Rhythm on the River
| Rhythm on the River | |
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| File:Rhythm on the River 1940 poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Victor Schertzinger |
| Produced by | William LeBaron |
| Written by | Billy Wilder (story) Jacques Théry (story) Dwight Taylor |
| Starring | Bing Crosby Mary Martin Basil Rathbone |
| Music by | Victor Young |
| Cinematography | Ted Tetzlaff |
| Edited by | Hugh Bennett |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
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Release dates
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Running time
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92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Rhythm on the River is a 1940 musical comedy film starring Bing Crosby and Mary Martin as ghostwriters whose songs are credited to a composer played by Basil Rathbone. Crosby and Martin sang "Only Forever",[1] for which James V. Monaco (music) and Johnny Burke (lyrics) were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Plot
Oliver Courtney (Basil Rathbone) is an arrogant composer who lets other people write songs he takes credit for. Bob Sommers (Bing Crosby) writes his tunes with Billy Starbuck (Oscar Levant). At the night of a social Christmas party, Oliver introduces Bob's song "What Would Shakespeare Have Said?" as his own. Later that night, Oliver thanks Bob for his loyalty and offers him a contract for $50 a week for three years. He refuses, saying he would rather have a catboat to visit his uncle at his river hotel, called Nobody's Inn.
After his lyric writer dies, Oliver finds a replacement in Cherry Lane (Mary Martin). She is reluctant about being a ghost writer, but accepts his offer. He is satisfied with her first lyric. She becomes ambitious to write better lines, but is not able to concentrate at home, and it is suggested she move to a small and quiet place. Meanwhile, Bob and Cherry meet several times, without knowing they are working for the same employer. She does not think highly of him.
To work in a perfect environment, Cherry travels to Tarrytown and stays at Nobody's Inn. Bob decides to give the inn a visit at the same time, and they are shocked to run into each other yet again. They soon become acquainted and actually start liking each other. They even compose their own song together. However, because they are not allowed to tell who they are working for, they do not find out they are colleagues. She becomes mad at him when he plays the song she wrote the lines for and states he wrote it himself.
Bob is confused and travels back to town to resign. Cherry has come to office as well to inform her boss she thinks someone has stolen his lines. They realize they were working together all along. Bob and Cherry make up and decide to start their own music composing careers. After a few unsuccessful auditions, Bob agrees to start a band. They audition for Mr. Westlake (William Frawley), but he is only interested in Cherry. He offers her a job as a nightclub singer, but she is loyal to the band and rejects his offer.
Bob notices it is a great opportunity for Cherry and gives her his consent to work for Westlake. He takes his job back as Oliver's ghost writer and raises $200 so Cherry can premiere with the song they wrote together at Nobody's Inn. However, she is unhappy at her new job and is helped by Bob to get out of her contract. Oliver feels sympathetic toward them and persuades them not to walk away by announcing the song is not written by him. After announcing they will soon marry, Bob and Cherry perform their song.
Cast
- Bing Crosby as Bob Sommers
- Mary Martin as Cherry Lane
- Basil Rathbone as Oliver Courtney
- Oscar Levant as Billy Starbuck
- Oscar Shaw as Charlie Goodrich
- Charley Grapewin as Uncle Caleb
- Lillian Cornell as Millie Starling
- William Frawley as Mr. Westlake
- John Scott Trotter as Himself (orchestra leader)
- Jeanne Cagney as Country cousin
- Charles Lane as Bernard Schwartz
- Helen Bertram as Aunt Delia
Various musicians and entertainers also make appearances, including Wingy Manone, Jack Pepper, and Harry Barris
Connection to The Carpenters
The movie mentions a (fictional) song named "Goodbye to Love"; Richard Carpenter saw the film and thought that would be a good title for a Carpenters song, which was eventually recorded and released in 1972.[2]
