They Shall Have Music
Encyclopedia
They Shall Have Music is a 1939 musical film starring famed violinist Jascha Heifetz
(as himself), Joel McCrea
, Andrea Leeds
, and Gene Reynolds
. A young runaway finds his purpose in life after hearing Heifetz play, and enrolls in a music school in financial difficulty.
) and stepfather (Arthur Hohl
).
One day, Frankie and his friend "Limey" (Terry Kilburn
) hide from the police in the lobby of a concert hall. When a couple has an argument, the man disgustedly throws away his tickets. Unable to scalp
them, the boys attend the concert. Frankie is entranced by the virtuoso performance of Jascha Heifetz. Later, he finds his musician father's violin in the basement of his home. His stepfather believes he stole it, smashes the instrument, and decides to pack him off to reform school
. Frankie runs away.
He stumbles upon a music school for the poor, founded by Professor Lawson (Walter Brennan
). Lawson discovers that Frankie has perfect pitch
and enrolls the boy. That night, Frankie sneaks into the basement to sleep, but Lawson finds him. After hearing his story, he lets Frankie stay.
Unbeknownst to Lawson, the school (which does not require tuition fees) is in financial trouble. The school's sponsor has died, and bills have gone unpaid for months. All of the musical instruments are rented from Mr. Flower (Porter Hall
). Flower assigns Peter McCarthy (Joel McCrea) to collect payment, but Peter's girlfriend is Lawson's daughter, Ann (Andrea Leeds
), so he does nothing. When Flower finds out, he fires Peter and confronts Ann.
Frankie overhears Peter and Ann discussing the situation, and organizes a street band with some of the other students to raise money. When Jascha Heifetz happens along, Frankie tells him about the school. Heifetz offers to send a film of himself playing. When Flower and the other creditors show up, they get the mistaken impression that Heifetz is the school's new sponsor. Peter plays along to buy time, and even claims that the violinist will perform at the school's upcoming concert.
Suspicious, Flower goes to see Heifetz and discovers the truth. Limey and the rest of Frankie's old gang try to persuade Heifetz to come, but they are turned away without seeing him. Limey steals Heifetz's Stradivarius
violin as a present for Frankie, unaware of its great value. When Frankie tries to return it, he is arrested. Fortunately, when Heifetz shows up to collect his instrument, Frankie is able to persuade him to perform at the concert. He also agrees to sponsor the school.
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was a violinist, born in Vilnius, then Russian Empire, now Lithuania. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.- Early life :...
(as himself), Joel McCrea
Joel McCrea
Joel Albert McCrea was an American actor whose career spanned 50 years and appearances in over 90 films.-Early life:...
, Andrea Leeds
Andrea Leeds
Andrea Leeds was an American film actress. A popular supporting player of the late 1930s, Leeds was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Stage Door...
, and Gene Reynolds
Gene Reynolds
Gene Reynolds is a former American actor turned award-winning television writer, director, and producer.-Early life:He was born Eugene Reynolds Blumenthal on April 4, 1923 to Frank Eugene Blumenthal and Maude Evelyn Blumenthal in Cleveland, Ohio, he was raised in Detroit, Michigan, where his...
. A young runaway finds his purpose in life after hearing Heifetz play, and enrolls in a music school in financial difficulty.
Plot
Youngster Frankie (Gene Reynolds) and his small gang commit petty crimes, such as stealing a bicycle and taking money from Willy. Willy's father complains to Frankie's mother (Marjorie MainMarjorie Main
Marjorie Main was an American character actress, mainly at MGM, perhaps best known for her role as Ma Kettle in a series of ten Ma and Pa Kettle movies.-Early life and career:...
) and stepfather (Arthur Hohl
Arthur Hohl
Arthur Hohl was a stage and motion-picture character actor. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and began appearing in films in the early 1920s...
).
One day, Frankie and his friend "Limey" (Terry Kilburn
Terry Kilburn
Terry Kilburn is an English-American former child actor. He is sometimes credited as Terence Kilburn or Terrance Kilburn.Kilburn was born in London in 1926...
) hide from the police in the lobby of a concert hall. When a couple has an argument, the man disgustedly throws away his tickets. Unable to scalp
Ticket resale
Ticket resale is the act of reselling tickets for admission to events. Tickets are bought from licensed sellers and are then sold for a price determined by the individual or company in possession of the tickets. Tickets sold through secondary sources may be sold for less or more than their face...
them, the boys attend the concert. Frankie is entranced by the virtuoso performance of Jascha Heifetz. Later, he finds his musician father's violin in the basement of his home. His stepfather believes he stole it, smashes the instrument, and decides to pack him off to reform school
Reform school
A reform school in the United States was a term used to define, often somewhat euphemistically, what was often essentially a penal institution for boys, generally teenagers.-History:...
. Frankie runs away.
He stumbles upon a music school for the poor, founded by Professor Lawson (Walter Brennan
Walter Brennan
Walter Brennan was an American actor. Brennan won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on three separate occasions, which is currently the record for most wins.-Early life:...
