Man Alive *** (1945, Pat O’Brien, Ellen Drew, Adolphe Menjou, Rudy Vallee, Fortunio Bonanova) – Classic Movie Review 12,389

Rudy Vallée (July 28, 1901 – July 3, 1986).

The bright and funny 1945 wartime romantic comedy film Man Alive has a feisty star performance by Pat O’Brien as ‘Speed’ McBride, reported drowned in a car crash and playing a ghost to stop his wife marrying an old flame.

Man Alive is a bright and funny wartime romantic comedy with a feisty star performance by O’Brien as Michael O’Flaherty ‘Speed’ McBride, reported drowned in a car crash, playing a ghost to stop his wife Connie (Drew) marrying an old flame of hers, Gordon Tolliver (Vallee).

It is an old, old theme, much used in the movies, but here it is winningly put across in a witty script by Edwin Harvey Blum (based on a story by Jerry Cady), with charming acting from all three stars O’Brien, Drew and Vallee, plus Adolphe Menjou (as Kismet), Fortunio Bonanova (as the professor), Joseph Crehan (as the doctor) and Jason Robards Sr as Henry Fletcher.

Also in the cast are Jack Norton, Jonathan Hale, Minna Gombell, Robert Clarkes, Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer, Fred ‘Snowflake’ Toones, Gertrude Short, Myrna Dell, Tom Kennedy, Donn Gift and Robert Homans.

American singer, musician, actor, and radio host Hubert Prior Vallée (July 28, 1901 – July 3, 1986), known as Rudy Vallée, was one of the first modern pop stars.

It was released on 16 November 1945 in the US.

It cost $738,000.

The cast are Pat O’Brien as Michael O’Flaherty ‘Speed’ McBride, Adolphe Menjou as Kismet, Ellen Drew as Connie McBride, Rudy Vallée as Gordon Tolliver, Fortunio Bonanova as Professor Zorado, Joseph Crehan as Dr James P Whitney, Jonathan Hale as Osborne, Minna Gombell as Aunt Sophie, Jason Robards Sr as Henry Fletcher, Jack Norton as Willie the Wino, Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer as Ignatius, Fred ‘Snowflake’ Toones, Gertrude Short, Myrna Dell, Tom Kennedy, Donn Gift and Robert Homans.

Man Alive is directed by Ray Enright, runs 70 minutes, is made and released by RKO Radio Pictures, is written by Edwin Harvey Blum, based on a story by Jerry Cady, is shot in black and white by Frank Redman, is produced by Robert Fellows, is scored by Leigh Harline, and is designed by Albert S D’Agostino.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,389

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