I Dream of Jeanie (1952)

Director:

Allan Dwan

Writer:

Alan Le May (screenplay)

Release Date:

15 June 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Musical

Plot:

The life and career of famed American composer Stephen Foster. |

Plot Keywords:

Songwriter | Racial Stereotype | Music Publisher | Trucolor | Dance

Cast

Ray Middleton	...	Edwin P. Christy
Bill Shirley	...	Stephen Foster
Muriel Lawrence	...	Inez McDowell
Eileen Christy	...	Jeanie McDowell
Rex Allen	...	Mr Tambo / Rex Allen / Narrator
Lynn Bari	...	Mrs. McDowell
Dick Simmons	...	Dunning Foster (as Richard Simmons)
Scott Elliott	...	Milford Wilson (as Robert Neil)
Andrew Tombes	...	R.E. Howard
James Dobson	...	Spike
Percy Helton	...	Mr. Horker
Glen Turnbull	...	Glenn Turnbull / Speciality Dancer (as Glenn Turnbull)
Louise Beavers	...	Mammy
James Kirkwood	...	Doctor
Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer	...	Freddie (as Carl Dean Switzer)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Trucolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | Finland:S

Company:

Republic Pictures

Quotes:

[Stephen shows the sheet music from his first song to two of his friends]
First Co-Worker: Let's see where it says you wrote it!
Stephen Foster: Well, I guess it doesn't say.
Second Co-Worker: Did you get much for it?
Stephen Foster: Oh, he didn't pay me anything.
First Co-Worker: Did you even get any royalties?
Stephen Foster: Listen, he's doing me a big favor just to print it - didn't charge me a cent.
Second Co-Worker: Boy, how 'bout that minstrel man, Christy? Didn't he pay ya?
Stephen Foster: Certainly not. I'm proud to have him sing it.
First Co-Worker: Gee, it looks like you oughta get a little something just for thinkin' it up!

Movie Connections:

Remake of Swanee River (1939)

Soundtrack:

Haunting My Dreams at Night

Be afraid, be very, very, afraid...

Just picked up this film for a buck at National Wholesale Liquidators, and after watching it, I feel like I got ripped-off.

I don't know that I've seen a worse film than this. Honestly. And I would never write a negative review of a film had I not such enormous respect for the subject matter, that is, Stephen Foster and his music.

First, what is it? It's a musical biography? Yeah, lot's of tunes by Foster then interspersed here and there are these pseudo-Broadway-Jerome Kern-type numbers that reek more than the Mississippi delta. I mean, somebody got PAID to write this drivel? Secondly, the REAL story of Foster is a fascinating one. Why not even come CLOSE to it? Thirdly, what did they have on the great Ray Middleton to get him to do this film? Pictures of him with small boys?? With communists? What a waste of a great talent.

So, friends of Foster, and the truth, and good entertainment, be afraid... be very, very, afraid.