 |
| Dick Haymes and Maureen O'Hara |
DO YOU LOVE ME? (1946). Director: Gregory Ratoff.
Katherine Hilliard (Maureen O'Hara) is a rather plain college professor, dean of the School of Music, who loves classical music and is engaged to fellow professor Ralph Wainwright (Richard Gaines). Traveling to New York by train she is insulted by a trumpeter, Barry Clayton (Harry James), after she tells him she doesn't care for his music. Stung by his criticism and glamorizing herself, Katherine is soon getting wolf whistles from Barry, singer Jimmy Hale (Dick Haymes), and others. But true love never runs smoothly, so it may be a while before "Kitty," as she is called, and Jimmy can get together.
 |
| Harry James with O'Hara |
Do You Love Me? is another film that focuses somewhat on the battle between classical and swing music, although there seems to be a truce by the end of the film. The movie tries to make out classical music lovers as being stuffy, but doesn't quite succeed in this, in large part because the classical pieces that are chosen are so rousing and exciting that no one but an idiot could find them dull. As for the "modern" tunes, they are all sung quite well by Haymes: "I Didn't Mean a Word I Said," is especially nice, as is "The More I See You," which has become a standard. Haymes has a very good voice. His acting is also swell, O'Hara is luminescent and gorgeous, and even James gives a professional enough performance, though his trumpet-playing is better. Betty Grable, who was married to James at the time, has an amusing cameo. If you blink you might miss Lex Barker as a party guest. As an associate of Katherine's Reginald Gardiner is Reginald Gardiner, although he is quite convincing when he takes up the baton. James isn't as convincing conducting what sounds like a version of Gershwin's "Summertime."
Verdict: Amiable if minor Technicolor musical with some nice tunes. **1/2.
