Customer Reviews

I'll See You in My Dreams

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

This movie seems to never lose it's charm even after dozens of times of seeing it. A wonderful movie about a songwriter who loses his touch, and then seems to gain it back with the "help" and support of his wife, Doris Day. Some classic songs come out of this movie -- Ukelaily Lady, No No Nora, Love me or Leave me, and Makin Whoopee. A favorite for all times.

This ultra-sentimental musical starts off weak and ends that way. Songwriter Day falls in love with musician Thomas and guess what happens after. Elements don't always click in this one.

This gem of a musical film is a genuine class act. Warner Brothers went all out to make the movie biography of songwriter Gus Kahn who penned such lyrics as "It Had to be You," "I'll See You in my Dreams," and "The One I Love." I highly recommend this film; I bought the video and never tire of watching and enjoying it.

Well directed by Michael Curtiz (Casablanca, The Adventures of Robin Hood), emotionally satisfying Doris Day film has terrific performances throughout; especially from Frank Lovejoy in a key supporting role. The film loses one star from me due to an unecessary scene with Doris Day performing in black face.

I figured I had to be under a spell but reading the aforementioned reviews I now know I'm not alone. I never enjoyed a movie more in my life.

A great singer has what I call " A voice that hugs its listener". Doris hugs me every time I hear her sing. She has the warmest richest voice I have ever heard out of the mouth of a woman.

And Danny Thomas never acted or had a better part for the rest of his acting career. The vibes of loyalty, honesty, love, faithfulness and happiness just radiated off the screen into the hearts of this viewer.

I saw this movie the other night and was wondering why hollywood can't make em like this anymore.

It's difficult to review this movie as I'm a fan of both Director Michael Curtiz and the beautiful Doris Day.

This is only the second Danny Thomas film I've screened - not like there was a lot in the cupboard to choose from. If my read on his IMDb Profile is correct, he only did five motion pictures in his entire career, the remainder of his thirty years in show business was on the small screen. Which explains much.

This was a good story which should've been a vehicle that helped the careers of both lead actors. But, it seems to me at least, Danny Thomas isn't a film actor of note. Portraying real-life songwriter Gus Kahn, he seems too common, too average to be believable. I'm not suggesting that, say, Tyrone Power would've been a better choice. Obviously, the role called for a lead who had a homespun edge to him, a street quality that the average guy could relate to and with; an experienced actor with range, a John Garfield-type of performer. But the studio and producer went with an actor who just doesn't have "it" - that intangible movie leading man presence. It felt like Thomas was overwhelmed - the screen too large for what his type of personality delivers.

I'm not saying he was bad in the role, but 'adequate' is hardly the hallmark of excellence, or a good movie.

And what made it more unbalanced was just how good Day was in her role as Grace LeBoy. That sparkling aura, the perfect mix of tender innocence blended with just the right touch of unspoken worldliness. It made the contrast between these two quite stark and completely insurmountable; you just never believe that she would fall for such a schmuck. And that undeniable juxtaposition makes it impossible to fully enjoy the film. You can tell Doris is really trying, Danny too, but that all important on-screen chemistry just isn't there. That magic is most disappointingly noticeable in the "Making Whoppee" scene, that could've and should've been something so very special, but it came off as overly staged and flat. Sincerely, in my honest opinion, this was a tragic lost opportunity for movie audiences. Think of how we recall duos that are written into our culture and hearts: Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold's "I Remember It Well" or Fred & Ginger's "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" --- *that* is what we lost.

There are a few good moments. When Gus is down on his luck, the Crash of '29 wiping out his earnings and nearly finding himself and his family on the streets; his pride unwilling to admit he could use a hand. The interplay between the stars seems genuine, as if we were privy to an intimate domestic scene between Gus and Grace. But those moments are sparse, too little and too infrequent to carry an entire film.

Finally, a knock against direction. It's a small knock, but a very noticeable one. What bothered me was the lack of transitions between time periods. Director Curtiz did not clearly define what we were viewing in terms of the "when". I was stunned that at one point in the film it appears to be the late-1910's, next thing, it's suddenly The Great Depression. And the entire cast, for all intents and purposes, never age - despite the fact that this film spans nearly fifty years. Their clothes, hairstyles, speech and everything else - almost nothing evolves. It becomes even more confusing when the children are in the picture. During the Depression the kids are about 8-10 years old, but by the end of the film, years after WWII, they're still only teenagers. Wha?

So-so film made watchable solely to the wonderful screen presence of Doris Day and her truly gifted voice.

Personal note: I tried to locate the version of "I'll See You In My Dreams" as sung in the film; however, to the best of my knowledge, it does not exist. It's forcing me to learn how to edit a DVD such that the resulting edited MP4 will play as both a music video and song on my iPod.

Her on-screen version of this song is beyond words; something truly amazing and splendiferous.