Ray McDonald

Till the Clouds Roll By

Composer Jerome Kern's life and times are tunefully chronicled in this star-studded biopic. Kicking off with a 20-minute production of "Show Boat" -- including Lena Horne's definitive rendition of "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" -- the film culminates in a glitzy theatrical tableau featuring Frank Sinatra crooning "Old Man River." Robert Walker stars as the Broadway songwriter, with Van Heflin zigzagging through the events as Kern's crotchety guru.