THEY SHALL HAVE MUSIC
US, 1939, 105 minutes, Black and white.
Joel Mc Crea, Jascha Heifetz, Walter Brennan, Andrea Leeds, Gene Reynolds, Terry Kilburn, Diana Lynn,
Porter Hall, (Dolly Loehr).
Directed by Archie Mayo.
They Shall Have Music was a popular entertainment of the late '30s. Directed by Archie Mayo, veteran of thrillers, gangster films and musicals, it capitalised on the interest of audiences in the popularizing of classical music. This had been a success with Deanna Durban and Leopold Stokowsky in One Hundred Men and a Girl. Producer Sam Goldwyn attempted his blending of the classics with the Dead End Kids.
Walter Brennan enjoys himself as an absent-minded professor of music, taking care of talented youngsters who have no money. Joel McCrea? and Andrea Leeds are a pleasant hero and heroine. There is a focus on dead-end kids, their lack of opportunity. Marjorie Main makes a sympathetic appearance as the mother of the central youngster, Frankie. However, the focus is on the violin-playing of Jascha Heifetz. He plays in recital, concerts and a film within a film.
1. Popular entertainment of the 1930s? The focus on classical music? The focus on slum kids and their opportunities, creativity?
2. Black and white photography, the atmosphere of New York, the slums, the world of concerts and entertainers, the business world? The importance of the music? The selection of classical music, the violin-playing of Jascha Heifetz? The playing of the children?
3. The title and its focus on music - its universality, available for all, especially the poor?
4. The Dead End Kids style opening? Frankie and the gang, their bullying? Frankie and the concern of his mother, protectiveness? The stepfather and his resentment, threatening Frankie with reform school? His father's violin? The encounter with the kids, their revenge on him? Limey and their going to the concert? Frankie caught up with the violin-playing? Running away from home, hiding, hungry, the being sheltered by Anne? Introduction to Professor Lawson, idiosyncratic playing with his tongue out, his involvement with the orchestra, training? The plans for the concert, playing for funds on the street, the encounter with Heifetz, the preparations for the concert, the film? His running away, his not wanting to be found to go to reform school, the boys stealing the precious violin? His returning it?, The happy ending?
5. Anne and her devotion to her father, her love for Peter, keeping the school going, concealing the truth about the funds, Mr. Flower and the instruments, the businessmen, the possibility of the Heifetz concert? Peter and his attempts to help the school? His being detained by the police? Romantic leads?
6. Professor Lawson, his music, care for the children, traning, oblivious of reality, Heifetz, the vindication of his school?
7. Jascha Heifetz as actor, celebrity, his involvement with the children, his overseas tours, the loss of his violin, care for the children, sending them the film, playing with them?
8. Mr. Flower and the selfish businessmen - their disdain for the school, concern about money, name-dropping with Haifetz? The mothers barricading the concert and preventing him entering?
9. The children and their talent, playing, singing? Getting funds for the school? The performance at the concert?
10. The slum boys and the stealing of the violin, the dilemma, returning it?
11. Attractive-and sentimental themes? The innate goodness of youngsters in impoverished circumstances? Their creativity and talent? A pleasand blend of classical music, popular themes and sentiment?
