Higher and Higher (1943)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Tim Whelan

Writers:

Gladys Hurlbut (book) and
Joshua Logan (book) ...
(more)

Release Date:

December 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Plot:

With their employer bankrupt, servants scheme to marry maid Millie to a rich husband. But Frank Sinatra lives across the street...

Plot Keywords:

Maid | Servant | Debutante | Singer | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Michèle Morgan	...	Millie Pico (as Michele Morgan)
Jack Haley	...	Mike O'Brien
Frank Sinatra	...	Frank
Leon Errol	...	Cyrus Drake
Marcy McGuire	...	Mickey
Victor Borge	...	Sir Victor Fitzroy Victor
Mary Wickes	...	Sandy Brooks
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Mrs. Georgia Keating
Barbara Hale	...	Katherine Keating
Mel Tormé	...	Marty (as Mel Torme)
Paul Hartman	...	Byngham (as Paul)
Grace Hartman	...	Hilda
Dooley Wilson	...	Oscar
Ivy Scott	...	Mrs. Whiffin
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Anderson	...	Announcer at Butler's Ball (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Restaurant Extra (uncredited)
Tanis Chandler	...	Debutante (uncredited)
Jack Chefe	...	Night Club Dance Extra / Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Jay Eaton	...	Dance Extra / Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Rex Evans	...	Mr. Green (uncredited)
Edward Fielding	...	Minister (uncredited)
Jack Gargan	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Buddy Gorman	...	Page Boy (uncredited)
Rita Gould	...	Rita (uncredited)
Daun Kennedy	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
King Kennedy	...	Mr. Duval (uncredited)
Perc Launders	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Stanley Logan	...	Mr. Henry (uncredited)
Ola Lorraine	...	Sarah (uncredited)
Wilbur Mack	...	Dance Extra / Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Dorothy Malone	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Patron of Tavern (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer	...	Guest (uncredited)
Shirley O'Hara	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Elaine Riley	...	Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Cyril Ring	...	Dance Extra (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Dance Floor Extra (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Drake Thornton	...	Bellboy (uncredited)
Russell Wade	...	Dance Extra (uncredited)

Directed by
Tim Whelan

Writing credits
Gladys Hurlbut		(book of musical play) and
Joshua Logan		(book of musical play)
Jay Dratler		(screenplay) and
Ralph Spence		(screenplay)
William Bowers		(additional dialogue) and
Howard Harris		(additional dialogue)

Produced by
George M. Arthur	....	associate producer (as George Arthur)
Tim Whelan	....	producer

Cinematography by
Robert De Grasse		(director of photography) (as Robert de Grasse)

Film Editing by
Gene Milford

Art Direction by
Albert S. D'Agostino
Jack Okey

Set Decoration by
Claude E. Carpenter		(as Claude Carpenter)
Darrell Silvera

Costume Design by
Edward Stevenson		(gowns)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clem Beauchamp	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jean L. Speak	....	sound recordist
James G. Stewart	....	sound re-recordist

Music Department
C. Bakaleinikoff	....	musical director
Ken Darby	....	vocal director
Ernst Matray	....	stager: musical numbers
Gene Rose	....	music arranger: orchestral arrangements
Axel Stordahl	....	music arranger: orchestral arrangements
Martha Mears	....	singing voice: Michele Morgan (uncredited)

Other crew
Dwight Wiman	....	producer: stage play (as Dwight Deere Wiman)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1943) (USA) (theatrical)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• RKO Home Video (video)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Iceland:L | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #9545)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

The musical play opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 4 April 1940 and closed on 15 June 1940 after 84 performances. The opening night cast included June Allyson, Lee Dixon (as Mike O'Brien), Vera-Ellen, Leif Erickson, Jack Haley (also in the film) and Shirley Ross.

Quotes:

Cyrus Drake: Would you say I was inebriated last night?
Byngham: Oh no, sir. Although you did have Whiffen cook you six pancakes and you spent an hour trying to play them on the Victrola.
Cyrus Drake: Mmm...how'd they sound?
Byngham: Much better after you put the syrup on.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Magnavox Presents Frank Sinatra (1973) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Disgustingly Rich

This may not be the greatest movie ever made but......

This may not be one of the best movies ever made but overall it's a very enjoyable, light-hearted piece of froth in which everyone involved seems to be having a good time. Highly recommended for it's feel-good factor alone. OK, so Frank Sinatra's "acting" leaves a lot to be desired but his singing is a great redeeming feature and the songs fit in perfectly with the romantic atmosphere of the film. Sinatra went on to make many more films where his undoubted acting ability shone through but in this, his first venture into Hollywood, his voice, not his acting, is his main contribution to this movie. I've just watched it again on TV and it still lifts my mood as much as it did the first time I saw it many many years ago.