Rhythm on the River
Encyclopedia
Rhythm on the River is a 1940 musical
comedy film
starring Bing Crosby
and Mary Martin
as ghostwriter
s whose songs are credited to a composer played by Basil Rathbone
. James V. Monaco (music) and Johnny Burke
(lyrics) were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song
for "Only Forever".
) is an arrogant composer who lets other people work at songs he takes credit for. Bob Sommers (Bing Crosby
) writes his tunes with Billy Starbuck (Oscar Levant
). At the night of a social Christmas party, Oliver introduces Bob's song What Would Shakespeare Have Said? as his own. Later that night, Oliver thanks Bob for his loyalty and offers him a contract, securing him with $50 a week for a period of three years. He refuses, saying he would rather have a catboat
to visit his uncle at his river hotel, called Nobody's Inn.
After his lyric writer dies, Oliver assigns Cherry Lane (Mary Martin
) as his replacement. She is reluctant about serving as someone's ghost writer, but accepts his offer. He is satisfied with her first lyric. She becomes ambitious to write better lines, but isn't able to concentrate at home and is suggested to move to a small and quiet place. Meanwhile, Bob and Cherry meet several times, without knowing they are working with each other. She doesn't think highly of him.
To work in a perfect environment, Cherry travels to Tarrytown and stays at Nobody's Inn. Bob decides to give the inn a visit at the same time and they are shocked when they run into each other yet again. They soon become acquainted and actually start liking each other. They even compose their own song. However, because they aren't allowed to tell who they are working for, they don't find out they're colleagues. She becomes mad at him when he plays the song she wrote the lines for, and states he wrote it himself.
Bob is confused and travels back to town to resign. Cherry has come to office as well to inform her boss she thinks someone has stolen his lines. They are confronted with each other and realize they were working with each other all along. Bob and Cherry make up and decide to start their own music composing career as a pair. After a few unsuccessful auditions, Bob agrees to start a band. They audition at Mr. Westlake (William Frawley
), who is only interested in Cherry. He offers her a job as a nightclub singer, but she is loyal to the band and rejects his offer.
Bob notices it is a great opportunity for Cherry and gives her his consent to work for Mr. Westlake. He takes his job back as Oliver's ghost writer and raises $200 so Cherry can premiere with the song they wrote together at Nobody's Inn. However, she is unhappy at her new job and is helped by Bob to get her out of her contract. Oliver feels sympathy for them and pursues them not to walk away by announcing the song is not written by him. After announcing they will soon marry, Bob and Cherry perform their song.
Various musicians and entertainers also make appearances, including Wingy Manone
, Jack Pepper
, and Harry Barris
, because a (fictional) song named "Goodbye to Love
" is mentioned. Richard Carpenter
saw the film and thought that would be a good title for a Carpenters song
, which was eventually recorded and released in 1972.
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
starring Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
and Mary Martin
Mary Martin
Mary Virginia Martin was an American actress and singer. She originated many roles over her career including Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria in The Sound of Music. She was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1989...
as ghostwriter
Ghostwriter
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. Celebrities, executives, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, magazine articles, or other written...
s whose songs are credited to a composer played by Basil Rathbone
Basil Rathbone
Sir Basil Rathbone, KBE, MC, Kt was an English actor. He rose to prominence in England as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in over 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and, occasionally, horror films...
. James V. Monaco (music) and Johnny Burke
Johnny Burke
Johnny Burke was a Newfoundland songwriter and musician. He was nicknamed the 'Bard of Prescott Street'. He wrote many popular songs that artists in the 1930s and 1940s released.Popular songs by Burke include:* The Night Paddy Murphy Died...
(lyrics) were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song
Academy Award for Best Original Song
The Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film...
for "Only Forever".
Plot
Oliver Courtney (Basil RathboneBasil Rathbone
Sir Basil Rathbone, KBE, MC, Kt was an English actor. He rose to prominence in England as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in over 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and, occasionally, horror films...
) is an arrogant composer who lets other people work at songs he takes credit for. Bob Sommers (Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
) writes his tunes with Billy Starbuck (Oscar Levant
Oscar Levant
Oscar Levant was an American pianist, composer, author, comedian, and actor. He was more famous for his mordant character and witticisms, on the radio and in movies and television, than for his music.-Life and career:...
). At the night of a social Christmas party, Oliver introduces Bob's song What Would Shakespeare Have Said? as his own. Later that night, Oliver thanks Bob for his loyalty and offers him a contract, securing him with $50 a week for a period of three years. He refuses, saying he would rather have a catboat
Catboat
A catboat , or a cat-rigged sailboat, is a sailing vessel characterized by a single mast carried well forward ....
to visit his uncle at his river hotel, called Nobody's Inn.
After his lyric writer dies, Oliver assigns Cherry Lane (Mary Martin
Mary Martin
Mary Virginia Martin was an American actress and singer. She originated many roles over her career including Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria in The Sound of Music. She was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1989...
) as his replacement. She is reluctant about serving as someone's ghost writer, but accepts his offer. He is satisfied with her first lyric. She becomes ambitious to write better lines, but isn't able to concentrate at home and is suggested to move to a small and quiet place. Meanwhile, Bob and Cherry meet several times, without knowing they are working with each other. She doesn't think highly of him.
