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Rating:  - Cult classic
To be blunt, this is the worst musical MGM ever released. The script is extraordinarily weak; try counting the cliches. The casting was poor. And only a few of the star-studded musical numbers are successful. Tony Martin, Dinah Shore, Lena Horne, and Frank Sinatra were all at their peak of their vocal powers, of course, and they do well. Judy Garland's numbers are acceptable, although you can tell that she was starting to come unglued. But beyond that, all is embarrassment. And nothing is believable. Indeed, this film should be a cult classic, shown at midnight with the audience throwing things at the screen during particularly awful melodramatic moments and dancing in the aisles during the June Allyson numbers. Torture can be fun.
Rating:  - It has its moments, but on balance it seems to me to be over-produced and dull in the narrative
What an odd insect-in-amber musical Till the Clouds Roll By, a somewhat biographical film about Jerome Kern, now seems. It freezes in time all the weaknesses and some of the strengths of an MGM musical style that has long passed from the scene. Kern was one of the giants of American song-writing. It's no exaggeration to say that he was the great bridge between the European operetta style of early Broadway musicals and the completely home-grown and energetic style which came from Gershwin, Rodgers, Berlin and Porter. His and Oscar Hammerstein II's Show Boat in 1927 was a turning point in American theater history. Fittingly enough, the movie opens with an 18-minute series of song-and-dance excerpts from Show Boat. It's the best thing about the movie. From there on, we're in for a series of largely over-produced Kern production numbers featuring a list of MGM stars, interrupted by dull narrative, fictional key characters and some terribly corny dialogue.
"Look down at that city, Jerry," says Victor Herbert to Kern one night in New York after Kern has been shaken by the death of an important person in his life. "It's made up of millions of people," Herbert continues, "and music has played a part in all their lives...lullabies...love songs...hymns...anthems." Kern gazes down at the city. "Must be pretty wonderful, Mr. Herbert, to realize that people you don't even know and never will know are singing your songs, and all of them asking for more Victor Herbert music." "It makes me feel grateful, Jerry," Herbert says, "and very humble. One of these days you'll find out for yourself how it feels."
This is the kind of dialogue that tells you the writers don't think much of the audience. Unfortunately, and with the exception of Van Heflin in the fictional role of Kern's friend and mentor, the actors give, in my opinion, almost uniformly flat performances in handling the story line. Robert Walker, who has to carry the movie as Jerome Kern, comes across as so wise, understanding and dignified that it's too easy to lose sight of a talented actor. Walker excelled at playing charming, almost innocent and often amusingly subversive young men. Later, he showed he could play charming and not-so-innocent psychopaths. Here, the role gives him no room or air. It's difficult to believe he didn't break out laughing after shooting some of his scenes.
The movie features at least 20 production numbers, ranging from that 18-minute Show Boat excerpt to snippets of Kern's songs. The numbers, for me, are at their best when they are presented more-or-less directly without all those MGM production values. Lena Horne is terrific singing "Why Was I Born?" Lucille Bremer and Van Johnson have fun with a nightclub number of "I Won't Dance." Ray MacDonald and June Allyson do nice jobs with "Till the Clouds Roll By," "Leave It to Jane" and "Cleopaterer." Angela Lansbury is saucy and smooth doing a Cockney number. Judy Garland playing Marilyn Miller has two major numbers, both directed by her then-husband, Vincente Minnelli, which are so glossy and powerful they almost bring the movie to a halt. But we also have to endure Kathryn Grayson with her shrill vibrato, Tony Martin, a hugely skilled singer but, in my view, mannered and self-aware, and Gower Champion, looking frozen and almost grim as he dances with Cyd Charisse. In between these extremes are a variety of other numbers, most of which are worth watching.
Kern died before the movie was completed so Arthur Freed and company shot a kind of tribute to Kern to close the movie. Many of the stars who had appeared earlier in the film shot parts of Kern's songs that he wrote after Show Boat. Freed put these together in a sort of staged medley. The sequence seems awkward to me. Everyone is dressed in white. The male singers and dancers wear red bow ties with their white tuxes. The set is a kind of white wedding-cake tower that floats. The sequence and the movie ends with a skinny young Frank Sinatra in a white tux standing on a white pillar in front of a white-garbed orchestra singing "Ol' Man River."
Till the Clouds Roll By has some virtues, but on balance it suffers greatly from two things. The narrative story-line is far too reverential and cloying. Second, as with all the other filmed musical biographies of the great American songwriters -- such as Rodgers & Hart, George Gershwin and Cole Porter -- great chunks of the story are false. How good it would have been if the studios had trusted the audience enough to eliminate the false drama in these biographies and used the time to put in more examples of the composers' great songs.
The DVD transfer looks first-rate. Considering that the film fell into the public domain years ago and has suffered from terrible reproductions on tape and disc, Warners deserves full credit for bringing the film back to it's original lush look. The disc has several extras. Till the Clouds Roll By is part of the Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory package which includes It's Always Fair Weather, Ziegfeld Follies, Three Little Words and Summer Stock.
Rating:  - MGM Stars In Their Glory
TILL THE CLOUDS ROLL BY has never been considered one of MGM's greatest musicals. The film is a somewhat syrupy biographical account of the life of Jerome Kern. In some ways this cannot be seen as a criticism. The film begins with the opening night of SHOWBOAT. After the performance Kern gets in a taxi and tells the driver his life story. Of course if he's telling the story it's going to be a nice account. And Robert Walker, who plays Kern, presents Kern as a likable guy and a hero we want to root for and hope will succeed.
More than likely MGM didn't release this film to tell the story of Jerome Kern. If anything, it was just an excuse to showcase it's stars and as viewers have discovered, it is a showcase of MGM's great talent. Musical numbers include Judy Garland as Marilyn Miller performing on of Garland's showpieces "Who?" The SHOWBOAT sequence at the beginning is probably one of the film's greatest moments and includes Kathryn Grayson as Magnolia, a role she'd reprise a few years later when MGM released a newer version of SHOWBOAT. It's interesting to note that the staging of SHOWBOAT in this film is less stereotypical than the later version released by MGM and has Lena Horne as Julie Laverne, a far more accurate casting (no offense to Ava Gardner). Dinah Shore and Angela Lansbury appear as well as do MGM favorites June Allyson, Virginia O'Brien, Gower Champion, Lucille Bremer and a young Cyd Charisse. It also has a finale that showcases the talents of many of the major players and includes an appearance by Frank Sinatra.
My guess is that most people who purchase this film will watch it in its entirety once or twice, but it will not sit on the shelf and get dusty. With remote in hand, people will put this film in the player and watch their favorite clips over and over again and will be entertained time and time again. Sat least that's what I've done and I'm sure will continue to do.
Enjoy!
Rating:  - Till the Clouds Roll By 1946
Till the couds Roll by begins with a glorious , musical-within-a-musical recreation of 1927 opening of Jerome Kern (1885-1945)
Broadway smash "Show boat" and bookeds itself with a grand finale that has Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) singing "ol' man river" , the show boat number ol'blue eyes would reprise throughout his career . From start to finish , this glittery biopic about renowed stage-and-screen composer kern , played by Robert Walker (1918-1951) features 25 stars and nearly equal number of kern tunes . Judy Garland (1922- 1969) ask "who" to a beavy top-hatted admires : Dinah Shore (1916-1994) hautingly recalls "The Last Time I saw Paris 1954" and Lena Horne (1917 - ) just "Cant Help Lovin 'dat man" . So many great stars , So many great songs . Cant help loving them all . High Quality Transfer . Features not Remastred . Recommended
Rating: - The Official DVD!
First off this is Warner Brothers DVD release I am talking about for my review. Warner Brothers has finally released Till The Clouds Roll By on DVD! The movie is about the life and career of Jerome Kern. Robert Walker protrays Jerome Kern. This movie isn't exactly accruate but it has many great numbers from the MGM stars of the time. Some of the highlights include a mini verison of Show Boat, How'd You Like to Spoon with Me?, and Judy Garland singing some numbers. Most of the MGM stars are in this movie including, Judy Garland, June Allyson, Kathryn Grayson, Lena Horne, Van Johnson, Tony Martin, Dinah Shore, Frank Sinatra, Gower Champion, Cyd Charisse, Angela Lansbury, Ray McDonald, Virginia O'Brien, and Lucille Bremer. As for the numbers, here is a list and a mini description:
Mini version of Show Boat- The movie opens up here at the opening night of the show. Tony Martin sings "Where's the Mate for Me." "Make Believe" is sung by Tony Martin and Kathryn Grayson. Kathryn Grayson would later appear in the 1951 film "Show Boat" as the same character, Magnolia. Virginia O'Brien sings "Life Upon the Wicked Stage." The lovely Lena Horne sings "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man." Then the chorus sings "Old Man River."
How'd You Like to Spoon with Me?- A very young Angela Lansbury sings this number. A personal favorite!
They Didn't Believe Me- Some girl sings this song and I have no idea who she is!
Till the Clouds Roll By- This is sung and danced by Ray McDonald, June Allyson and a Chorus. A great number. I think this one is my favorite out of the movie!
Leave It to Jane / Cleopatterer- This is also sung and danced by Ray McDonald and June Allyson.
Look for the Silver Lining- Judy Garland sings this great number. Another favorite!
Who?- Judy Garland sings and dances again. Another favorite. Judy Garland was actually pregnant during the filming of this movie. So she may look a little bigger. Months later Liza Minnelli was born! That's another story though!
One More Dance- Lucille Bremer sings this number but, she's really dubbed.
I Won't Dance- Van Johnson sings and dances this with Lucille Bremer.
She Didn't Say Yes- A quick number but this twin sister act sings it.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes- A chorus sings this lovely tune while Cyd Charisse and Gower Champion dance to it.
The Last Time I Saw Paris- Dinah Shore sings this lovely song.
The Land Where the Good Songs Go- Lucille Bremer sings this song.
Yesterdays- A chorus sings this song as well.
Long Ago (And Far Away)- The lovely Kathryn Grayson sings this song.
A Fine Romance- Virginia O'Brien sings this song.
All the Things You Are- Tony Martin sings this song.
Why Was I Born?- Once again the lovely Lena Horne sings this song.
Ol' Man River- This is the finale and a young Frank Sinatra sings this. No offensive but I don't he should have sang this number.
As for extras on the DVD,
New featurette Till the Clouds Roll By: Real to Reel
Vintage Fitzpartick Traveltalk short Glimpses of California
Classic MGM Tex Avery cartoon Henpecked Hoboes
Two musical outtake sequences: Judy Garland performing D'Ya Love Me? and Music in the Air (I've Told Ev'ry Little Star/The Song is You) performed by Kathryn Grayson and Johnny Johnston
Theatrical trailer
Languages: English & Fran?ais
Subtitles: English, Fran?ais & Espa?ol (feature film only)
Till the Clouds Roll By is a nice film but in my opinion it seems to drag on more than it should. Some of it is too made up for Hollywood as well. The real Jerome Kern was technical advisor on this film, but he died before the film was completed. On a final note, if you enjoy the MGM musicals I say watch it but, if your looking for an accurate movie this isn't it.
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