Rhythm on the River
| Rhythm on the River | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Victor Schertzinger |
| Produced by | William LeBaron |
| Written by |
Billy Wilder (story) Jacques Théry (story) Dwight Taylor |
| Starring |
Bing Crosby Mary Martin Basil Rathbone |
| Music by | Victor Young |
| Cinematography | Ted Tetzlaff |
| Edited by | Hugh Bennett |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Rhythm on the River is a 1940 musical comedy film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Bing Crosby and Mary Martin as ghostwriters whose songs are credited to a composer played by Basil Rathbone. Crosby and Martin sang "Only Forever", for which James V. Monaco (music) and Johnny Burke (lyrics) were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Oliver Courtney (Basil Rathbone) is an arrogant composer who lets other people write songs he takes credit for. Bob Sommers (Bing Crosby) writes his tunes with Billy Starbuck (Oscar Levant). At the night of a social Christmas party, Oliver introduces Bob's song "What Would Shakespeare Have Said?" as his own. Later that night, Oliver thanks Bob for his loyalty and offers him a contract for $50 a week for three years. He refuses, saying he would rather have a catboat to visit his uncle at his river hotel, called Nobody's Inn.
After his lyric writer dies, Oliver finds a replacement in Cherry Lane (Mary Martin). She is reluctant about being a ghost writer, but accepts his offer. He is satisfied with her first lyric. She becomes ambitious to write better lines, but is not able to concentrate at home, and it is suggested she move to a small and quiet place. Meanwhile, Bob and Cherry meet several times, without knowing they are working for the same employer. She does not think highly of him.
To work in a perfect environment, Cherry travels to Tarrytown and stays at Nobody's Inn. Bob decides to give the inn a visit at the same time, and they are shocked to run into each other yet again. They soon become acquainted and actually start liking each other. They even compose their own song together. However, because they are not allowed to tell who they are working for, they do not find out they are colleagues. She becomes mad at him when he plays the song she wrote the lines for and states he wrote it himself.
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Wikipedia