Rhythm on the River

A film starring Bing Crosby, Mary Martin and Basil Rathbone, with a screenplay co-written by Billy Wilder and directed by Victor Schertzinger promised so much. The good news is that it delivers on all the goods.

There are better film musicals out there than 'Rhythm on the River', ones with songs that are so easy to remember, timeless and have become standards or had truly lavish production values and choreography to die for. Not saying that 'Rhythm on the River' didn't have those things, just that other film musicals did even better in that regard. There actually is not anything wrong with the film, and it was a great hit on release and the appeal is entirely justified.

'Rhythm on the River' is a handsome-looking film, beautifully photographed and while the costumes and sets are not exactly spectacular they are hardly cheap either. While none of them are standards as such, the songs are pleasantly good and in the case of the best of them pretty exquisite. Wasn't entirely crazy on "Tiger Rag", but certainly really dig the title song and especially the sublime "Only Forever".

Schertzinger's direction is more than amiable, and the script is very engaging and witty especially with the chemistry between Rathbone and Oscar Levant. The story is somewhat thin and predictable, but this doesn't really matter when there is so much fun and charm and the chemistry between the performers is so good, not just the endearing one between Crosby and Martin but even more so between Rathbone and Levant.

All the acting is fine. Crosby is relaxed and charming and as ever sings an absolute dream. While Martin proves that it is a mystery as to why she didn't make it bigger in films as she is clearly enjoying herself, radiates and has a beautiful voice. Rathbone has a comedic character that is quite a departure compared to his usual roles, and he is a joy, in fact he's never been funnier and one wishes that he showed his comedic chops more because he proves that he certainly has them. Levant is suitably amusing.

On the whole, fun and charming film and not hard to see why it was a hit. 9/10 Bethany Cox

"Rhythm on the River" is one of Bing Crosby's finest of his underrated Paramount musicals.

I discovered it last night, along with another Crosby musical vehicle called "We're Not Dressing" (1934). I never thought both would turn out to be this great. They are the kind of honest, feel-good musicals I'd enjoy and watch them over and over again.

Lightly directed by that underrated stylist Victor Schertzinger, "Rhythm on the River" is a pleasant, surprisingly genial little musical comedy about a gifted and unobserved pop composer Bob Sommers (Crosby) who happens to be in love with an equally gifted musician Cherry Lane (Mary Martin). Both are ghostwriters for a famous has-been composer Oliver Courtney (Basil Rathbone in a fine, delightful role) who uses Bob and Cherry's lyrics & songs for his own good. Oscar Levant has a good supporting role as Billy Starbuck, Oliver's closest friend, the one that inspires Bob and Cherry to write more lyrics and songs for his untalented buddy.

Mr. Crosby and Ms. Martin have awesome chemistry on screen. Their singing and charming camaraderie are wonderfully observed. I particularly adore Ms. Martin; I thought she was her very touching in her performance and kinda reminded me of Margaret Sullavan, with her sweet, humble innocence or dedication.

The memorable songs include "That's For Me", "Ain't It a Shame About Mame" (both sung by Martin), "What Would Shakespeare Have Said?", "Rhythm on the River" (both sung by Crosby), and the unforgettable "Only Forever" (sung by Martin and Crosby together).

"Rhythm on the River" is available on VHS/DVD, courtesy of MCA/Universal Home Video in good transfer and I recommend it to you.

and what a combo. Two of the century's great singers star together in this underrated musical. He writes music, she writes lyrics, and they both work for Basil Rathbone who can't write either because his wife died (actually she just got fat!). Best scene is the pawn shop number where Bing sings an impromptu number while the swing band gets their instruments out of hock. Just wonderful. And this is a rare starring role for Broadway legend, Mary Martin, and she's quite good. Charley Grapewin, John Scott Trotter, William Frawley, Oscar Levant (once again the manic pianist), Charles Lane, and Helen Bertram co-star. And who knew Rathbone could be funny?

While a pleasant enough musical, what stuck with me about this movie was the unexpected comedic chemistry between Basil Rathbone, as the has-been composer, and Oscar Levant as his assistant. Playing a high strung, distracted artistic type (a far cry from his more familiar roles as either menacing villains or the coolly logical Sherlock Holmes), Rathbone's character looks like he couldn't find his way out of bed without help. And that help is Starbuck, played with his usual droll humor by Oscar Levant. Upon hiring Crosby's character as his ghost song writer, Rathbone introduces him to Starbuck by saying, "He does all my thinking for me.", to which Levant responds, "Ah, it's only a part-time job." Of course this goes right past (or over) Rathbone, who's too busy fretting about where his next hit song will come from. As another reviewer said, who knew Rathbone could be so funny! Too bad he didn't have more opportunities to display his comedic talent.

After you've seen this, you can't say that Bing Crosby didn't do his best--in this film and in" Birth of the Blues"--to give credit where credit is due for the origins of truly American music. Here he is teamed with Mary Martin, who starred in "South Pacific" when it played on Broadway. Crosby did a lot to popularize a smooth white, if you will, form of jazz that has helped it endure to this day and to claim its proper place in the canon. His version of the title song is a classic. --Musicals on the Silver Screen, American Library Association, 2013