[MMM]

RKO Radio Pictures

Based on the Play by Joshua Logan & Gladys Hurlbut
Producer and Director: Tim Whelan
Screenplay: Jay Dratler & Ralph Spence
Music Director: Constantine Bakaleinikoff
Vocal Arrangements: Ken Darby
Music Arrangements for Frank Sinatra: Axel Stordahl

Cast
Michele Morgan: Millie
Jack Haley: Mike
Frank Sinatra: Frank
Leon Errol: Drake
Victor Borge: Fitzroy Wilson
Mary Wickes: Sandy
Barbara Hale: Catherine Keating
Mel Torme: Marty
Paul Hartman: Byngham
Dooley Wilson: Oscar

Frank Sinatra sings: "You Belong in a Love Song", "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night", "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening", "The Music Stopped", and "I Saw You First"

(Notes transcribed from Nancy Sinatra's "Frank Sinatra: An American Legend")

sinatra playing himself and away from the big band for the first time. not a bad acting start by frank and his song selections was worth the price of a movie ticket. the movie also shows a very young mel torme.
in 1943, sinatra was in another film called "reveille with beverly", he plays himself and sings "night and day", this appearance was similar to his first film with the tommy dorsey band in 1941. this film was "las vegas nights", and sinatra sings "i'll never smile again".
these last two appearances had to do with sinatra's popularity first on his own in "reveille" and second with the dorsey band in "las vegas". i think you can safely called these two films cameo shots by sinatra singing great songs. thanks, joe.....

[MMM]

Bump!

Once again, during therapy, am watching all the FAS old videos. This film was delightful. Made in 1943 (I was 9!), Frank was so adorable--it's no wonder every woman wanted to mother him or cuddle him and kiss him and more!!!!!

Wonderful tunes: "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" , "I Couldn't sleep a Wink Last Night," and one that I had never previously heard until Abe kept talking about it-"The Music Stopped." Beautiful song AND lyrics. And "I Saw You First", which I swear was in another later movie sung by Betty Garrett.

Such a thrill to see him in his first real "acting" role, albeit he played himself. His voice (age 28) must have been an octive higher than we all are accustomed to hearing, but sweet and innocent and adorable.

This accident certainly is having it's perks as far as Mr. S.'s flicks are concerned!!!

ohhhh Jack Haley's in it too awww that's so cool!
What's his character like?
Is this movie hard to find??

Jack plays the head butler, and is a bit of a pushy character, but charming, none-the-less. The Tin Man he ain't!!

I taped this on TCM, but I think if you do a search on www.half.com or Ebay~you'll be surprised. If you don't locate it now, you can always put it on your wish list. It'll turn up sooner than later I'm sure.

It's a delightful, light movie, every fan should have it. Oh, and BTW, welcome, Bianca! Great to have young folks interested in Mr. S.!

ADDED LATER: Bianca. just did a quick search and found four of the VHSs on www.pricegrabber.com Don't know where they're coming from, so the shipping may be more than the movie ($6.29 cheapest price) but give it a bloddy try! Good Luck!!!



Lux

I have seen it again yesterday... Frank is soo sweet and wonderful. Thanks for the information about the songs! I particularly like "I saw you first" when he's riding the bicycle

[Amy L]

Frankie was oh so cute in this movie...It had been awhile since I have seen..His voice was so smoooooth and romanitic...I love the songs, "the Music Stopped" and "I couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night" And to see Mel Torme was such a hoot...AMy

[Rhodalee]

It was a real treat to see this movie again.

[Greggie]

I too haven't seen this movie in years. I loved it, and I had almost forgotten that Mel Torme was in it, too.
If I recall, wasn't this the movie where Frank knocks on the door of a house, and a young girl opens the door, and then proceeds to swoon.
I don't remember Jack Haley in it, for some reason.??

They showed that clip at the "Sinatra" show I went to see the other evening.

I think Frank said it was one of his most embarrassing parts, words to that effect.

[midnitemind]

That's the movie Grace. I don't think that I ever saw Higher and Higher before. I was knocked out to see Mel Torme and Victor Borge in the same movie as FS.

[lorenzotedesco]

To follow up on Gary's note about the cast...This movie is loaded with curious cast oddities. In addition to being FS's first starring role "Higher and Higher" is also:
the first film for Mel Torme.
the American film debut of the Danish funny man Victor Borge.
Dooley Wilson, aka Sam, Bogart's pianist from Casablanca.
Jack Haley, aka the Tin Man from "Over the Rainbow".
Barbara Hale, aka Della Street, Perry Mason's secretary.

This movie could win a lot of bar bets....

Larry

[ARIES3032]

this movie on Sunday evening.

[Mark]

This film truly bothered me... I realize it was early film, but it was goofy in spots... I couldn't take much of it... of course, the Sinatra scenes were stellar, and loved to see the younger Frank, especially when he was on the stage for the one scene... but the interplay with between some of the other actors was annoying... not sure if they were ad-libbing, or if the script was written that way... and now that I saw this thread and saw that it was adapted from a play, a lot of it WAS play-like... so maybe that's it.

But I did love the Sinatra parts... especially when he was singing.

[Savatri]

You spoke for me, Mark.

From my collection

[David]

TV ALERT: TCM is showing Higher and Higher in about 15 minutes (1:00 EST).

[Gail]

........I don't have a TV anymore..........

[Stnwy18]

Gail, that stinks!

Mark, I agree, Frank's acting was better than the film itself.