Say One for Me (1959)

Director:

Frank Tashlin

Writer:

Robert O'Brien (writer)

Release Date:

11 October 1959 (Japan)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Plot:

Father Conroy (Crosby) has a parish which serves the acting and performance community. When one of his parishoners gets too sick to work...

Plot Keywords:

Alcoholic | Singing | Father Daughter Relationship | Dancing | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Bing Crosby	...	Father Conroy
Debbie Reynolds	...	Holly LeMaise aka Conroy
Robert Wagner	...	Tony Vincent
Ray Walston	...	Phil Stanley
Les Tremayne	...	Harry LaMaise
Connie Gilchrist	...	Mary
Frank McHugh	...	Jim Dugan
Joe Besser	...	Joe Greb
Alena Murray	...	Sunny
Stella Stevens	...	Chorine
Nina Shipman	...	Fay Flagg
Sebastian Cabot	...	Monsignor Francis Stratford
Judy Harriet	...	June January aka Dawn Easter

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Company:

Bing Crosby Productions

Trivia:

Bing Crosby originally wanted Frank Sinatra to play the part of Tony Vincent, a part eventually played by Robert Wagner.

Quotes:

[to his agent]
Tony Vincent: I'm going so high, it'll make your nose bleed!

Not Going My Way

I'm sure that during his career in his later years Bing Crosby was offered the chance to repeat playing Father O'Malley as an older priest and at one point that would have been a natural fit for him. Unfortunately after this film, Bing was done with the clergy.

He tries his best with Father Conroy and his best moments are musical ones especially with Debbie Reynolds, but the story is not convincing. Try as I might, I just can't believe that Robert Wagner turns from opportunistic heel to good guy just to win Debbie Reynolds.

In fact the main problem with the movie is Robert Wagner. A good actor he just doesn't have any talent musically. His big number in the movie was You Can't Love Them All was recorded by Dean Martin and had a modest success. Now if Dino had played his part, he might have overcome the script.

Bing's best number is The Secret of Christmas. In addition to recording it for the cast album of this film, six years later he recorded it for Frank Sinatra's Reprise label in a joint Christmas album with Old Blue Eyes and Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians. That is the superior version to the one he did in Say One For Me.