If I Had My Way

The TV prints of this film cut the "let's put the show on here" finale which included the brilliant star Julian Eltinge. Thus I was thrilled to acquire the new DVD so that at long last I could hear his fabled singing voice. His performance in the available silent Madame Behave had made me a dedicated fan, but finding more of his work has been frustrating. Alas -- Eltinge, along with prominently billed Broadway stars Trixie Friganza and Grace La Rue are STILL missing from the commercial DVD of this film, although he is mentioned in PR and on the box! We DO get to see Eddie Leonard (in black face!) and Blanche Ring (Does anyone actually view these films before promoting and selling them?)

During the last few days, I've seen quite a few musicals. And, I am about to say something you may think is a bit crazy--I enjoyed the VERY formulaic "If I Had My Way" far more than some of the big-name musicals from MGM which were made a few years later. Even though "If I Had My Way" didn't have the hit songs and most of the cast consisted of second-string actors since the film was by a second-string studio at the time--Universal. That's because despite the lower budget, the film did one thing that many musicals forget--it made me smile.

The film begins with Bing Crosby's friend dying and the friend's daughter (Gloria Jean) being placed in his temporary custody. Bing then takes the child to her family, but her uncle (Allyn Joslyn) is a total butt-head and wants nothing to do with the kid--even if it is family and even though he's rich! Nice guy, huh?! Instead, he looks for the child's great-uncle (Charles Winninger) and the man is willing to help BUT he's poor. So, Bing, his DOPEY Scandinavian friend (Ed Brendel) and Winninger decide to try to care for the child together. But, this doesn't take care of how to pay for this...as well as the debt-laden restaurant the dopey friend buys. Can they somehow make a go of it...even with almost no resources and just a lot of good 'ol American spunk?! Enjoyable from start to finish, the songs are light and fun and the characters very enjoyable. The only problem in the film is a TINY bit where we see a famous minstrel act (Eddie Leonard)!! Uggh! My advice is to try to speed past this...or take a quick bathroom break during this dreadful and racist act.

Eddie Leonard and his minstrel act....UGGH!!!

This Bing Crosby and Gloria Jean film is both predictable and somewhat sappy. However the musical numbers more than make up for the contrived plot. The title song, "If I Had My Way" written by James Kendis (the composer of "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles") was the highlight of the movie. This song has been recorded numerous times by Frank Sinatra, The Mills Brothers, Kate Smith and most recently by Willie Nelson. Crosby's version was beautifully done as he sang to Gloria Jean. Gloria Jean was a beautiful 12 year old. She went on to make many B films. Bing Crosby recorded the title song on many albums. His deep, rich voice on the film version is one of his best efforts. The supporting cast added some comedy to the plot. A film well worth viewing from 64 years ago.

IF I HAD MY WAY (Universal, 1940), produced and directed by David Butler, stars Bing Crosby, on loan from Paramount, in an agreeable musical-comedy with a title that can often be confused with his most memorable performance as Father Chuck O'Malley in GOING MY WAY (Paramount, 1944). Crosby doesn't play a priest here, but a good-natured construction worker named "Buzz" Blackwell. His best friend is Fred Johnson (Donald Woods), a fellow construction worker who is a widow caring for his young daughter, Patricia (Gloria Jean). After Fred is killed during a hazardous assignment on one of he nation's highest projects, it is up to Buzz to become guardian to the orphaned girl who has a singing voice like an angel. Assisted by Axel Svenson (El Brendel) and his pet squirrel, Buzz learns that Patricia has relatives living in Manhattan and decides to take her over to her rich uncle living at 940 East 56th Street. However, Jarvis B. Johnson (Allyn Joslyn) and his attractive wife, Brenda (Claire Dodd) prove to be nothing but snobs, with Jarvis wanting nothing to do with his brother (because he had married an actress), nor his child. The next best thing is for Buzz to locate Patricia's great uncle, Joe Johnson (Charles Winninger), who lives on the west side of Manhattan. Both he and his wife, Marian (Nana Bryant), simple heart-warming people, welcome the child, whom they haven't seen since she was an infant, and gladly take her in. After Axel uses up all their money in a small neighborhood restaurant, it is up to Buzz to save the day once more, this time by transforming the place into a profitable nightclub, with Joe Johnson, a former vaudevillian, to help out with the entertainment.

