''This Is the Life'' is a 1944 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Felix E. Feist starring Donald O'Connor,

Susanna Foster Susanna Foster (born Suzanne DeLee Flanders Larson, December 6, 1924 – January 17, 2009) was an American film actress best known for her leading role as Christine in the 1943 film version of ''Phantom of the Opera''. Early life Foster was ...

, and Peggy Ryan. It is one of the several films that Universal Studios rushed O'Connor and Ryan through before O'Connor was drafted into the Army to serve in World War II.

Plot

On her 18th birthday, orphan Angela Rutherford is given an inheritance of $6000. Her wisecracking friend Jimmy Plum arranges for a professional band to perform a number for her party, "You're a Lollapalooza", sung and danced by Jimmy and the band's Sally McGuire. Afterward, Sally tells Jimmy she likes him, but he is in love with Angela, who in turn is infatuated with Army surgeon Major Hilary Jarret. Angela is certain that Jimmy's father, Dr. Plum, will arrange a deferment so that Jimmy can follow in his footsteps and go to medical school, but Jimmy insists he is going to enlist. While gazing at a sleeping Hilary, Angela fantasizes that she is serenading him with "Ciri-Biri-Bin". When he wakes up, Angela makes it clear she is attracted to him, causing him to deflect her advances and return to New York City to try to get reinstated into the Army, having recovered from malaria. Angela and her aunt Betsy follow him. She takes singing lessons, showing him what she has learned with a rendition of "L'amour, toujours, l'amour". After Hilary is declared unfit for active service, Angela wears him down in his depressed state and gets him to agree to an engagement. Jimmy travels to New York and is ready to give up when he finds out, even though Hilary encourages him to fight for Angela. Jimmy encounters photographer Harriet West and learns she has some connection with Hilary, so he arranges a "chance" reunion at a nightclub. It turns out that Harriet is Hilary's ex-wife. The couple are still attracted to each other, but Harriet remembers their clashes over their careers. Everybody resents Jimmy's schemes and ask him to desist, but he persists. Finally, after Jimmy gets Angela to eavesdrop on a conversation between Hilary and Harriet, she realizes they still love each other. They get back together, while Jimmy enlists in the Army.

Cast

* Donald O'Connor as Jimmy lum*

as Angela utherford* Peggy Ryan as Sally McGuire *

Louise Allbritton Louise Allbritton (July 3, 1920 – February 16, 1979) was an American film and stage actress born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her name was sometimes seen as Louise Albritton. She played in such films as '' Pittsburgh'' (1942), '' Who Done It? ...

as Harriet est Jarrett* Patric Knowles as Hilary Jarret * Dorothy Peterson as Aunt Betsy *

Jonathan Hale Jonathan Hale (born Jonathan Hatley; March 21, 1891 – February 28, 1966) was a Canadian-born film and television actor. Life and career Hale was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Before his acting career, Hale worked in the Diplomatic Co ...

as Doctor Plum * Eddie Quillan as Gus * Frank Jenks as Eddie * Frank Puglia as Music Teacher * Maurice Marsac as Leon * Virginia Brissac as Mrs. Tiggett * Ray Eberle and His Orchestra * Bobby Brooks Quartette * unbilled players include Mantan Moreland

Songs

* "You're a Lollapalooza", written by

Grace Shannon Grace may refer to: Places United States * Grace, Idaho, a city * Grace (CTA station), Chicago Transit Authority's Howard Line, Illinois * Little Goose Creek (Kentucky), location of Grace post office * Grace, Carroll County, Missouri, an uninco ...

and

Bill Crago Bill(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States) * Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature * Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer * Bill, a bird or animal's beak Plac ...

, sung and danced by O'Connor and Ryan * "Ciri-Biri-Bin", written by Alberto Pestalozza, sung by Foster * " All or Nothing at All", composed by Arthur Altman with lyrics by

Jack Lawrence Jack Lawrence may refer to: *Jack Lawrence (songwriter) (1912–2009), American songwriter *Jack Lawrence (artist) (born 1975), British comic book artist and animator * Jack Lawrence (bluegrass) (born 1953), American bluegrass guitarist * Jack Lawre ...

, sung by Ray Eberle * " At Sundown", sung by Bobby Brooks with the Ray Eberle Orchestra * "Yippee-I-Voot", written by Buddy Pepper, Inez James and Sidney Miller, sung by Ryan and O'Connor * " With a Song in My Heart", music by

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most ...

, lyrics by

Lorenz Hart Lorenz Milton Hart (May 2, 1895 – November 22, 1943) was an American lyricist and half of the Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart. Some of his more famous lyrics include " Blue Moon", " The Lady Is a Tramp", "Manhattan", "Bewitched, Both ...

, sung by Foster * "Gremlin Walk", written by Inez James and Sidney Miller, sung by Ryan * "It's the Girl", written by Buddy Pepper and Inez James, sung by O'Connor and Foster * "Open Thy Heart", written by

Georges Bizet Georges Bizet (; 25 October 18383 June 1875) was a French composer of the Romantic music, Romantic era. Best known for his operas in a career cut short by his early death, Bizet achieved few successes before his final work, ''Carmen'', whi ...

, English version by Eugène Oudin, sung by Foster

External links

* * {{tcmdb title, 92971 1944 films 1940s musical comedy-drama films American black-and-white films American musical comedy-drama films American films based on plays Films based on works by Sinclair Lewis Films directed by Felix E. Feist Films set in New York City Universal Pictures films Films with screenplays by Wanda Tuchock 1944 comedy films 1944 drama films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films