Stars and Stripes Forever (Marching Along) (1952)

77% of users liked it
(252 ratings)

Stars and Stripes Forever is the highly fanciful filmed biography of "march king" John Philip Sousa. Clifton Webb does a fine job as Sousa, while Ruth Hussey is equally good in the less-demanding role of Sousa's wife. The problem faced by screenwriter Lamar Trotti (who adapted the film from Sousa's… More Stars and Stripes Forever is the highly fanciful filmed biography of "march king" John Philip Sousa. Clifton Webb does a fine job as Sousa, while Ruth Hussey is equally good in the less-demanding role of Sousa's wife. The problem faced by screenwriter Lamar Trotti (who adapted the film from Sousa's autobiography Marching Along) was that, outside of Sousa's early travails in organizing his own band after leaving the Marine Corps, there just wasn't much drama in the great composer's life. Thus, a secondary (and wholly fictional) romance involving young musician Willie (Robert Wagner) and ex-chorus girl Lily (Debra Paget) is given special emphasis. Willie invents the Sousaphone on behalf of his mentor, and upon returning from the Spanish American War minus one of his legs, Willie makes an inspirational solo appearance with the Sousa band. The best scenes include Sousa's ongoing efforts to break free from the "march king" onus and write romantic ballads, and Lily's high-kicking rendition of the music-hall ballad "Father's Got 'Em." When first telecast on NBC's Saturday Night at the Movies in 1962, Stars and Stripes Forever was accompanied by a short newsreel clip of the real John Philip Sousa in action. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Henry Koster
Written By: Lamar Trotti
Genres: Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 22, 1952 Wide
On DVD: Sep 26, 1991

Critic Reviews

James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Like The Music Man, Stars and Stripes Forever captures the turn of the century with loving accuracy, and that's part of the film's charm.
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
This is the kind of film that my father-in-law, who loves movies of the 50s and musical tributes, would love.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Great Sousa marches, credible acting by Clifton Webb make this a must see.

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Clifton Webb and Ruth Hussey work well together and make an endearing couple. Debra Paget is incredibly beautiful, Robert Wagner extremely handsome but the story is pure hollywood pap. However the music is rousing and wonderful and the production levels high. A most enjoyable… More
Clifton Webb and Ruth Hussey work well together and make an endearing couple. Debra Paget is incredibly beautiful, Robert Wagner extremely handsome but the story is pure hollywood pap. However the music is rousing and wonderful and the production levels high. A most enjoyable entertainment.

Cast

            Clifton Webb as John Philip Sousa

            Debra Paget as Lily

            Robert Wagner as Willie Little

            Ruth Hussey as Jennie Sousa

            Finlay Currie as Col. Randolph

            Benay Venuta as Mme. Bernsdorff-Mueller

            Roy Roberts as Maj. Houston

            Lester Matthews as Mr. Pickering

            Maudie Prickett as Maid

            Ernö Verebes as Organ Grinder

            Richard Garrick as Secretary of the Navy

            Romo Vincent as Music Professor

            Florence Shirley as Navy Nurse

            Delos Jewkes as Bass Singer

            Norman Leavitt as Purvis

            Roy Gordon as President Benjamin Harrison

            Helen Van Tuyl as Mrs. Harrison

            Walter Woolf King as President's Aide

            Roger Moore as President's Aides

            Thomas E. Jackson as Senator

            Maude Wallace as Nora

            William Vedder as Prof. Estaban

            Olan Soule as Glove Salesman

            Aileen Carlyle as Mme. Liebling

            Paul Maxey as Mr. McCaull

            Frank Ferguson
            
            Thomas Brown Henry as David Blakely

            Nicholas Koster as John Philip Sousa Jr.

            Jack Rice
            
            Thomas Browne Henry
            
See full cast