Till the Clouds Roll By
by George Sidney, Richard Whorf, Vincente Minnelli
List Price:
Our Price: $0.89
You Save: $4.09 (82%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.88 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Judy Garland, June Allyson, Lucille Bremer, Robert Walker, Van HeflinDirector: George Sidney, Richard Whorf, Vincente Minnelli
Producer: Arthur Freed
Writer: George Wells
Writer: Guy Bolton
Writer: Jean Holloway
Writer: Myles Connolly
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 132 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-05-01
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Good Times Video
Movie Reviews of Till the Clouds Roll By
Movie Review: Jerome Kern Performed by MGM's Brightest Stars
Summary: 5 Stars
MGM, the studio of the roaring lion in Culver City, at the end of World War Two could be said to possess an embarrassment of riches in the realm of musical talent. What could be better than turning a large segment of that talent loose at once? By adding an additional measure to the operation by having those bright talents perform the best in the repertoire of one of the legends of American music in "Till The Clouds Roll By."
Jerome Kern was one of America's brightest songwriting talents and MGM received permission just prior to his 1946 death to do a biography depicting his great music. The finished product was released that same year.
The film begins with Kern at the peak of his powers as his 1927 musical classic "Showboat" based on a novel by Edna Ferber with Oscar Hammerstein supplying book and lyrics was opening on Broadway. Kathryn Grayson, who would later star in MGM's version of "Showboat" in 1951 with Howard Keel and Ava Gardner performed in tandem with Tony Martin Kern's "Only Make Believe."
The film then moves into a flashback as Robert Walker, portraying the musical legend, asks his chauffeur to drive him back to an old familiar neighborhood prior to attending the big celebration on his behalf at the Waldorf Astoria. They stop at the former residence of his departed partner and closest friend. We see how Walker as a young songwriter had to entice Van Heflin, a leading Broadway musical arranger, to give him a helping hand. Heflin talks glowingly about leaving for London in three weeks, when he will say goodbye to popular music and turn his attention to classical selections. Heflin speaks glowingly of Beethoven and Mozart.
Before their first mutually profitable meeting ends Heflin goes to work helping his newly acquired friend. He leaves for London, but soon Walker boards a boat and rejoins him there. It turns out that Heflin has made no progress on his classical career, and they go to work on songs for the popular musical "gaieties" show, with Angela Lansbury performing a number.
Walker not only gets launched in London, he meets the girl of his dreams. Dorothy Patrick will eventually become Mrs. Kern and while in London he meets prominent New York producer Charles Frohman. He returns home and Kern begins making strides toward the greatness he will eventually achieve.
Judy Garland portrays the great Broadway musical star Marilyn Miller and performs a brilliant rendition of one of her big hits, "Who." One of the picture's leading dramatic scenes occurs when Garland and Kern, against their personal wishes, must convince Lucille Bremer, Heflin's daughter, who has known Kern from her youth and calls him "Uncle Jerry," that she must give up the "Who" number for the good of the show. While Bremer rebels angrily at the time and goes to Memphis to perform at a nightclub on her own, eventually she learns the importance of teamwork and at film's end is given an opportunity to make good in Hollywood.
One of the film's highlights, coming appropriately at the end, the equivalent of the final show stopping medley of a Broadway musical, when selections from some of Kern's greatest songs are played. One number complete with stairway and a costumed chorus includes Frank Sinatra delivering a stirring rendition of "Old Man River" while June Allyson cutely dances in two numbers. Dinah Shore also sings two numbers while future MGM dancing starts Cyd Charisse and Gower Champion are also showcased.
A heartwarming musical that displays great musical talent doing excellent numbers, "Till The Clouds Roll By" also presents solid human values in a feel good setting, with Walker finding himself in effect as part of a new family. Widower Heflin becomes his closest friend and musical partner while Lucille Bremer idolizes "Uncle Jerry" as he achieves enduring greatness on Broadway.
Summary of Till the Clouds Roll By
Hollywood's 1940s craze for composer biographies did not yield many masterpieces, and Till the Clouds Roll By is one of the weaker efforts in the bunch. Robert Walker tries gamely to suggest the decency of Jerome Kern but is defeated by a sluggish story line pairing him with a crotchety mentor (Van Heflin). As a collection of freestanding production numbers devoted to Kern's songs, however, the movie has appeal. It begins with almost 20 minutes of Showboat (including Lena Horne's plaintive reading of "Can't Help Lovin' That Man") and the hits just keep on coming. Judy Garland, who appears in a few scenes as stage star Marilyn Miller, contributes "Look for the Silver Lining" and a Gatsby-esque production number on "Who?" Her songs were staged by then-hubby Vincente Minnelli. Other highlights include a young Angela Lansbury, still with baby fat, singing "How'd You Like to Spoon with Me?" Lucille Bremer, a leggy starlet who never quite caught on, plays Kern's protégé. She spins a delightful duet with Van Johnson on "I Won't Dance," two redheads capering with gusto. It all ends with another splashy theatrical montage, climaxing in Frank Sinatra's take on "Ol' Man River." That might sound like a strange idea, but Ol' Blue Eyes clearly loves the song (he would return to it often in his career) and is in beautiful voice. Despite being a lavish MGM production, Till the Clouds fell out of copyright and into the public domain, so print quality (and even running time) can be variable. --Robert HortonSimilar DVD Movies
Ziegfeld GirlWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-04-06; DVD
Best price: $7.25
Price in other shops:
BrigadoonWarner Brothers; Release date: 2005-03-15; DVD
Best price: $6.15
Price in other shops:
The Band Wagon (Two-Disc Special Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2005-03-15; DVD
Best price: $6.58
Price in other shops:
Show BoatWarner Brothers; Release date: 2000-08-08; DVD
Best price: $10.59
Price in other shops:
Three Little WordsWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-04-25; DVD
Best price: $4.29
Price in other shops:
For Me and My GalWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-08-29; DVD
Best price: $4.89
Price in other shops:
Words and MusicWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-07-24; DVD
Best price: $10.17
Price in other shops:
In the Good Old SummertimeGARLAND,JUDY; Release date: 2004-04-06; DVD
Best price: $49.95
Ziegfeld FolliesWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-04-25; DVD
Best price: $3.93
Price in other shops:
Summer StockWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-04-25; DVD
Best price: $6.79
Price in other shops: