Le monde des musicals

Film (1944)

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Musique: Jerome Kern •
Paroles:
Livret:
Production à la création:

Can't Help Singing is a 1944 American musical Western film directed by Frank Ryan and starring Deanna Durbin, Robert Paige, and Akim Tamiroff. Based on a story by John D. Klorer and Leo Townsend, the film is about a senator's daughter who follows her boyfriend West in the days of the California gold rush.

Set during the early years of the California Gold Rush, the film tells of the adventures of Caroline Frost, the wilful and spoilt daughter of a US Senator. He does not approve of her beau, Lt Robert Latham, of the US cavalry, and persuades President James K. Polk to post Latham to guard gold shipments from the California mines owned by Jake Carstair.

Caroline travels by train and steamboat and manages to join a wagon-train about to trek overland to the West. She shares a wagon with Johnny (Robert Paige), a debonair but ruthless gambler with whom she falls in love, and two comically inept opportunists, Prince Gregory Stroganovsky and his much put-upon servant Koppa.

At first, she tells Johnny she is engaged to Carstair. However, no unattached women are allowed to join the wagon train, so Johnny tells everyone she is married to the Prince and she is forced to go along with the ruse.

Eventually, she eventually reaches Sonora, California. Here, her problems are quickly sorted out. After some confusion between Carstair and his real wife, Caroline decides that she really loves Johnny. Her father, who has followed her, is reconciled.

The movie was one of the most expensive in Universal's history.

Production
The film was known as Caroline. Jerome Kern signed to write music in September 1943. In October, Frank Ryan was assigned to direct.

In December Jack Yellen signed to do the script.

In March 1944 the title was changed to Can't Help Singing. David Bruce was cast the same month. Universal had traditionally borrowed leading men to appear opposite Durbin but for this film they used contract play­ers Bruce and Robert Paige.

Filming locations
Johnson Canyon, Cascade Falls, Duck Creek, Strawberry Point, Navajo Lake (Utah), and Cedar Breaks in Utah.
Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA
Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Awards and nominations
1946 Academy Award Nomination for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture (Jerome Kern and Hans J. Salter)
1946 Academy Award Nomination for Best Music, Original Song (Jerome Kern and E.Y. Harburg)

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