Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

Powerful

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

......the story of an "ubermensch" musician,a man with no peers in his field,young,gifted and misunderstood. Unfortunately because he is played by Mr K.Douglas with his rictus grin,rictus scowl and rictus every - bloody thing,he evokes very little sympathy; in me at any rate. More Bunny Berigan then Bix Beiderbecke,Mr Douglas is one hell of a trumpet player.Like in countless movies before and since he wants to play "his" music and refuses to "sell out". But jazzers who don't "sell out"quite often starve. A later echo might be seen in "New York,New York" where Mr De Niro ends up on the coat tails of Miss Minnelli until he can no longer live with himself. No such quibbles for Kirk who burbles away behind Doris Day in the end. Before then he takes to the demon drink,enters unsuitable relationships and does all the jazz - ish things Hollywood producers fondly imagine creative musicians like to do. Doris Day seems more comfortable in her role than Lauren Bacall whose more complex character eludes her. Nice rather than amazing trumpet playing by Harry James complements the movie which is directed by Michael Curtiz with his customary panache and professionalism. A better film about a jazz trumpet player is "Pete Kelly's Blues" which is actually set in the Beiderbecke era. But "Young man with a horn" from a somewhat florid novel by Dorothy Baker is well worth watching for all that.

There is so much one can write about when a movie is bad, or flawed, or poorly acted, or has a contrived story, lack of continuity, no feeling, or shallow, superficial, or without any artistic value. In this case, there is little to say, so excellent is this movie. This movie warrants only superlatives, in all aspects of its production: from the production, to the direction, to the story, to the cinematography and to the acting. All those elements combined to produce a masterpiece. The movie is about life, and about people living that life. People who are vulnerable, flawed but caring. Nothing in the story is corny or contrived. It's about working class people in a working class society who want to achieve, to do something, be something, and above all to live and make a difference. This movie features Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall, Doris Day, and Hoagy Carmichael. All delivery outstanding performances. The music is great and figures directly in the story. But most significant is the horn. To find out why, watch the movie.

This is based on the life of Bix Beiderbecke. It was one of my Great Grand dad's books I read the summer I turned 13. Loved it! This movie is a pale shadow. Smoke , in the book , is black. He is also Rick's best friend since boyhood. This not treated as an aberration. There was no smarmy songstress. The character of Amy had a phi beta kappa key. But they just wanted her to be a stereotype rich, bored socialite . They wanted a "good girl/bad girl " dichotomy ". Ladies who sang with bands were not virginal and demure. Not an indictment , just a fact. And , of course, Rick and Bix died of alcoholism . The novel is brilliant. Poor Rick. Poor Bix. Mediocre movie.

Dance band pianist Hoagy Carmichael (as Willie "Smoke" Willoughby) tells about how he palled around with legendary jazz trumpeter Kirk Douglas (as Rick Martin). We flashback to see lonely orphan Orley Lindgren (as young Rick/Kirk) show an interest in gospel music. He wants to buy a trumpet. While working as a pin-boy in a bowling alley, young Lindgren hears Juano Hernandez (as Art Hazzard) playing in a nearby nightclub. The kid is in ecstasy watching "Art Hazzard and His Dixie Pickers" from a hiding place and soon meets Mr. Hernandez, who teaches him to play the trumpet. Douglas idolizes Hernandez.Growing up fast, Mr. Douglas hooks up with our chain-smoking narrator, Mr. Carmichael, who helps get him employed. Next, a perpetually wide-eyed Douglas meets pretty girl singer Doris Day (as Jo Jordan), but he shows little interest in women. "You're married to that trumpet," Ms. Day observes as Douglas fails to take advantage her invitation to kiss. He's not interested in Carmichael, either - just the trumpet. That all changes when Day introduces Douglas to her sexy psychiatric student friend Lauren Bacall (as Amy North). But, the trumpet STILL gets in the way. And, if it isn't the trumpet, it's the bottle… The story is overwrought, predictable, and ends up being dull. Still, "Young Man with a Horn" has a few things going for it.The combination of director Michael Curtiz and cinematographer Ted McCord create a beautiful black-and-white picture; the street scenes with Lindgren and Douglas are great, as is Ms. Bacall's beautifully lighted apartment. Day and Harry James (dubbing for Douglas) perform several musical numbers. Carmichael does his thing well, and Hernandez contributes an especially dignified supporting performance. This film has become known for featuring a lesbian character, but even that is unexciting. Ironically, opposites attract as Bacall and Day look great on screen together, but the script neglects the possibilities.****** Young Man with a Horn (2/9/50) Michael Curtiz ~ Kirk Douglas, Doris Day, Lauren Bacall, Juano Hernandez