With a Song in My Heart

% % [Orchestra]

[Man Narrating] The annual ball

of the newspapermen of New York...

is always a colorful

and glamorous event.

Tonight's is no exception

to that rule.

% % [Piano]

% % [Fanfare]

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

the highlight of the evening.

For those of us in show business

or newspapers...

or who are just plain,

ordinary music listeners...

this is an occasion

of special significance and pride.

For among those who are being

honored here tonight...

is a very wonderful singer

and a very great lady...

who has been named the most courageous

entertainer of the year.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Miss Jane Froman.

% % [Orchestra]

% % [Piano]

[Jane]

% With a song in my heart%

% I behold%

% Your adorable face%

% Just as strong at the start%

[Man Narrating]

Jane Froman...

radio, musical comedy...

the movies, nightclubs...

a lot of the stuff

of which dreams are made.

But why the most courageous

entertainer of the year?

Well, let's see.

Suppose we start here...

at a radio station

in Cincinnati...

on a bright summer's morning

a few years back...

when suddenly there exploded

from a taxicab...

the figure of a young lady.

Then, as always,

in a terrible hurry.

Oh! Oh, I'm so sorry.

Please forgive me.

- L... I just wasn't looking.

- Hmm.

- Forgive me, please.

- It's all right.

% % [Men Singing, Faint]

% And we're having trouble%

% Sure as you're born%

% Trying to find someone%

% To hoe that corn%

% Hoe that corn

'cause it's gotta grow%

% Can't you see that the liquor's low%

% Gotta have a jug to make us go%

% Who'll hoe that corn%

% Rube took Fanny to the fair today%

% They rode in on a load of hay%

% Don't expect 'em back

till the end of May%

- % Who'll hoe that corn%

- % Zeb had 10 daughters but no son%

% Got 'em all married one by one%

% 'Cause he's pretty handy

with that old shotgun%

% Who we got to hoe that corn%

% Little Elsie's just turned 10%

% Kinda peculiar

Don't like men%

% Keeps pretendin' she's a hen%

- % Who'll hoe that corn%

- [Blowing]

% Hoe, hoe that corn%

% Hoe, hoe, hoe

hoe that corn%

% Hoe, hoe that corn%

% Everybody's gotta hoe that corn%

- [Blowing]

- % Who'll hoe that corn, a rippy-tippy%

- % Who'll hoe that corn%

- % Hot city papa, won't you play that jazz%

% Who'll hoe that%

% Corn% %

Okay, boys, write your names out

and leave 'em with my secretary.

If anything comes up,

she'll let you know.

- Wait a minute. Did you like it or didn't you?

- Very nice.

Then how 'bout giving us an answer now?

After all, we're pretty busy too.

Really? Where are you working?

We just finished eight weeks

at the Palmer House in Chicago.

Before that, London, New York.

You name the spot, we were there.

Sorry, boys.

Looks like you're out of our class.

I don't think you'd be interested

in anything we'd have to offer.

Besides, this is radio,

you know, not vaudeville.

- [Door Closes]

- What a jerk.

Sure, he's a jerk.

They all are.

But that don't mean

you gotta divulge the secret.

Besides, did it ever occur to you

that maybe we weren't so hot either?

- Listen, Harry...

- This song of yours, it ain't no Berlin, brother.

Anytime you're not happy with the way

things are going, do me a favor.

- Just say so.

- Nobody said anything about not being happy.

But a guy's got a right to wonder

where all this is gettin' us.

By "all this," you wouldn't mean me

and my big mouth, would you?

That sure don't help any.

In that case, maybe we'd be doing each other

a favor if we just called it quits.

Well, I'm not suggesting it,

but it's an idea.

Then consider it done.

Okay, pal.

See ya around.

Excuse me.

Are they through in there?

Utterly and emphatically!

Thank you.

Good morning.

I'm Jane Froman.

I'm sorry I'm late for my audition,

but there was a terrible traffic jam.

Paul Whiteman spoke to

you about me, remember?

- Paul Whiteman?

- Yes. I have his card here somewhere.

He heard me sing

at the conservatory.

You're studying at the conservatory?

Yes, I'm in my second year studying

voice harmony and theory. Here it is.

He wrote something

on the back.

Mmm. Pops apparently

thinks you're pretty good.

I dictated it, but he wrote it.

He did ask me to go with his band.

But I told him I didn't want to be known

only as a band singer.

I'd rather be on the air.

You can understand that, can't you?

Oh, perfectly.

And what experience have you had?

Well, I've sung once

with the Cincinnati Symphony.

And last month

I sang at one of Mrs. Taft's teas.

Mrs. Robert Taft's teas?

Mm-hmm. Before that, I had a week's engagement

at the Grand Central Theater in St. Louis.

I was billed as the "Blues Singing Coed

from Missouri U."

You don't say.

Well, you've had quite a career.

- What do you want to sing now?

- I brought several things along with me.

Let's see.

Do you know this one?

Well, I think I can handle it

in my own humble way.

- % % [Picks Up Tempo]

- % I saw you last night%

% And got that old feeling%

% When you came inside%

% I got that old feeling%

- % The moment you... %

- Pardon me.

Pardon me.

May I ask what all this is about?

I understood you were looking

for a hot singer.

May I give you

some advice, Miss Froman?

- Well, certainly, if it's good advice.

- Okay.

You're a very nice-looking

young lady.

I thoroughly approve

of both your face and contour.

For all I know,

you may even have a good voice.

- Shall I go on?

- Please do.

All right, then listen.

Having a good voice is a big help.

Let's call that God's contribution.

But in show business, you've got to have

a lot more than just a pair of pipes.

You've got to know how to walk,

how to smile, how to take a bow.

But most of all,

what to do with your hands.

Look, you're singing a song, not waving

to a bunch of immigrants at Ellis Island.

I'm sorry.

May I try it again?

Only if you'll sing it right...

and not the way you think

somebody else might like it, okay?

Okay.

From the heart.

% I saw you last night%

% And got that old feeling%

% When you came in sight%

% I got that old feeling%

% The moment you danced by%

% I felt a thrill%

% And when you caught my eye%

% My heart stood still%

% Once again I seemed to feel%

% That old yearning%

% And I knew... %

Come in. This is Miss Froman,

one of Paul Whiteman's protgs.

- She mistook me for you. So I'm auditioning her.

- So I see.

- You're not the director?

- Uh-uh, he is.

- Show him your card.

- That won't be necessary. I'm on my way to lunch.

It'll only take a minute.

Read it.

Read what it says

on the other side.

Hmm, but your appointment was for 11:00.

Some other time, perhaps.

Why not now?

I'll play for her.

Get over there.

Go on, where you can see her.

This you gotta hear.

Remember what I told you.

% % [Piano]

% I saw you last night%

% And got that old feeling%

% When you came in sight%

% I got that old feeling%

- % The moment... %

- No, no, no. That's not it at all.

- We're looking for a hot singer. One with a lot of...

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