YOUNG MAN WITH HORN

US, 1950, 112 minutes, Black and white.
Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall, Doris Day, Hoagy Carmichael, Juan Fernandez.
Directed by Michael Curtiz.

is a dramatic musical based on the life of trumpeter Bix Beiderbecke. He is portrayed by Kirk Douglas at the beginning of his career at the time of such films as Champion. Douglas brings his usual intensity and dramatic skills to the role. Lauren Bacall has a typical role as an alluring but confused society woman and Doris Day is the wholesome singer. The film gave Doris Day a chance at some dramatic acting as well as singing. Hoagy Carmichael has a supporting role and Juano Hernandez is effective as an older black trumpet player.
Harry James plays the trumpet for Douglas's performance.

The film is directed by Michael Curtiz, who made many action films at Warner Bros in the thirties and forties. He was to make several musicals including Doris Day's first film Romance On The High Seas as well as White Christmas and The Vagabond King. The film is somewhat dated in its moralising treatment. However, the intensity of Kirk Douglas carries the film through and it makes quite some impact now.

1. The quality of Warner Bros' black and white dramas: photography, sets, music? The stars? How enjoyable, interesting a biography? A picture of the United States in the early part of the century?

2. The styles of the stars at the beginning of their careers? Their lasting presence on the screen?

3. The film based on fact: the impact of biographical films? The change of names and detail? The general background, the focus on the personality and complex? Poverty in origins, particular gifts, successes and failures, the happy endings? The conventions of this kind of film - how well used here?

4. The contribution of the music? The trumpet-playing? The skill in the trumpet work? Doris Day's singing?

5. Smoke and his telling the story? The voiceover narrative, the opportunity to comment and moralise? The invitation to audiences to identify? The film making judgments on Rick and his career?

6. The flashbacks to the lonely boy, death, his selfish sister, his being left alone, his car for music, the Salvation Army, the nightclub, the kindly trumpet player and his teaching him, his becoming an idol? The information about music, trumpet-playing, the buying of a trumpet? The collage of practice and success? His growing up with this background? Natural gift, training?

7. The teacher and his welcoming Rick into the club, kindliness? The advice given for playing, for his going to New York? Rick's arrival at his club and staying with him? Helping him during his success? The clash over Alma? Rick as being indirectly the cause of the death? A portrait of a black trumpet player?

8. The New York atmosphere, the contrast with Missouri? His luck in going into a band? Jo and her friendship? Arguments? Rick and his wanting to play more than the bland dance music? Clashes with authorities? Jo and her records? Her advice? The introduction to Alma and her warning Rick against her? Her sustaining him at the end? Doris Day and her image as the wholesome American girl? Alma's comments in this vein during the film?

9. The contrast with Alma - Lauren Bacall's suave and smooth personality, her talking, studies, seduction? Her unreality and confusion? The marriage, the irresponsible and unreal life, spending? Their not getting to know each other? Smoke's commentary on the marriage? The clashes, Alma's going back to study and failing? her admiring Rick and his excellence in his field? The death, the funeral, the party and Alma's tantrum and leaving? A portrait of a selfish confused woman with a sense of inferiority?

10. Rick's career - beginnings with the band, enjoying his music, being employed in a fashionable club, his going to help his friend and playing with skill and art? The influence of his marriage? His going downhill, drinking, illness? The breaking of the horn, the buying of the old horn and carrying it around with him? The significance of the film's title? Jo and her help to build him up again? Making a success of his life?

11. Smoke and his place in the band, his friendship and support for Rick? The point of view of his telling the story?

12. The picture of America in the 20th Century from Missouri to New York, the types of people - family, selfish sister, the people in the bands, gangsters, society?

13. The film's focus on a man with a gift and his use of it, the torment, the fulfilment? Audience response to music and drama?