My title comes from Ferrer's twice burlesquing of the title of one of Sigmund Romberg's most popular musical plays "The Student Prince", the lyrics of which were done by his Irish- American friend Dorothy Donnelly, here played by Merle Oberon, who serves as his quasi-girlfriend in the film, until he meets the woman who will become his second wife: a rather faceless Lillian Harris, played by Doe Avedon. Unlike Dorothy, who was Romberg's contemporary in age,Lillian was 18 years younger than her aging fiancé. Dorothy never married and, as indicated in the film, died unexpectedly at the height of Romberg's career. Although not hinted in the film, like so many of America's famous theater people of the early 20th century, Romberg was a Jew, who fled the pre-Hitler anti-Semitism of eastern Europe, Germany, and Russia. Thus, he had to learn a new language and musical culture before embarking on a new musical career. As shown in the film,he did begin by playing the piano and occasionally composing songs in various NYC restaurants, later to be hired as a composer for shows, before becoming an independent composer. Most of the plentiful melodrama relates to disputes with show producers over his compositions, or problems with his future wife's domineering mother, who initially was not impressed with his style of popular compositions.
I was initially attracted to purchase a DVD of this film because it mentioned that Romberg was the composer of "Desert Song". I have treasured my very hard to find DVD of the 1953 film adaptation, starring Gordon MacRae and Kathryn Grayson.I see that, very recently, the 1955 TV version, starring Nelson Eddy, was released on DVD. Incidentally, both this site and the Wikipedia article on the present film got the source for Anne Miller's "It" performance wrong. Obviously, it's not from "Desert Song", as indicated, but rather from "Artists and Models": a burlesquing of the roaring '20s... Other film adaptations of Romberg's works include the 1954 "Student Prince", featuring Mario Lanza'a voice, if not troublesome body, and "Maytime", as well as "New Moon", both starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, back 15-20 years before. Thus, there was a rash of Romberg revivals on film or TV within a few years after his death in '51.
Getting back to this film, I was disappointed that not more songs from "Desert Song" were included. Also, Oscar Hammerstein II, who wrote or co-wrote the lyrics for several of Romberg's best known works(including "Desert Song"), wasn't mentioned until nearly Dorothy's death, and was barely included at all in the film. I didn't find Helen Traubel's singing voice very engaging, which is unfortunate, since she got 5 numbers to sing, whereas everyone else got only one. Jeanette MacDonald was the original choice to play her character, and I'm sorry this didn't work out. While her "Stout-Hearted Men" was OK, this was obviously meant for a man to sing, thus I will continue to prefer Nelson Eddy's rendition, for example. Actually, I see no necessity for Helen's purely fictional character, other than perhaps to provide some additional continuity to the story, besides Ferrer and Oberson, as Dorothy. Also Ferrer's singing voice is quite mediocre, as displayed in the finale "When I Grow Too Old to Dream". Thankfully, a chorus finished up this song. On the other hand, I found him quite engaging as Romberg. You may or may not find amusing his impromptu impersonation of the various characters in his then current project., about midway in the film. Clearly, his future mother-in-law wasn't impressed. I did find it rather good, including the derisive song "Fat, Fat, Fatima", lyrics by Ballard McDonald.
Turning to the various 'guest' performers: noted ballerina/dancer Tamara Toumanova, as Gabe, sings(dubbed) and dances a bit to "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise", in a very gaudy outfit and set, which Romberg clearly doesn't like. It was fun seeing the two Kelly brothers sing and dance a bit. They did look amazingly alike, thus it wasn't necessary to resort to trick photography, (as in "Cover Girl"),to see Gene dancing with a double of himself. Jane Powell and Vic Damone did a good job in a romantic outdoor scene with "Road to Paradise" and the classic "Sweetheart", from "Maytime". Anne Miller does a great job with a charleston-tap dance hybrid, to "It", with various outrageously- dressed or costumed roaring '20s characters as a preliminary and backdrop. This production was certainly the highlight of the film for me. William Olvis does an excellent job with the classic "Serenade", from "The Student Prince". Cyd Charisse, in a strange opulent set, sings(dubbed) "One Alone" from "Desert Song", followed by a very entwining ballet with wooden-faced James Mitchell. Howard Keel then belts out the patriotic "Your Land and My Land", from the Civil War-oriented "My Maryland". A bit later, Tony Martin warbles the romantic "Lover, Come Back to Me", from "The New Moon". My DVD has an outtake of George Murphy singing "Girlies of the Cabaret", featuring a parade of outrageously costumed 'girlies', representing various countries, with Esther Williams representing 'Miss USA'. This should not have been deleted! The opening symphonic medley was also very good.
