Young Man with a Horn

Young Man With A Horn (1950) is really not a Doris Day film, though Doris does appear in it to good effect. It stars Kirk Douglas as Rick Martin, a fiery trumpeter with raw jazz coursing through his veins. Loosely based on the life of Bix Beiderbecke, the film charts the highs and lows of a lonely existence, buffeted by shallow relationships and fleeting romances. The one main stay in Rick's life seems to be sweet chanteuse, Jo Jordon (Doris Day) who commits the carnal sin of introducing the man of her dreams to the woman of everybody's dream, Amy North (Lauren Bacall), thereby deflating her own chances for long sultry nights in front of a fire. However, all may not be lost for Jo just yet. Initially a whirlwind romance of tempestuous passion, Amy's neuroses eventually tap into Rick's psyche, sapping him of his youth, talent and prowess. He's washed up, through, finished. Then Jo walks back into his life. The prerequisite happy ending that is clumsily tacked on dismantles what is, up till that point, a masterful bit of direction from master filmmaker, Michael Curtiz film. Peppered with solid acting and great black and white cinematography, "Young Man With A Horn" is dynamite box office entertainment wrapped in an appealing little shell and presented for your added enjoyment with rising star, Doris Day in tow. Warner's DVD is a mixed bag. The black and white transfer is often stunning. However, there are traces of second or third generation elements that have been interjected into the otherwise flawless picture. Thankfully, these sections are brief, allowing one the sheer pleasure of delving into the film's dramatic elements. Blacks are deep and solid. Whites are clean. A trace element of film grain and age related artifacts will surely not distract. The audio is mono but nicely balanced. There are no extra features.

First, I would like to point out that I had always dreamed of living in the USA, but The Lady Of My Life hated the idea, although accepting the Big Country for more than 20 visits (business and leisure). However, from this infatuation I developed a strong interest in the two Fine Arts America is proud of: Jazz and Cinema. And America marked the 20th century with them. I even wrote one of the first studies on the subject (JAZZ ET CINEMA), published in 1956 by JAZZ MAGAZINE. In that study, I wrongly suggested YOUNG MAN WITH A HORN as the best movie about jazz musicians ever done (after further thought, the credit goes, for me, to JAMMIN' THE BLUES). And also being the first movie really treating the subject, for which I was also wrong: that credit goes to Anatole Litvak's BLUES IN THE NIGHT, 1941, discovered last year and featuring Jimmie Lunceford and his Orchestra. Maybe not for the quality: after a Nth vision, yesterday on TCM, together with Minnelli's DESIGNING WOMAN (a Bacall Festival, what a double feature!) I still consider YMWAH as the best. It has everything a jazz buff needs: It is based on Bix Beiderbecke's life (also brought to the screen by the Italian Pupi Avati, filmed on locations but totally missed); it features three big stars, still alive and well; it is literally inhabited by jazz; the trumpet solos are played by Harry James, who also signed in as musical adviser; it brings on the screen, as mentioned by David Meeker's JAZZ IN THE MOVIES a certain number of jazz stars of the time, including Jack Jenney, Willie "the Lion" Smith, Corky Corcoran (longtime a member of Harry James' outfits)and Nick Fatool, who drummed also for Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw; I didn't notice Louis Armstrong and Zutty Singleton, as mentioned in IMDb's credits... Let's not forget that Harry James, considered as an intruder by some experts signing their own comments, was Down Beat's Number One in I944, over Louis Armstrong, and contributed to many Hollywood issues, including Hollywood HOTEL, SPRINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES, BATHING BEAUTIES, BENNY GOODMAN STORY and LADIES' MAN. The observation made by some of the IMDb comments, concerning the uncomfortable situation of the Blacks in the early 50ies is very interesting, compared to the results reached since. During my last visit in the States (2006), I was flabbergasted by two things in my relation with Black individuals: I could not understand their accent (but they perfectly understood mine) and 2. At least those I spoked with looked well integrated, comfortable in their jobs and liking it. If I had to assembly now a capsule illustrated study on JAZZ AND CINEMA. I would start it with the Benny Goodman Motorcade beginning Hollywood HOTEL and end it with the last number of Bob Fosse's DVD by Ann Reyking and Ben Vereen: SING, SING, SING (with a Swing).Harry Carasso, Paris, France

