Frances Chung Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Geraldine The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Janis One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

mark.waltz Musical biographies of famous composers and singers are a mixed bag. For singers, look at Al Jolson, then compare that with a film about Eddie Cantor. Grace Moore got a mixed bag, while dancer Marilyn Miller's silver lining was slightly invisible. Doris Day scored highly as roaring 20's sob sister Ruth Etting. Like Etting, for the story on Jane Froman, Hollywood got it right, creating a story where the heart is as big as the area Froman toured, entertaining the troops after her own serious accident almost destroyed her career.Susan Hayward struck gold for the role of the ambitious, but generally nice Jane Froman, rising to the top of radio simply just through her talent. Singing advertisements during the radio show commercials brought her to frequent guest star, then to recording star, and finally, appearing in films and on Broadway. Marriage to a nice guy (David Wayne) she probably doesn't love but still feels loyalty towards proves how decent she was. Then, war rolls around, and Jane is off to entertain the troops. Tragedy intervenes and after a difficult recovery period, she is back on her feet, sadly in crutches, and becomes the darling of the camp shows, deservedly winning their loyalty.Utilizing Froman's voice for the soundtrack, Hayward acts out each song as if she were singing it herself. She is radiant in a rousing "Get Happy!", opera-like in the elaborately staged title song, and a true star with "On the Gay White Way". Hiding her crutches, she entertains a group of soldiers (including a very handsome Robert Wagner) and later goes off to the camps where she once again encounters Wagner, now very different than the first time she saw him. When he asks her to sing "I Walk Alone", there is a profound irony to the sequence that will most likely drench you in tears.One of the major musical highlights of the film is a salute to the American spirit that goes all over the map. "Texas?", she shouts vigorously to one spirited soldier, "Never heard of it!". While Jane's body may be crippled, her spirit wasn't, and that's what makes this film exciting and totally memorable. She singles out the quiet soldier in the wheelchair who has followed her from camp to camp with the response to his request, "For you, anything." Hayward was known for tough girls hiding their hearts of gold, but in this film, her heart is on her sleeve, and it is obvious that Hayward took this part into her own heart as well. The very same year, Froman also recorded the Vivienne Segal songs for the revival cast album of "Pal Joey", and years later, there was a double C.D. of both this movie and that cast album that is a must buy if you can find it.Thelma Ritter has a major role as the nurse who is instrumental in helping Hayward recover, and one sequence has her standing up to the frustrated patient by letting her know in no uncertain terms will she put up with her self-pity. This is why during the 1950's, Ritter was nominated for an Oscar practically every year. Her own heart of gold was laced with truth, and that's what makes her special. Una Merkel is also memorable in a small role as a kindly nun who encounters Hayward and Ritter in the hospital and encourages her recovery through her singing. Helen Westcott has a profound smaller role as a woman Hayward encounters on her overseas plane ride, while funny man Max Showalter is amusing in his few scenes as Wayne's former vaudeville partner.There are so many wonderful moments in this all time fabulous musical that I could never list them all. This is a story that remains timely today, and with all of the old musicals being revised for Broadway, this would be a perfect story. Hayward would have another success as a real-life singer (Lillian Roth) in the profound "I'll Cry Tomorrow", but there, it was the tough Susan Hayward in control, not the softer, more vulnerable one. This is the one I prefer.

NCCOBEAR I am now a happy camper, as this wonderfully inspiring film is now on DVD. I had a copy off of TV, and the color & sound wasn't the best, but I made do until today. Miss Hayward has always been on of my favorite actresses, and she is surrounded in the biopic by a perfect cast of supporting players. David Wayne as her first husband & manager, Rory Calhoun as her second husband who she meets and falls in love with during the course of the movie, and the ever tart tongued Thelma Ritter, a nurse with a rough exterior, but a heart of gold. Also in the cast is a very young Robert Wagner, who has two wonderful scenes with Miss Hayward.Miss Froman's story is an amazing one, from contract player to major star, and Miss Hayward is astonishing portraying her.

Stormy_Autumn "With a Song in My Heart" (1952) finds director Walter Lang at the helm.Famous singer Jane Froman is asked by the USO to entertain the troops during WWII. On her way to join the tour her plane crashes in the waters off Lisbon, Portugal. Jane, along with other passengers and crew, lives but her legs are badly injured. It looks like her tour of duty is over before it even starts. But, don't count Jane out yet! Don Ross is Jane's husband. He started the new, young singer off on her career. Next we have Clancy who becomes Jane's nurse and right-hand woman. She will be there to nurse and encourage Jane back to health. Clancy will, also, firmly discourage her from feeling sorry for herself.John Burn comes on the scene as the plane's injured pilot. He gets to know Jane at the Lisbon hospital they're in together. Of course, we wonder, will they fall for each other? (I wondered what Don would think if they did.) After several operations Jane decides to take a break. It's time to start her part of the USO tour. (And take a break from doctors and hospitals.) This isn't going to be easy but Clancy will be there to keep the ball rolling and give the needed orders. From here on we learn about USO entertainers. Things that happened to them: Jeeps stuck in mud. Soldiers waylaid by Clancy to get their jeep out of the mud. How Jane strengthened wounded soldiers and by overcoming her own problems to entertain them. What courage she showed on the USO Tours and during subsequent leg surgeries she would have to endure.And, from beginning to end, we get to watch Susan Hayward do a dandy job of being Jane as Susan lip-syncs to the songs with the voice of Jane Froman. These recordings were made for the movie soundtrack.Is this biographical film factual? No! But it's hard to find actual, factual, filmed biographies. Is it worth watching? Yes. If for no other reason than to see Susan Hayward and hear Jane Froman sing. I enjoyed this movie mainly because of the acting and music. Then we have Thelma Ritter who made every movie she was in special. This cast includes: Susan Hayward as Jane Froman; Rory Calhoun as John Burn; David Wayne as Don Ross; Thelma Ritter as Clancy; Robert Wagner as the GI paratrooper; Helen Westcott as Jennifer March; Una Merkel as Sister Marie.

teburge2000 I found this film both informative and entertaining. It is the story of the life and trials of Jane Froman. I'm surprised it has never been released on video. I was however under the impression that Jane Froman "dubbed" all of the vocals for the movie. Thanks to the previous comment stating Susan Hayward did her own singing. One interesting thing I heard (probably on a TV documentary or biography) was that this was the only movie of hers that Ms. Hayward allowed her children to see. No doubt that rule lasted only until they were "of age", if not, they missed some really great performances by this star. David Wayne, Rory Calhoun and Thelma Ritter also turned in sterling performances. Watch for a very early appearance by Robert Wagner.