With a Song in My Heart

Saw this movie at the age of 16 and fell immediately in love with Susan Hayward. The plot seems a bit contrived now, although it is fairly faithful to Froman's physical problem and her contributions in entertaining the troops in WWII. The music is wonderful! "Get Happy" is still one of my favorite movie production numbers. By the way, it is not Hayward doing the singing, but Jane Froman herself whose voice was dubbed into the soundtrack.

Susan Hayward was at her best in this very sympathetic role portraying singer Jane Froman.... She looked beautiful throughout the entire production, even during the plane crash sequence....N o one lip synched better than Hayward !(also synched in Ill Cry Tomorrow, although might have done some of her vocalizing there.)...beautiful heartwarming story, how accurate,? will never know, it was an entertainment... and it entertained... The soundtrack/score is exceptional, especially the Americana medley...Thelma Ritter once again is a scene stealer... beautiful blue eyed Rory Calhoun, plays and looks his part well, and Robert Wagner was also a standout, in a minor, but moving role.. Why is this no longer available on Video?? It hasnt been for over 20 years... Thanks to AMC, Ive seen it again afew times. and luckily I do have the soundtrack lp on Vinyl....Hayward fans incl. myself should demand this film to be re-issued on Video & DVD !!!!

"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.

If for no other reason than the extraordinary soundtrack, 20th Century Fox should have already released "With A Song in My Heart" on DVD/VHS. With music written by such diverse composers as Rodgers & Hart; Sammy Fain; Harold Arlen, Peggy Lee, Vincent Youmans, George & Ira Gershwin; Arthur Schwartz Frank Loesser; Jule Stein & Sammy Cahn,and a medley of classic "Americana" songs, it is a musical delight. The vocals, performed by Susan Hayward, but dubbed by Jane Froman, are flawless.

Susan Hayward does a superb job as do David Wayne, Thelma Ritter, and a marvelous supporting cast, including Robert Wagner, Max Showalter and Una Merkle. Only Rory Calhoun seems wooden. It is a story of grit and determination that deserves an audience 50 years later.

Susan Hayward portrays superbly the beautiful and courageous Jane Froman in this moving biographical story of the talented singer who suffered severe physical injuries when her plane crashed on a USO tour during World War II, yet who rose to the top again through her determination and faith. Her struggle greatly influenced the morale of the war wounded, as well as an entire generation of teenagers, myself included, when this movie first appeared in 1952. Today there is a resurgence of interest in the singer and her classically trained voice, considered one of the best of her time. This movie is an excellent record of Jane Froman's own voice, as it is her voice on the soundtrack, singing 26 songs representing the finest songwriters of the day.