IMDb > Love Me or Leave Me (1955)

Love Me or Leave Me (1955) More at IMDbPro »


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Overview

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7.2/10   1,395 votes
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Director:
Writers:
Daniel Fuchs (screenplay) and
Isobel Lennart (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Love Me or Leave Me on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 June 1955 (USA) more
Tagline:
You'll Love it!...The Big Lavish Musical of the Roaring Twenties! more
Plot:
A fictionalized account of the career of jazz singer Ruth Etting and her tempestuous marriage to gangster Marty Snyder, who helped propel her to stardom. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 6 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
De Niro Biography Reveals All
 (From WENN. 26 March 2004)

The Elton John Story?
 (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 13 October 2003)

User Reviews:
Smashing "Gangster Musical" more (40 total)
US TV Schedule:

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Doris Day ... Ruth Etting

James Cagney ... Martin Snyder
Cameron Mitchell ... Johnny Alderman
Robert Keith ... Bernard V. Loomis
Tom Tully ... Frobisher
Harry Bellaver ... Georgie
Richard Gaines ... Paul Hunter
Peter Leeds ... Fred Taylor
Claude Stroud ... Eddie Fulton
Audrey Young ... Jingle Girl
John Harding ... Greg Trent
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dorothy Abbott ... Dancer (uncredited)
Jay Adler ... Orry (uncredited)
John Alban ... Reporter (uncredited)
Mal Alberts ... Reporter (uncredited)
Geneviève Aumont ... Bit Role (uncredited)
Veda Ann Borg ... Dance Hall Hostess (uncredited)
Chet Brandenburg ... Chauffeur (uncredited)
Benny Burt ... Stage manager (uncredited)
Claire Carleton ... Claire (uncredited)
Robert Carson ... Brelston, Radio Station Manager (uncredited)
Dick Cherney ... Reporter (uncredited)
Jean Corbett ... Ziegfeld Follies Girl (uncredited)
Joan Corbett ... Ziegfeld Follies Girl (uncredited)
Jimmy Cross ... Photographer (uncredited)
John Daheim ... Stagehand (uncredited)
John Damler ... Reporter (uncredited)

Robert Dix ... Assistant Director (uncredited)
Helene Drake ... Dance Hall Cashier (uncredited)
James Drury ... Assistant director (uncredited)
Roy Engel ... Reporter, propman (uncredited)
Mauritz Hugo ... Irate customer (uncredited)
Michael Kostrick ... Assistant director (uncredited)
Henry Kulky ... Bouncer (uncredited)
Bill Lee ... Singer (uncredited)
Marco López ... Extra (uncredited)
Robert Malcolm ... Doorman (uncredited)
Paul McGuire ... Drapery man (uncredited)
Patti Nestor ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Joe Pasternak ... Film Producer (uncredited)
Henry Randolph ... Photographer (uncredited)
Thurl Ravenscroft ... Singer (uncredited)
Barry Regan ... Studio Guard (uncredited)
Otto Reichow ... Bouncer (uncredited)
Phil Schumacher ... Bouncer (uncredited)
Charles Sherlock ... Reporter (uncredited)
Dick Simmons ... Movie Dance Director (uncredited)
Max Smith ... Singer (uncredited)
Winona Smith ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Robert R. Stephenson ... Waiter (uncredited)
Bob Stevens ... Singer (uncredited)
Larri Thomas ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel ... Stagehand (uncredited)
Wally Walker ... Reporter (uncredited)
Shirley Wilson ... Chorus girl (uncredited)
Herbert Winters ... Reporter (uncredited)
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Directed by
Charles Vidor 
 
Writing credits
Daniel Fuchs (screenplay) and
Isobel Lennart (screenplay)

Daniel Fuchs (story)

Produced by
Joe Pasternak .... producer
 
Original Music by
George Stoll (uncredited)
Robert Van Eps (uncredited)
 
Cinematography by
Arthur E. Arling (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Ralph E. Winters 
 
Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons 
Urie McCleary 
 
Set Decoration by
Jack D. Moore 
Edwin B. Willis 
 
Costume Design by
Helen Rose 
 
Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff .... hair stylist
William Tuttle .... makeup designer
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ridgeway Callow .... assistant director
Hank Moonjean .... assistant director (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Wesley C. Miller .... recording supervisor
 
Special Effects by
Warren Newcombe .... special effects
 
Editorial Department
Alvord Eiseman .... color consultant
 
Music Department
Irving Aaronson .... music advisor
Percy Faith .... song arranger: Doris Day
Percy Faith .... song conductor: Doris Day
George Stoll .... music supervisor
Robert Van Eps .... orchestrator (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Alex Romero .... originator: dances
Alex Romero .... supervisor: dances
Hal Bell .... assistant choreographer (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Runtime:
122 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.55 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (35 mm optical prints) | 4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Sound System) (35 mm magnetic prints)
Certification:
UK:A (original rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #17433) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Sweden:Btl | Australia:G | Finland:K-16 | UK:PG | Germany:6

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Jane Russell turned down the opportunity to play Ruth Etting in hopes of landing the role of Lillian Roth in I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955). That role ended up going to Susan Hayward, leaving Russell with neither part. more
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: During one scene late in the film where Cagney is speaking, the audio/visuals are off by more than a second. more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
I'm Sitting on Top of the World more

FAQ

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24 out of 25 people found the following review useful.
Smashing "Gangster Musical", 22 August 2002
9/10
Author: harry-76 from Cleveland, Ohio

"Love Me Or Leave Me" has been critically lauded and publicly supported. I can only concede it's a very fine music/drama/biopic.

What's so unique about this film is it's skillfully combining the "gangster" element with the "musical" genre. The bio-based storyline plays out like somewhat like a crime drama, while the musical portion rings forth with twelve complete full-bodied numbers.

The casting is truly inspired: what a coup getting Doris Day, at the peak of her physical, acting and vocal powers to be cast in a real-life role, while snaring the brilliant, often breathtaking James Cagney--forever at the peak of his powers--as the indestructible "Gimp."

Together they create fireworks, playing off one another's sweet 'n' sour characterizations with great relish. How amusing it is to see Cagney having fun with his deft limp-walk and grueling thug-character, complemented by Day's equally enjoyable, contrastingly lovable persona.

The songs are all very beautiful, and expertly rendered by Day in this, a wonderful tribute to her vocal talent and impressive musicianship.

The script is well-written to utilize the stars' individual gifts, and the widescreen production is a delight to watch. After all these years, "Love Me Or Leave Me" holds its own, thanks to the contributions of two now-legendary stars.

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Marty's Daughter alpinebixby
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Photo of Ruth and Marty and Follies photos and more! alpinebixby
Why did she marry him? au-grad
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