Jordan Blake (a widower) is a successful Broadway producer who has always been too busy for his children, Barbara and Jerry. His girlfriend Carolina, a musical comedy star, urges Jordan to t... Read allJordan Blake (a widower) is a successful Broadway producer who has always been too busy for his children, Barbara and Jerry. His girlfriend Carolina, a musical comedy star, urges Jordan to take his kids on a vacation and get to know them before they are all grown up. Is Jordan al... Read allJordan Blake (a widower) is a successful Broadway producer who has always been too busy for his children, Barbara and Jerry. His girlfriend Carolina, a musical comedy star, urges Jordan to take his kids on a vacation and get to know them before they are all grown up. Is Jordan already too late?
- Director
- Writers
- Stars
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 2 nominations total
- Jerry Blake
- (as Bob Arthur)
- George - Jordan's Chauffeur
- (as Herbert Vigran)
- Waiter
- (uncredited)
- Waiter
- (uncredited)
- Dancer
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Bing's a successful stage actor who's about to marry his leading lady, Jane Wyman, when he discovers he's got a communication problem with his two kids. Daughter Natalie Wood wants to get into an exclusive girl's school and son Robert Arthur misreads some signals and starts crushing big time on Wyman.
Ethel Barrymore is headmistress of the school and she helps Crosby solve his daughter's problems. His son, after writing a love ballad for Wyman, is rebuffed and joins the Air Force. All is righted in the end and in the usual Crosby charming way.
Paramount gave Bing some good production numbers out of the Harry Warren-Leo Robin score. Bing sings I'll Si Si You In Bahia as a number from the show he's rehearsing and later sings The Live Oak Tree with the girls from the St. Hilary's School at their picnic. He also does a nice vaudeville patter number with character actor Ben Lessy called On the 10-10 from Ten-Ten-Tennessee.
The big hit is a duet with Crosby and Wyman called Zing a Little Zong which is a complete ripoff of the number he and Wyman did for Frank Capra in Here Comes The Groom. Well if they can't ripoff from themselves who can Bing and Jane ripoff from? The song was nominated for an Oscar, but lost to Do Not Forsake Me from High Noon.
Just For You is the title song and it's the one that Arthur writes for Wyman. A couple of numbers that Crosby recorded failed to make the cut, Spring Fever and A Flight of Fancy. The latter is heard as an instrumental background. It's one of my favorite Crosby songs and I wish it had been done in the film.
There are some terrific performances here. Robert Arthur is given one of his best roles as Bing's confused son, and he is both believable and touching as he falls in love with the much older Wyman. And Jane's a big surprise here too, singing well and looking stunning. And who could resist Natalie Wood in her early teens? But Ethel Barrymore was the highlight for me, although she seemed a little frail. The warmth and humanity she brought to all her roles is utilised beautifully here.
The costumes are magnificent, especially the multi-colored sequin gowns in the last scenes, and, although the ending is a little saccharine, this film is great entertainment.
Did you know
- TriviaOn the 10-inch Decca LP of selections from the Harry Warren-Jack Brooks film score, The Andrews Sisters, who did not appear in the movie, teamed up with Bing Crosby for two songs: "I'll Si-Si Ya in Bahia" and "The Live Oak Tree."
- Quotes
Barbara Blake: Daddy, if a person is well-bred, she's never drunk.
Jordan Blake: Is that so?
Barbara Blake: Ordinary people drink because they can't measure up to life. But well-bred people drink because, well, because life can't measure up to them. Mrs Angevine explained it to me.
Jordan Blake: Mrs. Angevine's got a hollow leg.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Biography: Julie Newmar: The Cat's Meow (2000)
- SoundtracksCall Me Tonight
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Leo Robin
Partially sung by Robert Arthur
Performed by Bing Crosby
Details
- Runtime1 hour 44 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1