TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY

US, 1946, 132 minutes, Colour.
Robert Walker, Van Heflin, June Allyson, Kathryn Grayson, Cyd Charisse, Lucille Bremer, Van Johnson, Lena Horne, Tony Martin, Dinah Shore, Judy Garland, Gower Champion, Frank Sinatra.
Directed by Richard Whorf.

A lush musical bibography of Jerome kern made just before the compeser died. The presentation of his life story Is done in a somewhat sentimental vein. He is portrayed quite nicely by Robert Walker. Van Heflin as his associate comes across much more strongly.

However, it was an occasion for many of the contract players at M.G.M. to sing and to dance Jerome Kern's music. These sequences are quite effective and give a good understanding of the M.G.M. musical style. Of interest is Kathryn Grayson singing songs from 'Showboat' which she was to do in the later film version. However, here she is partnered by Tony Martin. There are glimpses, only momentarily, of Gower Champion and Cyd Charisse dancing. Van Johnson does quite an effective song-and-dance act with Lucille Bremer. Judy Garland appears in the drama and also does some songs, most notably 'Look For The Silver Lining’ and these sequences were directed personally by her then husband Vincente Minnelli, who was directing so many good musicals at M.G.M. at the time.

The film covers quite a range of Kern's music and focuses initially on a quarter-of-an-hour medley of 'Showboat’ and a final twenty minutes or so summarising and giving outlines of his famous songs sung by a wide variety of the stars. Till The Clouds Roll By is not so effective as drama or even as biography but is an attractive M.G.M. musical.