Deep in My Heart

MGM was the king of movie musicals during the 1940s and 1950s and one of their specialties was the musical biopic celebrating great songwriters, a formula that guaranteed an excellent soundtrack and all of the production numbers that could be squeezed in. After tackling the likes of George M. Cohan (Yankee Doodle Dandy) and Rodgers and Hart (Words and Music), MGM turned to Sigmund Romberg—a classically-trained composer who became a success composing songs for Broadway musical revues and operettas produced by the Shubert brothers—for this highly fictionalized portrait. Jose Ferrer—not known for comedy or singing—acquits himself well as the Hungarian-born but American-raised Romberg, displaying uncharacteristic energy and comic chops when he does an entire show in digest form, performing all of the parts (singing and dancing) and even providing pratfalls. The romanticized story, however, is basically just a framework for Romberg's songs from shows such as Maytime, The Student Prince, and The New Moon, many of which are performed in colorful production numbers by MGM's stable of musical stars, including Rosemary Clooney, Jane Powell, Vic Damone, Ann Miller, Cyd Charisse, Howard Keel, Tony Martin, and Gene Kelly (appearing with his brother Fred Kelly in the latter's only credited film role). Although it doesn't rank among the great MGM musicals, this one is snappy and fun (thanks in part to director Stanley Donen) and features 22 classic songs, along with a great cast. Extras include outtakes from three unused songs, plus the 1954 Oscar-nominated short The Strauss Fantasy, and an archival cartoon. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)