''You Will Remember'' is a 1941 British musical

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Jack Raymond Jack Raymond (1886–1953) was an English actor and film director. Born in Wimborne, Dorset in 1886, he began acting before the First World War in '' A Detective for a Day''. In 1921 he directed his first film and gradually he wound down his a ...

and starring

Robert Morley Robert Adolph Wilton Morley, CBE (26 May 1908 – 3 June 1992) was an English actor who enjoyed a lengthy career in both Britain and the United States. He was frequently cast as a pompous English gentleman representing the Establishment, of ...

Emlyn Williams George Emlyn Williams, CBE (26 November 1905 – 25 September 1987) was a Welsh writer, dramatist and actor. Early life Williams was born into a Welsh-speaking, working class family at 1 Jones Terrace, Pen-y-ffordd, Ffynnongroyw, Flints ...

and Dorothy Hyson. It portrays the life of the composer

Leslie Stuart Leslie Stuart (15 March 1863 – 27 March 1928) born Thomas Augustine Barrett was an English composer of Edwardian musical comedy, best known for the hit show '' Florodora'' (1899) and many popular songs. He began in Manchester as a church org ...

. Featured songs include, '' Tell Me Pretty Maiden'', ''Sue'', ''

Florodora ''Florodora'' is an Edwardian musical comedy. After its long run in London, it became one of the first successful Broadway musicals of the 20th century. The book was written by Jimmy Davis under the pseudonym Owen Hall, the music was by Leslie S ...

'', ''

Lily of Laguna "Lily of Laguna" is a British coon song written in eye dialect. It was written in 1898 by English composer Leslie Stuart. It was a music hall favourite, performed notably by blackface performers such as Eugene Stratton and G. H. Elliott. In th ...

'', '' Soldiers of the King'' and ''Dolly Daydream''. It was made at

Isleworth Studios Isleworth Studios is the common name of two former film studios in Great Britain. __TOC__ Worton Hall Studios 1913–1952 Worton Hall Studios were based on Worton Hall, in Isleworth. This house was built in 1783 and rebuilt and extended in the ea ...

. The film's art direction was by James A. Carter. The title stems from the master of ceremonies in the British music halls who would say "You will remember (this song)" when introducing old favourites.

Plot

The film is a biography of popular English composer Tom Barrett known by his stage name

(Robert Morley), who rose to fame through performances of his songs by the tenor

Ellaline Terriss Mary Ellaline Terriss, Lady Hicks (born Mary Ellaline Lewin, 13 April 1871 – 16 June 1971), known professionally as Ellaline Terriss, was a popular British actress and singer, best known for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies. Sh ...

(Dorothy Hyson). The film is told in flashback with an elderly Barrett listening to a band playing his tunes played by a band on a pier. The women next to him confidently tells him that the composer is dead. We then go to his childhood,

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

in 1870, where his relatively poor parents buy him a piano. He proves to be a prodigy. His first break comes in a small hall/bar where the regular piano player falls ill and he is asked to play

Stephen Foster Stephen Collins Foster (July 4, 1826January 13, 1864), known also as "the father of American music", was an American composer known primarily for his parlour and minstrel music during the Romantic period. He wrote more than 200 songs, inc ...

tunes. In later life he earns money teaching piano but is not satisfied. He goes to a concert by Signor Foli (actually an Irishman called Foley) and they become friends. Foley convinces him to start writing songs full time but under a new name. Despite growing success he is not good with money. Others are also printing his work without permission. This is partly addressed by the Copyright Act but is not enough to save him from debtors prison. Leaving prison a day late (so he can finish reading a book on

Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classic ...

) he descends to obscurity with the arrival of the Jazz Age. Through good times and bad his childhood friend Bob Slater stands by him, and encourages him back into society. He has a comeback in British

music halls Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as variety. Perceptions of a distinction in Bri ...

shortly before his death.

Cast

Critical reception

'' Allmovie'' wrote, "Jack Raymond's perfunctory direction does not alway do full justice to his subject"; while ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corpora ...

'' noted, "production numbers featuring the singing of music-hall performer Finglass are well done, overcoming the weaknesses of the sentimental screenplay."

References

Bibliography

* Lamb, Andrew. ''Leslie Stuart: Composer of Florodora''. Psychology Press, 2002.

External links

* 1941 films British musical drama films 1940s musical drama films 1940s historical musical films British historical musical films 1940s English-language films Films directed by Jack Raymond Films shot at Isleworth Studios Films set in England Films set in London Films set in the 1900s Films set in the 1920s British black-and-white films 1941 drama films Films scored by Percival Mackey 1940s British films British Lion Films films {{historic-musical-film-stub