If I Had My Way ** (1940, Bing Crosby, Gloria Jean, Charles Winninger) – Classic Movie Review 7394

Director/ story writer David Butler’s tuneful 1940 musical If I Had My Way tells a weary, laborious yarn, with handling to match, although all the stars Bing Crosby, Charles Winninger, Gloria Jean and El Brendel work hard to please and entertain.

Bing Crosby plays building worker Buzz Blackwell, who, along with his pal Axel Swenson (El Brendel), tries to help their killed co-worker’s orphaned Patricia Johnson (Gloria Jean, aged 14). They hope her New York vaudevillian uncle Joe Johnston (Charles Winninger) will come to her rescue. But Joe Johnston (Winninger) is in financial trouble, so Buzz and Axel (Crosby and Brendel) set out turn the uncle’s flop restaurant into a hit nightspot by putting on a show.

Old-timer Eddie Leonard (playing himself) sings his ‘Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider’ (with Six Hits and a Miss) and Blanche Ring performs ‘I’ve Got Rings On My Fingers’ (with Six Hits and a Miss). The pretty title song ‘If I Had My Way’ by Lew Klein (lyrics) and James Kendis (music) is performed by Bing Crosby. Crosby and Gloria Jean perform ‘Meet The Sun Halfway’ (music by James V Monaco, lyrics by Johnny Burke) and Crosby, Gloria Jean and El Brendel perform ‘I Haven’t Time To Be a Millionaire’ (music by James V Monaco, lyrics by Johnny Burke).

If I Had My Way also features Allyn Joslyn, Donald Woods, Eddie Leonard, Claire Dodd, Blanche Ring, Moroni Olsen, Kathryn Adams, Nana Bryant, Julian Eltinge, Verna Felton, Trixie Friganza, Grace La Rue, Paul Gordon, Dell Henderson, Barnett Parker, Emory Parnell and Six Hits and a Miss.

Gloria Jean Schoonover was born on April 14, 1926.

Gloria Jean [Gloria Jean Schoonover] was born on 14 April 1926 in Buffalo, New York. She retired from films in 1962. Gloria moved in 2007 to Hawaii, where she lives with her son and his family.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7394

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