). Lawson discovers that Frankie has perfect pitch
Absolute pitch
Absolute pitch , widely referred to as perfect pitch, is the ability of a person to identify or re-create a given musical note without the benefit of an external reference.-Definition:...
and enrolls the boy. That night, Frankie sneaks into the basement to sleep, but Lawson finds him. After hearing his story, he lets Frankie stay.
Unbeknownst to Lawson, the school (which does not require tuition fees) is in financial trouble. The school's sponsor has died, and bills have gone unpaid for months. All of the musical instruments are rented from Mr. Flower (Porter Hall
Porter Hall
Porter Hall was an American character actor known for appearing in a number of films in the 1930s and 1940s...
). Flower assigns Peter McCarthy (Joel McCrea) to collect payment, but Peter's girlfriend is Lawson's daughter, Ann (Andrea Leeds
Andrea Leeds
Andrea Leeds was an American film actress. A popular supporting player of the late 1930s, Leeds was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Stage Door...
), so he does nothing. When Flower finds out, he fires Peter and confronts Ann.
Frankie overhears Peter and Ann discussing the situation, and organizes a street band with some of the other students to raise money. When Jascha Heifetz happens along, Frankie tells him about the school. Heifetz offers to send a film of himself playing. When Flower and the other creditors show up, they get the mistaken impression that Heifetz is the school's new sponsor. Peter plays along to buy time, and even claims that the violinist will perform at the school's upcoming concert.
Suspicious, Flower goes to see Heifetz and discovers the truth. Limey and the rest of Frankie's old gang try to persuade Heifetz to come, but they are turned away without seeing him. Limey steals Heifetz's Stradivarius
Stradivarius
The name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...
violin as a present for Frankie, unaware of its great value. When Frankie tries to return it, he is arrested. Fortunately, when Heifetz shows up to collect his instrument, Frankie is able to persuade him to perform at the concert. He also agrees to sponsor the school.
Cast
- Jascha HeifetzJascha HeifetzJascha Heifetz was a violinist, born in Vilnius, then Russian Empire, now Lithuania. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.- Early life :...
as Himself - Joel McCreaJoel McCreaJoel Albert McCrea was an American actor whose career spanned 50 years and appearances in over 90 films.-Early life:...
as Peter McCarthy - Andrea LeedsAndrea LeedsAndrea Leeds was an American film actress. A popular supporting player of the late 1930s, Leeds was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Stage Door...
as Ann Lawson - Gene ReynoldsGene ReynoldsGene Reynolds is a former American actor turned award-winning television writer, director, and producer.-Early life:He was born Eugene Reynolds Blumenthal on April 4, 1923 to Frank Eugene Blumenthal and Maude Evelyn Blumenthal in Cleveland, Ohio, he was raised in Detroit, Michigan, where his...
as Frankie - Walter BrennanWalter BrennanWalter Brennan was an American actor. Brennan won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on three separate occasions, which is currently the record for most wins.-Early life:...
as Professor Lawson - Terry KilburnTerry KilburnTerry Kilburn is an English-American former child actor. He is sometimes credited as Terence Kilburn or Terrance Kilburn.Kilburn was born in London in 1926...
as Limey - Porter HallPorter HallPorter Hall was an American character actor known for appearing in a number of films in the 1930s and 1940s...
as Mr. Flower - Walter TetleyWalter TetleyWalter Tetley , an American voice actor, was a child impersonator in radio's classic era, with regular roles on The Great Gildersleeve and The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show, as well as continuing as a voice-over artist in animated cartoons, commercials, and spoken-word record albums...
as Rocks Mulligan - Chuck Stubbs as Fever Jones
- Tommy Kelly as Willie
- Gale SherwoodGale SherwoodGale Sherwood was a Canadian singer and actress best known as the singing partner of Nelson Eddy from 1953 until his death in 1967.Sherwood was born in Hamilton, Ontario and graduated from High School in 1945....
as Betty (as Jacqueline Nash) - Alfred NewmanAlfred NewmanAlfred Newman was an American composer, arranger, and conductor of music for films.In a career which spanned over forty years, Newman composed music for over two hundred films. He was one of the most respected film score composers of his time, and is today regarded as one of the greatest...
as Musical Director - Mary Ruth as Suzie
- John St. PolisJohn St. PolisJohn St. Polis was an American actor. He appeared in 126 films between 1914 and 1943.He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and died in Los Angeles, California.-Selected filmography:* Shadows...
as Davis - Alexander Schoenberg as Menken (as Alexander Schonberg)
- Marjorie MainMarjorie MainMarjorie Main was an American character actress, mainly at MGM, perhaps best known for her role as Ma Kettle in a series of ten Ma and Pa Kettle movies.-Early life and career:...
as Mrs. Miller - Arthur HohlArthur HohlArthur Hohl was a stage and motion-picture character actor. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and began appearing in films in the early 1920s...
as Mr. Miller - Paul HarveyPaul Harvey (actor)Paul Harvey was an American actor who appeared in at least 177 films.-Selected filmography:*They Shall Have Music *Behind the News *Moonlight Masquerade *Spellbound...
as Heifetz's Manager