Rhapsody in Blue 1945

     This film follows the Gershwin family from the boyhood of George and Ira to 1937 when George was 39 years old.  The Gershwin family has talent, composer George is driven by the need to compose and succeed.  Ira is good at writing lyrics but not as driven.  Julie Adams is in love with George but he’s too busy.  Ira has gotten married and he doesn’t push himself so hard.

     The music is good, there is a lot of it and it’s filmed in black and white.  There is a lot of information I didn't know about the Gershwin brothers.  3* (This movie is OK)

135 min, Bio directed by Irving Rapper with Robert Alda, Joan Leslie, Alexis Smith, Charles Coburn, Julie Bishop, Albert Bassermann, Morris Carnovsky, Rosemary DeCamp, Oscar Levant, Paul Whiteman, Al Jolson.

Note:  Imdb 7.0 out of 10, 20% critic 58% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.3* with 53 reviews.

Special Note:  The director wanted Tyrone Power to play Gershwin but Power was still serving in the Marines.  Rhapsody in Blue was composed in 1924.  Gershwin had been seeing composer Kay Swift for 10 years.  Julie and Christine in the film are fictional.