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 Although Young Man With A Horn, directed by legendary Michael Curtiz who directed more than 170 movies in a stellar, half-century career, is not by definition a musical, the best thing about the film is the music. Standards such as "The Man I Love," "With A Song In My Heart," and "Someone To Watch Over Me" warbled by Doris Day and trumpeted by Harry James make the film a must-see for jazz fans. The film also stars Kirk Douglas and Lauren Bacall.
Although "Young Man With A Horn" is not by definition a musical, the best thing about the film is the music. Standards such as "The Man I Love," "With A Song In My Heart," and "Someone To Watch Over Me" warbled by Doris Day and trumpeted by Harry James make the film a must-see for jazz fans. The film was directed by legendary Michael Curtiz who directed more than 170 movies in a stellar, half-century career. The screenplay was by Carl Foreman and Edmund H. North from a novel by Dorothy Baker.
As a boy, Rick Martin lives with his indifferent sister and mostly raises himself. He sneaks out at night, wanders the streets and soon discovers his incredible talent for music. He teaches himself to play piano in what would now be called a homeless mission. In his wanderings, he happens upon a supper club where a jazz band is playing, and he's hooked. The leader of the band, Art Hazzard, superbly played by Juano Hernandez, takes young Rick under his wing. After the boy earns the money to purchase a second-hand trumpet, Art teaches him to play. When Rick becomes an adult, the kind and generous Art, realizing he has done all he can do for the young man, sends Rick off to fly on his own.
Doris Day & Kirk Douglas
Rick, now played by Kirk Douglas, finds a job playing trumpet in a band in a dance club. Here he is befriended by Willie "Smoke" Willoughby (Hoagy Charmichael) who narrates the story. The girl singer, Jo Jordan (Doris Day), has eyes for Rick, but Rick's first and only love is jazz.. He is stifled by the generic dance music the band plays. During this portion of the film, we are treated to some wonderful old standards sung by Day and played by the band.
Soon Rick moves on and eventually meets with career success in New York, but the only outlet for his jazz is a supper club where he hooks up again with Jo and Art. Jo, to her regret, introduces Rick to her friend Amy North (Lauren Bacall), a debutante with mental problems. Head over heels in love, Rick doesn't see Amy's flaws until the couple is already married. When he finally comes to his senses and leaves her, he hits the booze and the bottom. He neglects his music and the friends who helped him, stood by him, and loved him. It's hard to know why they're so nice to him because he never did anything to reciprocate.
Doris Day, Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall
Art, in failing health, tries one more time to reach out to Rick, but he is rebuffed. Without revealing the details of the predictable ending, an incident turns Rick around and he finds himself again.
Although somewhat predictable, Young Man With A Horn is a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. Not rated, the film contains no material that will offend more sensitive audiences, but the subject matter will not interest children and young teens.
Director: Michael Curtiz
Writers: Joe Massot and the Firesign Theatre (Philip Austin, Peter Bergman, David Ossman, Philip Proctor)
Cast: Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall, Doris Day
Rating: Unrated - the film contains no material that will offend more sensitive audiences, but the subject matter will not interest children and young teens.
Classic Movie Guide Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Run Time: 112 minutes
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Format: Black & White; Standard Version Format
Photo Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures
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