Before I saw this film, I didn't think of Doris Day as a serious actress, so seeing her performances in both "Young Man with a Horn" and "I'll See You in My Dreams" gave me a pleasant surprise. Doris Day is perfect in this film for the character of Jo Jordan, the big-band singer who falls for Rick Martin (Kurt Douglass). This is almost a tour-de-force for Day. It is not a comedy, and she acts accordingly. We see her anguish upon realizing that Martin (who is the protagonist) is smitten with her acquaintance Amy North (Lauren Bacall). Douglass plays a trumpet-player who is aware of his amazing gift and is careful with himself, that is, until he meets Bacall's confused character. The story is quite interesting, based on the true story of a gifted trumpet player who died of alcoholism at the age of 28. The movie stays pretty true to the real story, with a few elaborations. Martin is an orphan who is taught the trumpet and almost raised by a black trumpeter by the name of Art Hazzard (Juano Hernandez). He grows up to be a great talent and plays in big bands for money, then plays his own kind of music til the wee hours for himself. He is said to "speak" through his trumpet by the film's narrator, "Smoke" (Hoagy Carmichael). Martin carries his horn around with him everywhere and is lost without it. Day's character tells him that people will refer to him as the "young man with a horn" because he refuses to part with it. Bacall's character refers to the horn as Martin's "alter ego". The supporting cast is great - Day, Carmichael, and Hernandez are terrific. Douglass was not the first choice to play the main character, but he does a good job. We see his naivete at the beginning, and then his clear anguish at his downfall. Bacall is the antagonist of the film. Her character is not perfect, but symbolizes wealth and everything that Martin is not. I was not blown away by her performance; she seemed to me rather wooden. The viewer really is given no insight into her reasoning or her character. I couldn't understand her motivation at all and I think her portrayal takes away from how great the film might have been. However, I think the performances of Douglass and the supporting cast are worth watching the movie for. The cinematography is also very interesting, especially one scene at a train station. The film is not sappy, but is not perfect, either. Overall, I would give it 2 and 1/2 stars out of 4.

Young Man With A Horn is inspired by the sad life of jazz musician Bix Beiderbecke, a sad life because Bix would succumb to alcoholism and pass away at the age of 28. Rick Martin (Kirk Douglas) is the fictional character of the piece, the film is told in flashbacks of Martin's life through the nostalgic reminiscence of pianist Smoke Willoughby (Hoagy Carmichael). Young Man With A Horn is very much a film of three parts, the first half firmly establishes Rick's love of music from an early age, his tutelage under mentor Art Hazzard (Juan Hernandez) is fully formed and completely fleshes out Rick's character. We are then privy to the middle part of his life as he forms a bond with Smoke and band singer Jo Jordon (an ebullient and charming Doris Day), Rick is happy, his love of music taking priority over outside interests, but then Amy North (a swishing Lauren Bacall) enters his life, and here the film switches firmly into a melodramatic piece, it's a switch that pays off as the end credit looms large. The directing from Michael Curtiz is as you would expect very tight to the drama, and the photography from Ted McCord captures the smoke filled nature of jazz clubs perfectly. The acting from the cast principals is never less than above average. Some may find it hard to accept Kirk Douglas in the leading role, and certainly at first glance he looks oddly out of place with a trumpet at his lips, but he studied under trumpeter Larry Sullivan and convinces as a viable trumpet player (the actual music is dubbed by Harry James). The music of course is excellent, and as long as one is prepared for the melodramatic turn of events, this is a very rewarding piece. The proviso though is that you remember that this is far from being a true biographical story of the tragic Bix Beiderbecke. 8/10

Rick Martin is a young boy who finds the love for music after his mother dies. The trumpet becomes his instrument, and he learns to play it from an old master called Art Hazzard. Young Man with a Horn from 1950 is directed by Michael Curtiz. Rick Martin is first played by Orley Lindgren, then by Kirk Douglas. Lauren Bacall plays his troubled wife Amy North. Doris Day is the singer friend Jo Jordan. Hoagy Carmichael is the pianist friend Willie 'Smoke' Willoughby. Juano Hernandez portrays Art Hazzard. The cast is quite superb. Douglas does excellent job in the lead. Especially when Rick starts having problems with the alcohol, then Kirk really has to act. And that he does really well! I think the movie becomes more interesting when it portrays all those problems this young man starts having. Problems with marriage, drinking. When it's not just about music and how good he is at it. Bacall's performance is very film noir, which works fairly good in this movie. Day is very touching in the caring she has for her friend. And she can really sing, which we all knew! If you're a fan of the main trio, if you like good music, if you like drama you should see this movie.

I watched this film because I'm a fan of Lauren Bacall. While she is good, this movie belongs to Kirk Douglas. The title character spends his life devoted to his music. His friend Jo (Doris Day), says he's "married to" his trumpet. Eventually he marries Jo's friend, Amy (Bacall.) The couple are polar opposites; he devoted to the only thing in life that's ever mattered to him, she going from one career path to another desperately trying to find something she can stick with. The backdrop of the movie is, of course, jazz music. But even if you aren't fond of jazz (which I'm not particularly), it won't detract from your enjoyment of the story. And Doris Day sings superbly. Hoagy Carmichael is the narrator, taking you into this smoke-filled world of jazz and eventually back out. It's quite a trip.

source: Young Man with a Horn

Trailer—Young Man with a Horn

Young Man with a Horn

I watched this film because I'm a fan of Lauren Bacall. While she is good, this movie belongs to Kirk Douglas. The title character spends his life devoted to his music. His friend Jo (Doris Day), says he's "married to" his trumpet. Eventually he marries Jo's friend, Amy (Bacall.) The couple are polar opposites; he devoted to the only thing in life that's ever mattered to him, she going from one career path to another desperately trying to find something she can stick with. The backdrop of the movie is, of course, jazz music. But even if you aren't fond of jazz (which I'm not particularly), it won't detract from your enjoyment of the story. And Doris Day sings superbly. Hoagy Carmichael is the narrator, taking you into this smoke-filled world of jazz and eventually back out. It's quite a trip.