially Ray Middleton (as famous minstrel man, E. P. Christy portrayed in SWANEE RIVER by Al Jolson, and whom Middleton appears to be mimicking throughout), Muriel Lawrence (as Foster's snobbish fiancée) and Eileen Christy (as her earthier younger sister, the Jeanie of the title). However, the actor who portrays Foster here Bill Shirley is rather weak and fails to do real justice to the troubled, short-lived composer! Rotund character actor Percy Helton has a nice supporting role as Foster's sarcastic employer during his day job as a book-keeper.
The film starts off amiably enough, but the second half is mostly bogged down by an uninterrupted succession of musical numbers although Middleton's forceful, slightly campy portrayal of the flamboyant Christy does a lot to enliven proceedings nevertheless. Prolific Hollywood veteran Dwan dabbled in practically every genre; this, in fact, wasn't his first musical having earlier made the 1939 version of THE THREE MUSKETEERS (also known as THE SINGING MUSKETEER, and whose recently-released DVD edition I need to pick up, especially now that I've just acquired a number of his work via budget releases from VCI). For the record, three cast members from the film Middleton, Shirley and Christy were re-united with their director here for next year's SWEETHEARTS ON PARADE.
- Bunuel1976
- Dec 22, 2007
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $515,134 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 30 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1