MovieChat Forums > To Have and Have Not (1945) Discussion > Hoagy Carmichael has dated terribly, wis...

Hoagy Carmichael has dated terribly, wish he'd been cut

posted 14 years ago by gl-733-211404
49 replies | jump to latest

HC's singing persona has dated so terribly, it makes you even more amazed that Sinatra, Crosby and even Hope are so listenable today. His scenes were never needed. They could be cut now. He sings in a kind of whispery monotone whine, and could anything be more affected than that awful toothpick in his mouth, and his hunchy piano playing. I well remember than when I was a kid in the fifties, the answer to the trivia question, "most popular song ever recorded" was always Stardust by Hoagy Carmichael. Time has made him as unbearable as Phil Harris or Jolson. Not really a criticism of Carmichael, but a remark about time passing. And no, I don't think Lil Wayne is a great improvement. In seventy years Lil Wayne will be Hoagy Carmichael.

[–] Tashtago 11 years ago

Leave Hoagy alone, he's a funny guy and was great in Best Years of our Lives.

[–] noobzilla 11 years ago

Hoagy was a very influential musician who's credits speak for themselves..

If you dont like his singing, dont listen.

-- 'I dont mind a reasonable amount of trouble.' Humphrey Bogart, The Maltese Falcon

[–] ck1-5 11 years ago

Those non-filter cigarettes are terribly dated, too. They should be replaced by CGI of E-cigarettes.

[–] JackBluegrass 11 years ago

Hoagy Carmichael's singing and music haven't gone out of style. To Have and Have Not is a pretty intense story. Commonly done by writers and directors was to insert lighter moments of music or humor to relieve audience tension. Hoagy's calm style and beautiful songs do just that.

I'll go with Carmichael.

[–] bcgorder-198-491582 11 years ago

I saw Hoagy Carmichael on television in the 60s and 70s. He was old, ugly, obnoxious and not "with it"!

Then I discovered classic film. And then, "Stardust" and an appreciation for pre - rock & roll music.

My earlier opinions were not worthy of a horses ass!

[–] Ethereal-Cloud 10 years ago

I can think of several movies from the 1930's-1940's that contained horrible and unnecessary musical scenes that seemed like a producer or the studio forced their inclusion. Hoagy Carmichael's scenes are not among those. I thought they were so catchy and fun, that I went back and watched them again.

[–] mtworkowski 10 years ago

Some of it was corny, but i was totally surprised when i heard his music. Smooth and nice and surprisingly good. Not all, but hey some of the dopey dia between slim and steve could have been excised. In those days they thew in these musical numbers. Times change, but i still liked most of the movie and HC too. Of course you always get your money's worth with Walter Brennan.

[–] kelkyl 10 years ago

Hoagy Carmichael dated?

I guess that's why of his TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY ONE song credits on IMDB, 75 were for soundtracks since 2000!

Besides, the scene were Lauren Bacall sashays away from Hoagy in "To Have And Have Not" is timeless!

[–] fanaticita 10 years ago

I loved Hoagy Charmichael in the film!!! He was definitely a big part of the time the film was made, and he was an incredible composer.

[–] northsouth1 9 years ago

"Saturday Night Fever" would be so much better if they just took all those BeeGees songs out.

[–] silverr8c 9 years ago

Who is Lil Wayne?