Product Details

• Actors: Doris Day, Danny Thomas, Frank Lovejoy, Patrice Wymore, James Gleason
• Directors: Michael Curtiz
• Writers: Louis F. Edelman, Grace Kahn, Jack Rose, Melville Shavelson
• Producers: Louis F. Edelman
• Format: Black & White, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: July 8, 1994
• Run Time: 110 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302728355
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,339 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Hollywood's tradition of composer biographies is a crowded (and heavily fictionalized) subgenre, but make room for I'll See You in My Dreams, an enjoyably low-key account of the life of lyricist Gus Kahn. Danny Thomas, in one of his rare big-screen leads, plays the scrappy writer, and Doris Day plays wife (and sometime collaborator) Grace LeBoy Kahn. The film has the customary rise-and-fall of a showbiz career and marriage, with a couple of standard-issue conflicts thrown in: Kahn is tempted by the glitz of Broadway and the appeal of a shapely diva (Patrice Wymore), becomes depressed over a dip in his popularity, and is embarrassed by his wife's decision-making (Grace comes across as the Yoko of the era--although the movie endorses her bossy approach). Director Michael Curtiz, who had a lot to do with Day's early movie career, imparts an elegant look to the black-and-white interiors, and he fully embraces the cornpone twists of the story. Doris is Doris, and although Danny Thomas doesn't prove himself a great movie presence here, his offhand style wears well. But there is one huge reason to watch the movie, and that's the soundtrack, which brings home just how much Kahn was the lyric voice of the 1920s, the tunesmith for the F. Scott Fitzgerald age. When you realize that "Ain't We Got Fun," "My Buddy," "Toot Toot Tootsie," and "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" were written by the same lyricist, you can see how Kahn owned the flapper era. The puckish highlight is a fun duet with Thomas and Day on "Makin' Whoopee," which proves that classic doesn't need Michelle Pfeiffer to succeed. --Robert Horton

Product Description

Doris Day and Danny Thomas romantically collaborate in this affectionate biopic of tunesmith Gun Kahn that's a treasure chest of some of this century's greatest songs. Year: 1952 Director: Michael Curtiz Starring: Doris Day, Danny Thomas, Frank Lovejoy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DAY, THOMAS AND CURTIZ BRING SWEET "DREAMS", December 27, 2001

By 

Paul Brogan (Concord, NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I'll See You In My Dreams [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Warner Brothers released "I'll See You in My Dreams" during the holiday season in 1951. It was the Christmas attraction at the famed Radio City Music Hall where it packed them in for many, many weeks. It deserved that success.
The story of lyricist Gus Kahn works extremely well for a number of reasons. Unlike the Warners biopics of the 1940's including "Night and Day" (Cole Porter) and "Rhapsody in Blue" (George Gershwin), which often played loose with the facts, ditto several MGM biographies from that same period, "I'll See You in My Dreams" has more grit and depth on several levels.
Director Michael Curtiz ("Casablanca") shot his film in black and white, which was unusual in that most Doris Day musicals at Warner Brothers were given glossy, technicolor productions. The black and white works extremely well in conveying the complexities of Kahn's life. In addition, there are very real hints at extramarital relationships, drinking, and control issues involving Kahn's wife.
Danny Thomas, in probably his best big screen performance, is perfect as Kahn. He's a struggling songwriter in Chicago in the early 1900's, seeking a break. He gets it the day he meets Grace, played by Doris Day. They write a song together, which becomes a major success and his career is launched. They eventually wed and the script gives very clear indications that Grace is the force that pushes Gus, who seems, at times, to lack the necessary drive and ambition to become a major success. Eventually Grace's controlling nature seems to push Gus away and in an attempt to reassert his masculinity, there are strong hints that he has an affair with a broadway performer.
This well written story is decorated with dozens of popular songs by Kahn and some of the top composers of the twenties and thirties. In particular, the title tune, as well as "The One I Love", given a perfect rendition by Day, the Day/Thomas duet of "Whoopee" and Danny's exquisite rendering of "It Had to Be You".
Doris Day and Danny Thomas are exceptional together. There is a real energy in their scenes together. Thomas reported in his autobiography that working with Day was a wonderful experience for him and it's clear in their work together here.
Although Thomas could easily have come off as a nebbish, he somehow manages to create an ultimately endearing character out of Kahn.
Doris Day is wonderful as Grace. Curtiz had directed her in her first two films as well as the exceptional "Young Man With a Horn". In "Dreams" she proves herself as far more than the "girl next door", creating a characterization that is not always someone you like. Grace seems to be frustrated in her role as merely a wife and mother, seeming to want to return to songwriting or a career of some kind and therefore channeling that frustration into being, at times, more a mother to Gus than a wife. It's a memorable portrayal. Vocally she can do not wrong.
Frank Lovejoy is very good as Walter Donaldson, one of Gus's composing partners who, despite a clear affinity for drink and the track, manages to not alienate the audience. Patrice Wymore, as a Ziegfeld star does a standout version of "Love Me or Leave Me" and plays her role with flair and style. She was the wife of Errol Flynn in real life but manages to stand on her own merits as an actress. James Gleason is perfect as a typical "James Gleason" character and Mary Wickes is a delight as a smart-mouthed, sharp-tongued housekeeper to Gus and Grace.
"I'll See You in My Dreams" is about as good as a biographical film in the early 50's could be. You don't have to be asleep to enjoy this very pleasant dream.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Doris movie, December 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: I'll See You In My Dreams [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is the movie that made me fall in love with Doris Day. This was not the first I saw, but this is the one that made me realize how great she really is! The music is wonderful, the acting is superb, and the story is interesting. Mary Wicks is also in it, and I enjoy any movie she adds her sarcastic touch to. I cry every time I see it.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What A Great Rare Musical Classic, April 27, 2004

By 

Chris "Chris" (Leeds, Utah United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'll See You In My Dreams [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a really great Classic Musical starring Danny Thomas and Doris Day.

Danny Thomas portrays the great classic Music Writer Gus Kahn and DOris Plays his wife Julie. At the beginning Gus is a down on his luck guy who works for the local Crockery Company and Julie helps him to raise his spirits and turn his music career into something really neat!

Gus writes a whole ton of classic Hits and Julie writes the music! This is a great classic movie that I highly suggest to everybody!