A Song Is Born 1948
6.9 / 10
A Song Is Born
The story of seven scholars in search of an expert to teach them about swing music. They seem to have found the perfect candidate in winsome nightclub singer Honey Swanson. But Honey's gangster boyfriend doesn't want to give her up.
The story of seven scholars in search of an expert to teach them about swing music. They seem to have found the perfect candidate in winsome nightclub singer Honey Swanson. But Honey's gangster boyfriend doesn't want to give her up.
Videos & Photos
All 0 Videos & 6 Photos
cast
Full Cast & Crew
... Professor Hobart Frisbee
... Honey Swanson
... Professor Magenbruch
... Tommy Dorsey
... Louis Armstrong
... Lionel Hampton
User reviews
See All 1 Reviews09 Jul 2022 by CinemaSerf
After two minutes you will spot the obvious similarity with "Ball of Fire" (1941). Swap Gary Cooper with Danny Kaye and Barbara Stanwyck with Virginia Mayo then add some fantastic musicianship from the likes of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Sonny Burke et al, and we have a gently amusing story of a professor (of music this time) who falls for the gangster's moll. "Honey" (Mayo) takes refuge from the pursuing FBI with a bunch of dithery professors creating an over budget dictionary of music and soon the hapless "Prof. Frisbee" (Kaye) is eating out of her hand. The gangster elements of the plot are just a little too contrived: her boyfriend "Crow" (Steve Cochran) maintains this new situation to keep her from testifying against him - until, that is - he can make arrangements to marry her, but in the meantime might she start to fall for poor old "Frisbee"? Neither lead are on great form here, Kaye seems oddly distracted from his role and Mayo always was quite a sterile performer, but there is still enough chemistry between them and, alongside a fun effort from Esther Dale as their somewhat puritanical housekeeper "Miss Bragg" this works ok. Essentially, it's an excuse for some great toe-tappers with a gently simmering romance and some slightly slapstick humour. It's fun to watch and to listen to, and though I still preferred the original it is diverse enough from that to stand well enough on it's own.
Directors:
Producers:
Release Date:
Oct 19, 1948 (United States)
Run Time:
1hr 53`
MMPA Rating:
NR
Original Language:
English
Production Countries:
United States
Status:
Released
Plot Keywords:
Related Movies To
A Song Is Born
After two minutes you will spot the obvious similarity with "Ball of Fire" (1941). Swap Gary Cooper with Danny Kaye and Barbara Stanwyck with Virginia Mayo then add some fantastic musicianship from the likes of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Sonny Burke et al, and we have a gently amusing story of a professor (of music this time) who falls for the gangster's moll. "Honey" (Mayo) takes refuge from the pursuing FBI with a bunch of dithery professors creating an over budget dictionary of music and soon the hapless "Prof. Frisbee" (Kaye) is eating out of her hand. The gangster elements of the plot are just a little too contrived: her boyfriend "Crow" (Steve Cochran) maintains this new situation to keep her from testifying against him - until, that is - he can make arrangements to marry her, but in the meantime might she start to fall for poor old "Frisbee"? Neither lead are on great form here, Kaye seems oddly distracted from his role and Mayo always was quite a sterile performer, but there is still enough chemistry between them and, alongside a fun effort from Esther Dale as their somewhat puritanical housekeeper "Miss Bragg" this works ok. Essentially, it's an excuse for some great toe-tappers with a gently simmering romance and some slightly slapstick humour. It's fun to watch and to listen to, and though I still preferred the original it is diverse enough from that to stand well enough on it's own.
Cast & Crew of
A Song Is Born
Directors & Credit Writers
... Director
Cast
... Professor Hobart Frisbee
... Honey Swanson
... Professor Magenbruch
... Tommy Dorsey
... Louis Armstrong
... Lionel Hampton
... Charlie Barnet
... Mel Powell
... Buck
... Laurindo Almeida
... Professor Twingle
... Bubbles
... Page Cavanaugh
... Tony Crow
... Dr. Elfini
AV
Al Viola... Al Viola
... Professor Gerkikoff
LP
Lloyd Pratt... Lloyd Pratt
... Professor Traumer
... Orlandus Wilson
Produced By
... Producer
Videos & Photos of
A Song Is Born
Photos ( 6 )
Related Movies To
A Song Is Born
Heads of State (2025)
0 /10
The UK Prime Minister and US President have a public rivalry that risks their countries' alliance. But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they're forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run. Allied with Noel, a brilliant MI6 agent, they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world.
Run Time: 1hr 53` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 02 Jul 2025
Director: Jo Beckett , Ben Howard , Matthew Sharp
Producer: John Cena , Marcus Viscidi , Sophie Holland
Stars: Idris Elba , John Cena , Priyanka Chopra Jonas , Paddy Considine , Stephen Root , Carla Gugino
Lilo & Stitch (2025)
0 /10
The wildly funny and touching story of a lonely Hawaiian girl and the fugitive alien who helps to mend her broken family.
Run Time: 1hr 48` . MMPA: PG . Release: 17 May 2025
Director: Richard Oswald , Brian Avery Galligan , Aldric La'Auli Porter
Producer: Tom C. Peitzman , Thomas Schumacher , Ryan Halprin
Stars: Chris Sanders , Maia Kealoha , Zach Galifianakis , Billy Magnussen , Sydney Agudong , Courtney B. Vance
Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado (2025)
0 /10
Dora, Diego, and their new friends trek through the perilous dangers of the Amazonian jungle in search of the ancient and powerful treasure of Sol Dorado to keep it out of enemy hands.
