Ferrer's Acting and Romberg's Music...... EXCEPTIONAL!
Music (like time) changes constantly and continues to evolve (or devolve) with each generation. In the 1920s when Romberg produced his most successful plays, the Broadway show was in its early or formative stages (no pun intended). Operettas were popular in Vienna and Europe producing outstanding music in formulaic plays. Strauss (the younger), Smetana, Gilbert & Sullivan, Lehar and Kalman, to name a few, were hugely gifted and loved in their respective countries since they were giants of their craft. Their music is still loved today and classic.

Romberg, who studied engineering and musical composition in Vienna ultimately gravitated to the USA and produced musical plays such as The Student Prince, Blossom Time, The New Moon and The Desert Song. His music was delicious, well orchestrated, harmonious and a joy for singers and audience alike. His music was based on the Operetta form as were most shows on Broadway in the 1920s and early 1930s. His music is still loved today and classic.

One of the greatest actors of his time both on the screen and on Broadway was Jose Ferrer. He was not considered by some, to be one of the nicest human beings in real life; but true or false, that is none of our concern. More importantly, absolutely no one could fault his dramatic performances and achievements. He was the perfect acting chameleon. He portrayed Toulouse-Lautrec in Moulin Rouge, Cyrano de Bergerac (Oscar performance) and in this movie, Sigmund Romberg.

The combination of Romberg's music and Ferrer is an unbeatable match. The movie was a potpourri of Romberg's songs with an excellent cast and a parade of the matchless singing and dancing talent from the MGM Studio system. The story of Romberg's life is "Hollywoodized" but who cares? It is great entertainment.

The music of many of our country's great early composers is becoming progressively move difficult to find. By all means find this DVD and add it to you collection.

Little known Gem
This is almost pure "schmaltz" but it is still a gem. It is a "biography" of Sigmund Romberg. I have the VHS which I haven't watched for awhile so please forgive my memory. It includes cameos of several MGM stars...the only one of which I can remember for certain at the moment is Howard Keel in a production number of YOUR LAND AND MY LAND FROM "My Maryland". I'm sure that "Stouthearted Men" is included as well as something from "The Desert Song" It ends with "I'll be seeing you" I saw it when it first came out (1953ish) and bought the VHS as soon as I found it. Hey...I remembered it after nearly 50 years. Also starring is Helen Traubel, Metropolitan Opera Wagnerian soprano if the 1940's. Incidentally, she was an American from (I think) St.Louis.

Not historically accurate, but highly enjoyable
I saw this in the theater when it was first released and was enthralled with the music. Like most "biopocs" this one is long on entertainment and short on authenticity. The recreations of Romberg's famous shows, with top stars of the day, are worth the price of admission all by themselves. Add in one of the funniest routines ever filmed (Ferrer's acting out of "jazzadoo", good performances by all the main actors and some of the best music ever written (in my humble opinion) and you have a great show. If you want to learn the real facts about Sigmund Romberg, read about him. If you want a good movie, rent this one.

Uneven (like most bios), but not without its rarities.
This film is a curiosity more than anything else. I rented it years ago and found it uneven at best. Like most of MGM's alleged 'composer biographies,' it distorts the details of the composer's actual life (in this case, Broadway stage/operetta afficionado Sigmund Romberg) and hangs all of his magnificent songs on an all-star coatrack. And there lies the attraction: seeing Gene Kelly in his only on-screen appearance with real-life brother Fred; seeing Jose Ferrer's bride Rosemary Clooney in her fresh-faced beauty and ear-delicious voice; watching grande dame soprano Helen Traubel sing "Aufwiedersen" to a dying Merle Oberon; and most of all seeing Ann Miller blend the Charleston with her signature tap dancing (I'm not kidding) and superbabe Cyd Charisse in probably the single most erotic dance performed on film: an Arabian Nights-influenced duet with James Mitchell to the song "One Alone." And how she moves in that all-lace, form-fitting gown is anyone's guess.

Not So Deep
I'm conducting a wake for Rosemary Clooney (Born May 23, 1928. Died June 30, 2002.) I read "Girl Singer: an autobiography" and got the conveniently packaged "Songs from the Girl Singer: a musical autobiography " CD set. Like Girranimals, the similarly titled pieces have the same picture on the front so that the purchaser will know that they go together. I heartily recommend both. But I can only give a mid-depth recommendation to "Deep In My Heart." Perhaps this is because of reading Rosemary's book and determining that the Star, Jose Ferrer, was a real-life scoundrel to her. And it may also have to do with my unfamiliarity with the Sigmund Romberg oeuvre. The joy and spectacle of the "Specialty numbers" with guest stars including Gene Kelley, Ann Miller (how does she even WALK in those super-high stilletos - let alone do that dazzling dance?,)Merle Oberlin's "Camille"-like turn, Ferrer's Jolson-esque "Jazza Do" synopsis, and the piece de resistance: the "Mr. And Mrs." song and dance duet by Ferrer and his real-life newlywed bride, Rosemary Clooney, make this an Oldie worth renting, but I'm not going to rush to buy a copy.