With a Song in My Heart (1952)

Review by All Movie Guide
Unashamedly tearjerking, With a Song in My Heart is also a little heavy on corn, but its manipulations are hard to resist. True, there are occasions when the dialogue gets to be a little much, but there also are any number of entertaining, snappy lines to help make up for this. And if the screenplay comes across as formulaic, it's repeating a formula that works -- as long as the cast and director take it at face value and believe in it. That's definitely the case here, with director Walter Lang never revealing that the work in question is anything less than top notch. The film's biggest asset, of course, is Susan Hayward's galvanizing performance. Hayward's Froman is a loveable hellcat, full of life even at her most morose and despondent; there's a crackle to everything Hayward does, which helps the film over many bumps. Jane Froman's own renditions of the songs also count for a great deal, particularly the title song and the pull-out-the-stops sentimental "Americana" medley. Add in a razor-sharp Thelma Ritter and a finely detailed David Wayne, not to mention an attention-grabbing Robert Wagner, wrap it in some gorgeous gowns, and you end up with an artificial but immensely enjoyable production. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide