Because You’re Mine 1952

     Renaldo Rossano is drafted into the Army as 1A and he goes to boot camp.  Renaldo is a famous opera singer in New York and his manager tries to get him out of this commitment but it isn’t possible.  Renaldo does have a lucky break when he learns that his Sergeant is an opera fan.  The Sergeant also has a sister and she is trying to get a big break as a singer.  Everything is going very well until Doretta goes for her tryout with Ronaldo’s people.  His former girlfriend Francesca Landers is very jealous and she derails the tryout for Doretta.  She wants Renaldo back as her boyfriend.  The Sergeant is very irate and he gives Renaldo every kind of KP duty and extra training too. 

     There are a LOT of songs in this film and a LOT of complications because of being in the Army!!  Mario Lanza was an American tenor of Italian ancestry, actor and Hollywood film star of the late 1940’s and 1950’s.  He began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16.  He was born January 31, 1921 in Philadelphia, PA.  He died October 7, 1959 in Rome, Italy at the age of 37 due to a heart attack.  He was married to Betty Lanza from 1945 to 1959.  They had four children, Marc, Elisa, Colleen and Damon.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

103 min, Musical directed by Alexander Hall with Mario Lanza, Doretta Morrow, James Whitmore, Dean Miller, Rita Corday, Jeff Donnell, Spring Byington, Curtis Cooksey, Don Porter, Eduard Franz, Bobby Van, Ralph Reed.

Note:  Imdb 6.1 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 33% audience, Amazon 4.2* out of 5* with 61 reviews, TCM Leonard Maltin 2* out of 4* average user rating 4.6* out of 5*.

Special Note:  Filmed at MGM Studios, Culver City, California.  There is a scene with an older woman asking for Renaldo’s autograph.  She’s played by Mario Lanza’s real-life mother.  The man with her who doesn’t say anything is Mario’s father.  This is the 10^th film appearance by Lanza.  Nominated for Best Song for an Academy Award.