Because You're Mine (1952)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Expected more

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Some people think that this is the best of Mario Lanza's 10 film appearances. It actually had a good story behind it.Lanza plays an Elvis-type role (G.I. Blues) as he goes into the Army. He hits the jackpot immediately as his drill sergeant is a big fan, and he also wants to get his sister on stage. Lanza, of course, falls for the sister, Doretta Morrow, in her only movie role.Their duet, Because You're Mine, was nominated for an Oscar, but lost to High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darlin').It was a good story of love found, lost, and found again, with a bucket-load of Lanza songs.

An afternoon of complete JOY hearing Mario Lanza singing....also and an extra in hearing Doretta Morrow. Lanza's Granada was electrifying. One of the nice extras of retirement is being able to enjoy the afternoon or evening in such heavenly company.The total music in this movie is superb. Anyone who enjoys music no matter what age should enjoy Lanza's movies. They should be a teaching tool for singers and musicians of all ages. Today we are not teaching our children to appreciate fine music and to enjoy listening and learning about what it means to the heart and soul. Truly these movies are masterpieces of art and should be treated as such.Rose Clary

By the time Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer started Mario Lanza in his fourth film, the formula was wearing thin. In That Midnight Kiss, he was an opera singing truckdriver. In The Toast of New Orleans, he was an opera singing fisherman. And in The Great Caruso he was, the greatest opera singer of all. Now he was going to be cast as an opera singer drafted into the army.So you can understand that Mario was feeling in a bit of a career rut. Why he wasn't cast in some of the classic musicals and operettas of old is beyond me. So despite the fact that the title song became a big hit for him, Mr. Lanza was unhappy.He set records for binging on food, on liquor, on women that outstripped even what Mario previously did. Looking at some of the scenes filmed out of sequence you can see how his weight went up and down. Reportedly he behaved so outrageously to co-star Doretta Morrow that she up and quit Hollywood and never returned.That was a pity because Ms. Morrow was certainly a great talent in her own right. She had just come off playing Tuptim on Broadway in The King and I and would soon go back to Broadway in Kismet.Despite that Doretta and Mario made some beautiful music together. Especially with the title song and Doretta sings a beautiful version of Cole Porter's You Do Something to Me.I actually rather liked the premise of this film. Mario Lanza, opera star gets drafted into the army where by the merest of chance he gets an opera loving sergeant James Whitmore who has an aspiring singer for a sister. That would be Ms. Morrow.Put them together with a whole lot of situations that come up in military service comedies and you have Because You're Mine. It's not a bad film, not particularly great. But a rut is a rut is a rut.

This formula pic, while being one of Lanza's lamer projects, includes some impressive soundtrack renderings. It's amusing to see how he manages to first be drafted at all (stretching age limits) then sail through basic training with a breeze, intoning ballads through boot camp.From his real-life mom's requesting an autograph as he stands in recruit formation at train station, to his sergeant's begging same immediately upon entering barracks, this script's a hoot. His fellow privates (while mildly ribbing him) quickly accept his "in with brass" status, as our hero's placed in charge of trainees, crooning Brahms melodies in sergeant's quarters, belting out Italian arias while riding a truck, and even traveling to New York for a recording session.However, this is a quite special branch of the military--MGM Division to be exact--and everything yields to the song cue (could Joe Pasternak be Commander in Chief?)Fun to see James Whitmore having a good time in a somewhat comedic, Keenyn Wynn type role. Spring Byington's sprightly as ever and Doretta Morrow's serviceable as love interest, with her light soprano being as pleasant here as in her Broadway work of "Kismet." Interesting, too, to see Mario bouncing between 80-pounds-plus-minus (entering a chapel in uniform fairly slim and next walking down aisle wearing what looks like a tent). Vocally the production's strong, with a consistently forceful approach. Lanza looks like this isn't exactly a labor of love, with his reactions appearing more dutiful than inspired. He'd go on from this to render some of his most endearing work for the soundtrack of "The Student Prince." Like a comet that flashes briefly across the heavens, Lanza was a phenomenon of his particular time that entertained and uplifted millions for a few short seasons.