DEEP IN MY HEART
US, 1954, 132 minutes, Colour.
Jose Ferrer, Merle Oberon, Paul Henreid (as Ziegfeld), Walter Pidgeon, Helen Traubel, Doe Avedon, Tamara Toumanova, Paul Stewart, Isobel Elsom, David Burns, Jim Backus, with Gene Kelly, Fred Kelly, Rosemary Clooney, Jane Powell, Ann Miller, Cyd Charisse, Howard Keel, Tony Martin, Joan Weldon.
Directed by Stanley Donen.
Deep in My Heart is a pleasant biopic tribute to Sigmund Romberg. Popular for such musicals as Maytime, The Student Prince, Desert Song, New Moon, Romberg was one of the creators of the musical comedy operetta for the American stage. A refugee from Europe, he was influenced by ragtime and wrote for Broadway shows in the early part of the century. His major music, however, was for his musicals - music to sing, dance and love by. His many romantic melodies are well remembered.
Jose Ferrer, who had won an Oscar for Cyrano de Bergerac in 1950 and had appeared in such films as Miss Sadie Thompson, The Caine Mutiny, is good as Romberg - especially in a tour de force performance demonstrating all the roles, songs and conventions of a would-be musical. He is supported by a graceful Merle Oberon as writer Dorothy Donnelly. Opera star Helen Traubel enjoys herself as Romberg’s mentor.
There is a good line-up of M.G.M. stars to put Romberg's music and lyrics across - Jane Powell and Vic Damone for Maytime, Rosemary Clooney (Mrs. Ferrer at the time) sings with her husband, Gene Kelly and his brother Fred do a song and dance routine. Cyd Charisse sings One Alone and dances to the music of Desert Song. Howard Keel sings From My Maryland and Tony Martin sings New Moon. Direction is by Stanley Donen, who had worked with Gene Kelly in On The Town, Singin' In The Rain and had directed a number of slight musicals before moving on to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and a long career of stylish entertainments.
1. Enjoyment value of this kind of Hollywood memoir-tribute? Its M.G.M. glossy style? Big budget orchestras, production numbers, guest stars? A piece of Americana?
2. M.G.M. production values: colour photography, the staging of the musical numbers, the cast and its acting strength, the musical stars? The tribute viewpoint? Sentimental - fictionalised, but entertaining?
3. The songs and their use: the title song and its initial orchestration? His tribute song at the end for his wife? The early ragtime songs? The influences of Vienna and ragtime? Broadway and the Schubert musicals? Romberg's operetta success with Maytime? The Student Prince, Desert Song, My Maryland, New Moon? The recital at Carnegie Hall? The background of Romberg's training, European influences, American influences? The collaboration with Dorothy Donnelly? The influence of Anna Muller?
4. The basic plot - conventional biopic material: migrants in New York making a living, the Vienna Cafe, the fast-talking agents and their money deals, Schubert and his musicals and their glamour, the irony of the star jazzing up Softly As In A Morning Sunrise? Townsend and his money deals? The writers? Ziegfeld and Dorothy Donnelly's patronage and manoeuvring? Romberg's love of wealth? The parties at the Cafe Vienna for the musicals? Success? His flop at production? The encounter with Lilian and her mother and his romance? The humour of presenting Jazza-doo? His moping for a year - re-meeting Lilian and the marriage after the success of The Student Prince? The variety of his plays and musicals? Successes and flops? Dorothy Donnelly's death? The collaboration with Oscar Hammerstein? The tribute in Carnegie Hall and his reflections on his life and place in the American theatre? Jose Ferrer in the title role - singing, dancing, acting?
5. The importance of the women in his life: Anna Muller and her support at the Cafe Vienna, support over the years, her singing of his songs - and the presentation of Softly, in contrast with the Broadway presentation, Stout-hearted Men? Dorothy Donnelly and her work in the Broadway theatre, influence in impresarios, her faith in Sigmund Romberg, the collaboration with The Student Prince, her death? Lilian and her mother - the humorous initial encounter? Romberg's plans, manoeuvres? The misfire with the violets? Her leaving and his moping? Re-meeting her, her decision to marry him? Her comment on the musicals? Her influence, his tribute to her?
6. The background of Broadway: Schubert and his plays, Gabby and her theatrical tantrums, Romberg's dissatisfaction with the productions - yet his collaborating with them? The ploy with Ziegfeld? Townsend and his philosophy of money and business, his allowing Romberg to flop with his own production, the continued support? The writers?
7. Themes of talent and drive, wealth and corruption, love and faith?
8. The background of the European migrants to the United States, adapting to their new country, the fulfilment of the American dream?
9. Romberg's place in the history of 20th. century popular music?
