Rhapsody in Blue (1945)

20% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
57% of users liked it
(338 ratings)

There's slightly more fancy than fact in this lavish film biography of legendary American composer George Gershwin, but oh! That music! Director Irving Rapper had wanted Tyrone Power to play Gershwin, but Power was still serving in the Marines, so Rapper had to settle for Robert Alda--who isn't bad… More There's slightly more fancy than fact in this lavish film biography of legendary American composer George Gershwin, but oh! That music! Director Irving Rapper had wanted Tyrone Power to play Gershwin, but Power was still serving in the Marines, so Rapper had to settle for Robert Alda--who isn't bad at all, just a trifle over-enthusiastic. The film traces Gershwin's rise from a "song plugger" for a Manhattan music publishing company to the heights of international fame and fortune. Gershwin's first big hit is "Swanee," introduced on Broadway by Al Jolson (who plays himself, making his first film appearance in six years). In collaboration with his lyricist brother Ira (well played by Herbert Rudley), George pens hit after hit in show after show. Impresario Charles Coburn is happy with this, but George's kindly old music teacher Albert Basserman wants his prize pupil to aspire to something more artistic. Gershwin responds with "Rhapsody in Blue", which debuts at Aeolian Hall in 1924 under the baton of bandleader Paul Whiteman (also playing himself). As his fame and workload grows, George finds he has no time at all for romance; the two (fictional) ladies in his life, both of whom eventually realize that they'll always have to play second fiddle to Gershwin's muse, are musical comedy star Joan Leslie and socialite Alexis Smith. Gershwin continues to compose such masterpieces as "An American in Paris", "Cuban Overture", "Concerto in F" and the 1935 folk opera Porgy and Bess. He will not allow himself to rest on his laurels, ruthlessly pushing himself to top all his previous accomplishments. Finally, the strain proves too great: George Gershwin dies of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1937, at the age of 39. Featured in the cast as themselves (in addition to those already mentioned) are Gershwin's lifelong friend Oscar Levant, producer George White, and Broadway performers Tom Patricola and Hazel Scott. Morris Carnovsky and Rosemary DeCamp play George's parents, while Julie Bishop is cast as Ira's wife Lee, who is saddled with the film's silliest line: "Ira, promise me that you'll never become a genius." Alternately hokey and inspired, Rhapsody in Blue has weathered the years as one of Hollywood's most solid biopics. And, as a bonus, we are treated to a virtually complete performance (running a full reel) of the title composition. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 19 min.
Directed By: Irving Rapper
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Jul 24, 1991
Studio: Warner Home Video

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The music is glorious, but the biopic is pedestrian and fictionlaized to a fault, and Robert Alda as the genius George Gerhsiwn is too bland
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It's the usual inaccurate Hollywood biopic.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Typical Hollywoodized biopic with some amazing moments.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Worthless as biography but what great music and Alexis Smith is always worth watching.

Cast

            Robert Alda as George Gershwin

            Joan Leslie as Julie Adams

            Alexis Smith as Christine Gilbert

            Charles Coburn as Max Dreyfus

            Julie Bishop as Lee Gershwin

            Oscar Levant as Himself

            Albert Basserman as Prof. Frank

            Morris Carnovsky as Papa Gershwin

            Rosemary De Camp as Momma Gershwin

            Al Jolson as Himself

            George White as Himself

            Hazel Scott as Herself

            Jamie Anne Brown as Bess

            Herbert Rudley as Ira Gershwin

            John B. Hughes as Commentator

            Mickey Roth as George Gershwin as a boy

            Darryl Hickman as Ira Gershwin as a Boy

            Charles Halton as Mr. Kast

            Andrew Tombes as Mr. Milton

            Gregory Golubeff as Mr. Katzman

            Walter Soderling as Mr. Muscatel

            Eddie Marr as Buddy De Sylva

            Theodore von Eltz as Foley

            Bill Kennedy as Herbert Stone

            Robert Shayne as Christine's Escort

            Johnny Downs as Dancer

            Ernest Golm as Otto Kahn

            Martin Noble as Jascha Heifetz

            Will Wright as Rachmaninoff

            Eddie Cantor
            
            Yola d'Avril as Prima Donna

            Claire Du Brey as Receptionist

            William Gillespie as Porgy

            Ivan Lebedeff as Guest in Nightclub

            Odette Myrtil as Mme. De Breteuil

            Jay Novello as Orchestra Leader

            Tom Patricola as Himself

            Paul Whiteman & Orch. as Themselves

            Frank Reicher
            
            Christian Rub as Swedish Janitor

            Virginia Sale as Cashier

            Harry Seymour as Piano Player

            Mark Stevens as Singer

            Ira Gershwin as Herbert Rudley

            George Riley as Comic

            Oscar Lorraine as Ravel

            Rob Johnson as Sport
See full cast