Main Cast: Doris Day, Danny Thomas, Frank Lovejoy, Patrice Wymore, James Gleason
Release Year: 1951
Country: US
Run Time: 109 minutes
Plot
The ultra-sentimental I'll See You in My Dreams is based on the life and work of composer Gus Kahn. The story is told from the point of view of Kahn' wife Grace, who was still alive when the film was made (Kahn died some ten years earlier). Danny Thomas stars as the prolific tunesmith, whose fortunes take an upswing in 1908 when he meets and falls in love with Grace LeBoy (Doris Day, who receives top billing, not to mention most of the best musical numbers). Kahn's career ascends to spectacular heights via such hits as "Pretty Baby", "My Buddy", "Toot Toot Tootsie" and "Making Whoopee", only to go into eclipse when he loses his savings in the 1929 stock-market crash. Convinced that he's lost his touch and that he's sacrificed true happiness to the evil goddess success, Kahn is ultimately gratified by the love and recognition of his peers. Among the famous personages imitated in I'll See You In My Dreams are Kahn's writing partner Walter Donaldson (Frank Lovejoy) and producers Sam Harris (Jim Backus) and Flo Ziegfeld (William Forrest). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
I'll See You in My Dreams is arguably the best songwriter biopic Hollywood created during the heyday of this genre. Not that the film is necessarily any more faithful to the facts than most other such entries; it's just that as drama it is much more satisfying. Key to the film's success is its emphasis on creating characters rather than caricatures (or worse, figureheads). Gus and Grace Kahn may not be as indelibly drawn as Blanche DuBois or Hamlet, but they are distinctive, living and breathing people, with charms, quirks, follies and foibles about which the audience can care. Also of note is the creators' decision to avoid overproduced musical numbers and focus on more intimate presentations, in keeping with the films overall small scale feel. There are some problems, of course -- Gus Kahn was a good lyricist, but not the "A" level talent with concomitant artistic aspirations presented here, and the character's claims toward elevated artistry are belied by the songs contained in the film. The last quarter of the film also takes an unfortunate turn into melodrama. However, on the whole Michael Curtiz does an admirable job keeping the tone unobtrusively sentimental, and Doris Day and Danny Thomas have an odd, appealing chemistry together. Day sounds very good, especially on "The One I Love." Four years later, Kahn's "Love Me or Leave Me" would be the title tune of one of Day's best pictures. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Mary Wickes - Anna; Julie Oshins - Johnny; Jim Backus - Sam Harris; Minna Gombell - Mrs. LeBoy; Harry Antrim - Mr. LeBoy; William Forrest - Florenz Ziegfeld; Robert Lyden - Donald at Age 8; Mimi Gibson - Irene at Age 3; Vince Barnett - Comic; Dan Barton - Hollywood Producer; George Neise - Isham Jones; Jack Williams; Clarence Landry - Dancer; Else Neft - Mrs. Kahn; Dick Simmons - Bert; Ray Kellogg - John McCormack
