With a Song in My Heart

In 1952, 20th Century-Fox produced a Technicolor extravaganza devoted to the singing career of the legendary Jane Froman.

Today, most folks don't know who she was, but this film -- strangely missing from the Fox classics series -- not only shows us the kind of woman she was but treats us to one of the most amazing catalogs of music ever put on screen.

Music director Alfred Newman, with associate Ken Darby, worked with Jane Froman and Susan Hayward, who portrayed/lip synced to Froman's voice. Newman won a much-deserved Oscar for this work (beating out "Singin' in the Rain").

It's a cornucopia of 1940s popular music and is performed by one of the most amazing voices I've heard.

The film is beautifully written, tautly directed and acted to perfection. When I first saw this film in the early 60s on NBC's "Saturday Night at the Movies," Susan Hayward instantly became my favorite actress of all time. She is extraordinary as Froman, and in many ways resembled her. Hayward and Froman spent much time together, with Hayward studying Froman's movements, gestures, singing style and modeled her performance accordingly. It was an Oscar-nominated performance that was well-deserved. Thelma Ritter is at the top of her game as the nurse, Clancy, who nurses the seriously injured Froman during a near-fatal airplane crash in Spain and remained her companion/nurse the rest of her career. Ritter was a master of the wise-cracking New Yorker, who could have you cackling one minute and break your heart the next. She had me on my first viewing of "All About Eve", but this one cemented her forever at the top of my best-loved character actress pantheon.

David Wayne gives a solid performance as Froman's manager and husband. It was a marriage made of respect/mutual interest and it's portrayed that way. The romantic angle comes in the form of Rory Calhoun's character, based on the man Froman eventually married.

The Jane Froman story deserves to be remembered, and Froman deserves to be heard again and again. Come on Fox, give this film a DVD release real soon.

"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.

As a fan and friend of the late Jane Froman, I found the film to be as close to Ms. Froman's life as possible. Susan Hayward learned Ms. Froman's poise and mannerisms directly from her and did an amazing job both in acting and lipsinking Ms. Froman's songs. Jane Froman's talent and courage inspired many persons all over the world and her legacy of music lives on through the movie "With A Song In My Heart" and through her music which is now surfacing to a new generation. Through her generosity and giving spirit, talented music students were able to continue their studies with scholarships, and emotionally challenged children benefited from the funds raised by Jane Froman's fan club. I don't understand why the movie "With A Song In My Heart" has not been released on VHS or DVD, but I think the movie should at least be shown more often on PBS (not everyone can afford cable). The movie lifts many a heavy heart and is first class entertainment.

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.

This is a real "Old Hollywood" musical bio pic. Some of the facts may have been altered to suit the plot but the basic truth of Jane Froman's life is there. Great songs, emotion, drama, tears, laughter and romance all in glorious colour. Susan Hayward is at her dramatic best in this feature, engaging, heartwarming and tough. Thelma Ritter is, as always, excellent as a no nonsense nurse, and Robert Wagner, early in his career, has a small, but poignant role. Over the top and totally enjoyable movie experience.