Somebody Loves Me (film)

Somebody Loves Me
Directed byIrving Brecher
Written byIrving Brecher
StarringBetty Hutton
Ralph Meeker
CinematographyGeorge Barnes
Edited byFrank Bracht
Music byVan Cleave (uncredited)
Color processTechnicolor
Production
company
Perlberg-Seaton Productions
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • September 24, 1952 (1952-09-24)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2.2 million (US rentals)[1]

Somebody Loves Me is a 1952 American biographical comedy-drama musical film starring Betty Hutton and Ralph Meeker. The story focuses on the careers of entertainers Blossom Seeley and Benny Fields. The film was Betty Hutton's last picture with Paramount Pictures, with whom she had been under contract with since 1942. It was the film debut of Nick Adams.[2][3]

Plot

In 1906 San Francisco, Blossom Seely (Betty Hutton) is a performer in a club. Whilst performing, an earthquake strikes. The first theatre to reopen in the city since the earthquake is the Grauman Vaudeville theatre, where Blossom is set to next perform. Nola Beach (Adele Jergends) is at the top of the billing at Grauman Theatre.

Blossom arrives with friends, Essie (Billie Bird) and Sam Doyle (Robert Keith). She requests to perform the song "Toddling the Todalo" only to find that Nola will be performing it instead.

Whilst Nola is performing Toddling the Todalo in front of a large audience, Essie gives a monkey a banana and directs it onto the stage. The monkey eats the banana and then throws the banana peel at Nola. This causes her to run off stage. Blossom scuttles onto stage and begins singing in place of Nola.

Blossom is suddenly catapulted into fame as San Francisco's number one vaudeville star.

Vaudeville performer Benny Fields (Ralph Meeker) and his friends Forrest (Henry Slate) and Henry (Sid Tomack) are singing. Blossom, who happens to be nearby notices them. After their act, Blossom invites Benny to work with her. Blossom performs with Benny, Forrest and Henry to applause. After an argument, Forrest, Henry and Benny decide to split up.

Blossom and Benny debut as a duo in Vaudeville. Much to Blossom's dismay, Benny is consistently late to their rehearsals. Blossom confronts Benny and argues with him. He reveals he hasn't been showing up to rehearsals because he is going out with a woman. Blossom threatens that if Benny marries her their act is off. Benny jokes that he'll invite Blossom to their wedding, before revealing that Blossom will be the bride.

Benny and Blossom get married.

Blossom then goes on vacation without Benny, to her surprise he shows up at her room with news. He tells her he has to leave their act and reveals that he only married her for fame.

Back on Vaudeville, this time without Benny, Blossom performs to widespread acclaim amongst audiences. Backstage though, she feels incomplete without Benny.

Benny, now in his own single act, finds himself performing as a stooge with less than favorable pay. Benny still cares for Blossom and meets up with Sam, Sam urges him to speak with her. Benny returns to Blossom and they embrace. Benny tells Blossom that he doesn't want her to set him up with any work, as he still feels guilt about using her. Two months later, Benny finally gets a job. Backstage at the venue where he is set to perform, he overhears the organizers discussing how Blossom made a deal with them so that Benny would get the job. Benny confronts Blossom and she admits she pulled the strings. Benny decides that this will be his last performance before he quits Vaudeville. As he enters backstage, he is interrupted by Sam. Sam tells Benny that Blossom plans to quit if he quits.

Blossom goes on stage and begins to sorrowfully sing Somebody Loves Me, Benny joins her in a harmony and they kiss. [4]

Cast

Soundtrack

References

  1. ^ 'Top Box-Office Hits of 1952', Variety, January 7, 1953
  2. ^ "Tuneful Treat Awaits Patrons Of Sipe Theater". The Kokomo Tribune. The Kokomo Tribune. October 11, 1952. p. 15. Retrieved July 14, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ https://cometoverhollywood.com/2023/01/02/musical-monday-somebody-loves-me-1952/
  4. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP5EU4Ua8tA
  5. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDE6a8HeyCk
  6. ^ jazzstandards.com/compositions-1/somebodylovesme.htm
  7. ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045171/soundtrack/
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