To work in a perfect environment, Cherry travels to Tarrytown and stays at Nobody's Inn. Bob decides to give the inn a visit at the same time and they are shocked when they run into each other yet again. They soon become acquainted and actually start liking each other. They even compose their own song. However, because they aren't allowed to tell who they are working for, they don't find out they're colleagues. She becomes mad at him when he plays the song she wrote the lines for, and states he wrote it himself.
Bob is confused and travels back to town to resign. Cherry has come to office as well to inform her boss she thinks someone has stolen his lines. They are confronted with each other and realize they were working with each other all along. Bob and Cherry make up and decide to start their own music composing career as a pair. After a few unsuccessful auditions, Bob agrees to start a band. They audition at Mr. Westlake (William Frawley
William Frawley
William Clement "Bill" Frawley was an American stage entertainer, screen and television actor. Although Frawley acted in over 100 films, he achieved his greatest fame playing landlord Fred Mertz for the situation comedy I Love Lucy.-Early life:William was born to Michael A. Frawley and Mary E....
), who is only interested in Cherry. He offers her a job as a nightclub singer, but she is loyal to the band and rejects his offer.
Bob notices it is a great opportunity for Cherry and gives her his consent to work for Mr. Westlake. He takes his job back as Oliver's ghost writer and raises $200 so Cherry can premiere with the song they wrote together at Nobody's Inn. However, she is unhappy at her new job and is helped by Bob to get her out of her contract. Oliver feels sympathy for them and pursues them not to walk away by announcing the song is not written by him. After announcing they will soon marry, Bob and Cherry perform their song.
Cast
- Bing CrosbyBing CrosbyHarry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
as Bob Sommers - Mary MartinMary MartinMary Virginia Martin was an American actress and singer. She originated many roles over her career including Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria in The Sound of Music. She was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1989...
as Cherry Lane - Basil RathboneBasil RathboneSir Basil Rathbone, KBE, MC, Kt was an English actor. He rose to prominence in England as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in over 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and, occasionally, horror films...
as Oliver Courtney - Oscar LevantOscar LevantOscar Levant was an American pianist, composer, author, comedian, and actor. He was more famous for his mordant character and witticisms, on the radio and in movies and television, than for his music.-Life and career:...
as Billy Starbuck - Oscar ShawOscar ShawOscar Shaw , was a stage and screen actor and singer...
as Charlie Goodrich - Charley Grapewin as Uncle Caleb
- Lillian Cornell as Millie Starling
- William FrawleyWilliam FrawleyWilliam Clement "Bill" Frawley was an American stage entertainer, screen and television actor. Although Frawley acted in over 100 films, he achieved his greatest fame playing landlord Fred Mertz for the situation comedy I Love Lucy.-Early life:William was born to Michael A. Frawley and Mary E....
as Mr. Westlake - John Scott Trotter as Himself (orchestra leader)
- Jeanne CagneyJeanne CagneyJeanne Carolyn Cagney was an American film and television actress.-Biography:She was born in New York City, the younger sister of film actor James Cagney and actor/producer William Cagney. She married Jack Morrison on June 6, 1953; they had two children...
as Country cousin - Charles LaneCharles Lane (actor)Charles Gerstle Levison , better known as Charles Lane, was an American character actor seen in many movies and TV shows, and at the time of his death may have been the oldest living professional American actor. Lane appeared in many Frank Capra films, including You Can't Take It With You , Mr...
as Bernard Schwartz - Helen Bertram as Aunt Delia
Various musicians and entertainers also make appearances, including Wingy Manone
Wingy Manone
Wingy Manone was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, singer, and bandleader. His major recordings included "Tar Paper Stomp", "Nickel in the Slot", "Downright Disgusted Blues", "There'll Come a Time ", and "Tailgate Ramble".- Biography :Manone was born Joseph Matthews Mannone in New Orleans,...
, Jack Pepper
Jack Pepper
Jack Pepper was an American vaudeville dancer, singer, comedian, musician, and later in life a Dallas, Texas nightclub manager....
, and Harry Barris
Harry Barris
Harry Barris was an American popular singer and songwriter.Born in New York City, he was a member of the Rhythm Boys, a late 1920s singing trio which included Al Rinker and Bing Crosby, and was Crosby's entry into show business...
Connection to The Carpenters
The movie has also gained fame among fans of The CarpentersThe Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
, because a (fictional) song named "Goodbye to Love
Goodbye to Love
"Goodbye to Love" is a song composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis. It was released by the Carpenters in 1972. On the "Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters" documentary, Tony Peluso stated that this was one of the first, if not the first, love ballads to have a fuzz guitar solo.Upon...
" is mentioned. Richard Carpenter
Richard Carpenter (musician)
Richard Lynn Carpenter is an American pop musician, best known as one half of the brother/sister duo The Carpenters, along with his sister Karen Carpenter. He was a producer, arranger, pianist and keyboardist, and occasional lyricist, as well as joining with Karen on harmony...
saw the film and thought that would be a good title for a Carpenters song
Goodbye to Love
"Goodbye to Love" is a song composed by Richard Carpenter and John Bettis. It was released by the Carpenters in 1972. On the "Close to You: Remembering the Carpenters" documentary, Tony Peluso stated that this was one of the first, if not the first, love ballads to have a fuzz guitar solo.Upon...
, which was eventually recorded and released in 1972.