New songs by Johnny Burke and James V. Monaco include: "Meet the Sun Half Way," "I Haven't the Time to Be a Millionaire" (sung by Bing Crosby and Gloria Jean); "Little Gray Home of the West" (Gloria Jean); "Pessimistic Character" (Crosby and cast members); "If I Had My Way" (Crosby to Jean); "Ida" (sung by Eddie Leonard in black-face, and Six Hits and a Miss); "Rings on My Fingers" (sung by Blanche Ring); "April Played the Fiddle" and "Meet the Sun Half Way" (reprise/finale, with Crosby and Jean). Of the songs presented, "I Haven't Time to Be a Millionaire" comes off best. The title tune, slow in tempo, is fine but forgettable.

The supporting players include Moroni Olson (John Blair, the bank president); Kathryn Adams (Miss Corbett); Emory Parnell (Gustave Svenson); Barnett Parker (The Floorwalker); and vaudeville acts (which were usually cut from most TV prints) with guest stars Blanche Ring, Trixie Friganza, Paul Gordon (the cyclist) Grace LaRue and Julian Eltinge.

Not as famous as the other Bing Crosby musicals of the day, IF I HAD MY WAY certainly is one of those "feel good" movies helped along by the presence of the young and likable Gloria Jean, who was by then age 11 or 12. Making her movie debut in THE UNDER PUP (1939), Jean became Universal's answer to becoming a junior Deanna Durbin. Like Durbin, Jean had a fine singing voice, but unlike Durbin, the duration of her films for Universal consisted mainly of quickly produced "B" musicals. S She never rose above the ranks to appearing in a major "A" product, unless supporting a major star. While Jean appeared in a handful of lightweight films for Universal from 1939 to 1945, almost all of them are ignored and forgotten today, with the exception of the rarely seen "film noir" DESTINY (1944), where she played a blind girl, a role she is best remembered, along with NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK (1941), playing the niece to W.C. Fields. If it weren't for this Fields comedy, which continues to be in circulation today, Gloria Jean would be one of those forgotten names known solely by film historians.

IF I HAD MY WAY, which runs at 94 minutes, is predictable yet enjoyable, not unlike Crosby's other musicals he was making over at Paramount. It may never develop into a sort-after classic, in spite of its current availability on DVD, but it's a worthy discovery from Hollywood's by-gone era. (***)

In If I Had My Way, Bing Crosby gets to show off his dramatic acting talents as well as sing a few songs and entertain his usual audience. He's a construction worker, and when his friend and coworker dies, he's left in charge of his orphaned daughter. Gloria Jean is the pretty, tween, beautiful-voiced daughter who manages to adjust to her new surroundings brilliantly. She was supposed to be a replacement for Deanna Durbin, but her career didn't take off, so if you want to see her in a movie, you don't have too many to choose from.

Parts of this movie are good, like the beginning set up, but one of the main characters is incredibly off-putting. El Brendel, Bing's oafish Swedish friend, is so annoying, I'm not sure I would have preferred Mischa Auer, who played Bing's Russian sidekick in East Side of Heaven. Why wasn't Felix Bressart more utilized? He's foreign, but actually likable! Charles Winninger also joins the supporting cast, and while he's such a pro that he does make you forget about El, he doesn't have as big a part, so he doesn't make the entire movie better.

The entire setup of the film is that Bing Crosby is a bit of a flighty guy who can't handle taking care of a child. He tries to pawn Gloria off onto some other relatives, but along the way, there are obstacles, misunderstandings, and a lot of character growth so that Bing learns to love his new responsibility. It's Bing, right? He never plays a full bad guy! Overall, it's cute and won't hurt you, but you might like East Side of Heaven better.