Such a frustrating disappointment

A Major Disappointment

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Before Susan Hayward made the Lillian Roth biopic I'll Cry Tomorrow, she made the Jane Froman story: With a Song in My Heart. In this one, Jane Froman's voice is used for the songs, which helps for authenticity but doesn't sound very realistic when compared to Susan's low speaking voice. Still, Susan's a fantastic actress, so she pulls off the non-musical scenes of the film very well.Joined by David Wayne, Thelma Ritter, Rory Calhoun, Una Merkel, Robert Wagner, and Helen Westcott, Susan is given another chance to excel in a strong yet vulnerable role. In the film, she falls in love with David Wayne. After they marry and her singing career takes off, WWII breaks out and tragedy threatens her dreams. Will Suzy give up, or will she continue to sing, with a song in her heart? You'll have to watch the movie to find out, and depending on how touching you find the story, you might want to bring your Kleenexes. Personally, I find I'll Cry Tomorrow much more heart wrenching, and I like hearing Suzy's real singing voice! But since Suzy looks absolutely beautiful no matter what movie she's making, it's always a treat.

Jane Froman was a popular radio personality in the 1930s and 40s. Millions of listeners enjoyed her beautiful operatic voice. By the time television came around, Froman's career was beginning to wind down. In the early 1940s, she was severely injured in a plane crash en route to Europe. But her popularity soared after that incident, because although disabled, she continued to entertain American troops. In effect, she became a symbol of American optimism and perseverance during WWII."With A Song In My Heart" is Froman's story, from the time that she became well known as a singer. The film is factual, but mostly it is inspirational. Susan Hayward plays Froman, and lip-syncs to Froman's actual singing voice. Although technically this film is not a musical, there are plenty of songs.The film begins with her singing to an enamored audience. Most of the rest of the plot is a flashback to her rise to stardom, the crash, and the difficulties she endured afterwards. The plot then returns at the end to the film's opening performance.Susan Hayward does a fine job as she imitates Froman's gestures, and animates Froman's optimism, showmanship, and verve. All of the songs and music predate rock-n-roll, and therefore have a dream-like quality. Many of her performances are formal, complete with big chandeliers and wavy, silky curtains. Costumes range from glamorous before the accident, to informal in later years. David Wayne and the always reliable Thelma Ritter are convincing in secondary roles.The music in this film is totally from another era, very orchestral and idealized. I could not identify with any of it. That's not a criticism, just an observation. My one complaint about this film is that the tone is just a tad too upbeat and reassuring. Whatever warts the woman might have had are conveniently left out of the film. Indeed, the film tends to deify Froman. She seems imbued with superhuman goodness. But that's how cinematic bios were made in those days."With A Song In My Heart" is a fine biography of a woman who truly had a talent for singing. Just be aware that the story and the film may seem a tad antiquated by today's standards.

There is a very simple reason why they don't make movies like this now. As a matter of fact, there are at least two, equally valid, reasons. There are no heroes like Jane Froman and there are no actresses like Susan Hayward. I first saw this movie as a child and yesterday I watched it for perhaps the 20th time after reading a brand new biography of Jane Froman (Say It With Music). The story in the movie is close enough to the facts and the music, Jane Froman's music, was in fact the real thing. I bought two copies of the new DVD. One to play and to keep just in case because this one is a keeper. A truly wonderful movie. Uniquely wonderful.

This was one of Fox's highest grossers, and, for Fox, a really good musical. Susan Hayward was never more beautiful, and the story was basically an accurate biography of Jane Froman. An on-set mishap occurred during the title song, and was noticed by all in attendance but rather than re-shoot this lavish number, it was decided to let it stay in the film because no one in the audience would notice it. They were right. No one saw it then. However, as Richard Allan lifts Susan Hayward off the floor, an overhead camera sees her left breast slip out of the low-cut gown, then drop back in. On a DVD, it will, I'm sure, be even more noticeable.Mishap notwithstanding, this is a musical full of standards from the thirties and forties, sung to perfection by Jane Froman herself, and giving Miss Hayward a visually electrifying number in a red dress against a yellow-gold sunburst. WOW!