I was initially attracted to purchase a DVD of this film because it mentioned that Romberg was the composer of "Desert Song". I have treasured my very hard to find DVD of the 1953 film adaptation, starring Gordon MacRae and Kathryn Grayson.I see that, very recently, the 1955 TV version, starring Nelson Eddy, was released on DVD. Incidentally, both this site and the Wikipedia article on the present film got the source for Anne Miller's "It" performance wrong. Obviously, it's not from "Desert Song", as indicated, but rather from "Artists and Models": a burlesquing of the roaring '20s... Other film adaptations of Romberg's works include the 1954 "Student Prince", featuring Mario Lanza'a voice, if not troublesome body, and "Maytime", as well as "New Moon", both starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, back 15-20 years before. Thus, there was a rash of Romberg revivals on film or TV within a few years after his death in '51.
Getting back to this film, I was disappointed that not more songs from "Desert Song" were included. Also, Oscar Hammerstein II, who wrote or co-wrote the lyrics for several of Romberg's best known works(including "Desert Song"), wasn't mentioned until nearly Dorothy's death, and was barely included at all in the film. I didn't find Helen Traubel's singing voice very engaging, which is unfortunate, since she got 5 numbers to sing, whereas everyone else got only one. Jeanette MacDonald was the original choice to play her character, and I'm sorry this didn't work out. While her "Stout-Hearted Men" was OK, this was obviously meant for a man to sing, thus I will continue to prefer Nelson Eddy's rendition, for example. Actually, I see no necessity for Helen's purely fictional character, other than perhaps to provide some additional continuity to the story, besides Ferrer and Oberson, as Dorothy. Also Ferrer's singing voice is quite mediocre, as displayed in the finale "When I Grow Too Old to Dream". Thankfully, a chorus finished up this song. On the other hand, I found him quite engaging as Romberg. You may or may not find amusing his impromptu impersonation of the various characters in his then current project., about midway in the film. Clearly, his future mother-in-law wasn't impressed. I did find it rather good, including the derisive song "Fat, Fat, Fatima", lyrics by Ballard McDonald.
Turning to the various 'guest' performers: noted ballerina/dancer Tamara Toumanova, as Gabe, sings(dubbed) and dances a bit to "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise", in a very gaudy outfit and set, which Romberg clearly doesn't like. It was fun seeing the two Kelly brothers sing and dance a bit. They did look amazingly alike, thus it wasn't necessary to resort to trick photography, (as in "Cover Girl"),to see Gene dancing with a double of himself. Jane Powell and Vic Damone did a good job in a romantic outdoor scene with "Road to Paradise" and the classic "Sweetheart", from "Maytime". Anne Miller does a great job with a charleston-tap dance hybrid, to "It", with various outrageously- dressed or costumed roaring '20s characters as a preliminary and backdrop. This production was certainly the highlight of the film for me. William Olvis does an excellent job with the classic "Serenade", from "The Student Prince". Cyd Charisse, in a strange opulent set, sings(dubbed) "One Alone" from "Desert Song", followed by a very entwining ballet with wooden-faced James Mitchell. Howard Keel then belts out the patriotic "Your Land and My Land", from the Civil War-oriented "My Maryland". A bit later, Tony Martin warbles the romantic "Lover, Come Back to Me", from "The New Moon". My DVD has an outtake of George Murphy singing "Girlies of the Cabaret", featuring a parade of outrageously costumed 'girlies', representing various countries, with Esther Williams representing 'Miss USA'. This should not have been deleted! The opening symphonic medley was also very good.