A Song Is Born (1948)

The Worst Film Ever

Thanks for the memories!

How sad is this?

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Someone said Danny Kaye was a bit subdued for this film, yes, I think Hawks reigned him in a bit. What is surprising is that Kaye does NOT do any of his regular vocal onslaughts: And this film basically a musical too- Well not really a musical, but having music in it. "Wonder Man" was also not a musical, but Kaye does his usual vocal debauchery in it. In this film, we just have his comedic talents, which are just as good to watch.This film is an almost frame by frame remake of "Ball of Fire" - And so, fans of "Ball of Fire" who compare the two will see how well this is done, even with the major thematic changes made. Some would call this a musical, but it is not really. It is just a film that happens to have music in it. And the music is good, because it it not your usual music written for musicals, with bellowing singers and 150 dancers on a stage set the size of a small aircraft carrier, it is actually something that you can envision happening in a small room in an institution which is pretty much what happens in this film... No big stage productions or fantasy sequences, just plain kick-arse JAZZ.Some of the really funny gags from the original are missing: Mostly the ones that are based on 1941 Slang. What was important to the story, was kept in, and surprisingly it still fit.What makes this one of the most interesting films ever made is the assemblage of Jazz Greats, including the incredible Louis Armstrong.The song "A Song is Born" is about the best song in any "musical" I have heard.

I grew up with Danny Kaye as a sort of Jim Carrey fella. Into mugging, being obvious etc. The diff with Carrey? Parents loved Danny, I suppose because of the Disney connection (Hans Christian Andersen etc).Just saw this flick on TCM. What a revelation! The late 40s were full of movies practicing the party line of mindless entertainment while putting in gotchas that were almost subliminal. Film Noir is the obvious genre here, but Westerns and comedies and musicals all did the same. Multiple levels of meaning.This movie conveys the message of joy, at a time when doors were shutting, McCarthy was looming, the bomb was on the horizon. It makes fun (nice fun) of those intellectuals who (in different fields) brought us the bomb.One stereotype down. Then it makes fun of women "bombshells". Virginia Mayo is to die for, and yes the professors want to study her. In more ways than one.To do this film justice intellectually would take a lot more words.But then you also get the most amazing clarinet transformation on film, musical interludes that make it clear why music has always been so dazzling until recently, pictures of various real musicians at the height of their powers, and an obvious love story that is eternal!!! Whoee....

I have seen "Ball of Fire", and I disagree with the previous comment. Even if you HAVE seen the "original", Danny Kaye and Virginia Mayo make this one enjoyable movie! There are quite a few hilarious moments, and the music is just great.While I did see "Ball of Fire", I'd have to say I enjoyed "A Song Is Born" much much more. I'm not a huge fan of Barbara Stanwyck, who was the gangster girlfriend in "..Fire", and I think Virginia Mayo was a great leading lady for Danny Kaye. Even thought her acting was a tad, tiny bit on the wooden side. She's a great "straight man" for Danny's antics.My favorite scene in the movie is when the gangsters have all the professors and musicians captive and they are playing music to effect an escape to rescue Miss Honey from being forced to marry Tony Crow. Great use of "The Anvil Chorus"!! If you've never seen a Danny Kaye movie, this is a good one to start with.

This is a pathetic remake of BALL OF FIRE (by the same director Hawks). There is nothing to recommend this film.1) A B&W director and cinematographer trying to work in Technicolor yields awful results. The transition period, when color was available but color artistry was not, produced some sad films. This was one. Unfortunately, Hawks and Gregg Toland were two of the greatest in B&W. 2) Danny Kaye does his usual mediocre shallow characterizations that he attempted in all his work. I have a feeling that somehow Kaye may have demanded Technicolor treatment as a condition of his involvement in this project. Anyone with knowledge on the politics of this should weigh in.