Run Time: 1hr 36` . MMPA: PG . Release: 02 Jul 2025
Director: Alberto Belli
Producer:
Stars: Samantha Lorraine , Jacob Rodriguez , Mariana Garzón Toro , Christian Gnecco Quintero , Tiago Martinez , Daniella Pineda
KPop Demon Hunters (2025)
0 /10
When K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey aren't selling out stadiums, they're using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats.
Run Time: 1hr 36` . MMPA: PG . Release: 20 Jun 2025
Director: Elizabeth Schantz , Maggie Kang , Sean Tadlock
Producer: Ilia Sargent-Barba , Jacky Chrisp , Angie K. Farella
Stars: Arden Cho , Rolando Davila-Beltran , May Hong , Ji-young Yoo , Ahn Hyo-seop , Yunjin Kim
A Minecraft Movie (2025)
0 /10
Four misfits find themselves struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into the Overworld: a bizarre, cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they'll have to master this world while embarking on a magical quest with an unexpected, expert crafter, Steve.
Run Time: 1hr 41` . MMPA: PG . Release: 31 Mar 2025
Director: Sophie Calver , Jon Valera , Rosie Vavasour
Producer: Simon Ambridge , Jon Berg , Jono Wilce
Stars: Jack Black , Jason Momoa , Matt Berry , Pauline Chalamet , Danielle Brooks , Jennifer Coolidge
Long Distance (2024)
0 /10
After crash-landing on an alien planet, an asteroid miner must contend with the challenges of his new surroundings, while making his way across the harsh terrain to the only other survivor – a woman who is trapped in her escape pod.
Run Time: 1hr 27` . MMPA: PG-13 . Release: 12 Jul 2024
Director: Will Speck , Cliff Lanning , Josh Gordon
Producer: Brian Kavanaugh-Jones , Will Speck , Cliff Lanning
Stars: Anthony Ramos , Naomi Scott , Kristofer Hivju , Zachary Quinto , Izzy Jones , Leon Nurse-Joseph
Baby Blue (2023)
5 /10
A group of teens stumble across the story of now dead serial killer Baby Blue and decide he'd be the perfect subject of a true crime vodcast. But when they start digging, they quickly discover that his murder spree never stopped. Now they are being targeted from beyond the grave.
Run Time: 1hr 30` . MMPA: . Release: 16 Apr 2023
Director: Adam Mason
Producer: Bradley Pilz , Johannes Roberts
Stars: Dylan Sprayberry , Lia McHugh , Anthony Turpel , Aramis Knight , Alexia Ioannides , Oliver Cooper
Open (2025)
0 /10
The perfect summer turns into a blood-soaked nightmare as counselors at an isolated camp are hunted by a killer and the truth behind the murders is darker than anyone imagined. If the killer doesn't get you, the drama definitely will.
Run Time: 1hr 4` . MMPA: . Release: 14 Jun 2025
Director: David Saban
Producer: Eliot Schuler
Stars: Kayla Decilio , Ethan Michaels , Dimitry Bilanicz , Kylie Rose Collins , Marlee Lewis , Mike Lavit
Moana 2 (2024)
0 /10
After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana journeys alongside Maui and a new crew to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she's ever faced.
Run Time: 1hr 40` . MMPA: PG . Release: 21 Nov 2024
Director: Jason Hand , Dana Ledoux Miller , David G. Derrick Jr.
Producer: Christina Chen , Jennifer Lee , Dwayne Johnson
Stars: Auli'i Cravalho , Dwayne Johnson , Alan Tudyk , Temuera Morrison , Rachel House , Nicole Scherzinger
Jack in Time for Christmas (2024)
0 /10
Christmas is approaching and Jack Whitehall is racing to get home in time to spend it with his family. Stranded on the other side of the world, he enlists the help of some famous faces and embarks on a far-fetched quest across the globe. His cast of celebrity do-gooders includes Jimmy Fallon, Dave Bautista, Rebel Wilson, Tom Davis, and Michael Bublé. But will they get him back in time for Christmas?
Run Time: 1hr 5` . MMPA: . Release: 02 Dec 2024
Director: Phil Ashton
Producer: Richard Ackerman
Stars: Jack Whitehall , Michael Bublé , Dave Bautista , Rebel Wilson , Jimmy Fallon , Daisy May Cooper
Deep Cover (2025)
0 /10
Kat is an improv comedy teacher beginning to question if she’s missed her shot at success. When an undercover cop offers her the role of a lifetime, she recruits two of her students to infiltrate London’s gangland by impersonating dangerous criminals.
Run Time: 1hr 39` . MMPA: R . Release: 12 Jun 2025
Director: Kelly Maracin Krieg , Tom Kingsley
Producer: Annys Hamilton , Laurie MacDonald , Stephanie Winter
Stars: Bryce Dallas Howard , Orlando Bloom , Sean Bean , Paddy Considine , Ian McShane , Nick Mohammed
Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecation (2024)
0 /10
When thrill-seeker Cricket tricks his family into taking a "road trip" in space, chaos in the cosmos quickly ensues. Despite growing frustrations between Cricket and his dad, Bill, the two must learn to appreciate each other's unique perspectives in order to prevent Big City from being destroyed by an interstellar disaster.
Run Time: 1hr 22` . MMPA: PG . Release: 06 Jun 2024
Director: Anna O'Brian
Producer: Mike Coughlin , Michael Coughlin , Abigail Swoap
Stars: Chris Houghton , Artemis Pebdani , Marieve Herington , Bob Joles , Zeno Robinson , Wendi McLendon-Covey