Rating: 
Summary: Jerome Kern Performed by MGM's Brightest Stars
Review: MGM, the studio of the roaring lion in Culver City, at the end of World War Two could be said to possess an embarrassment of riches in the realm of musical talent. What could be better than turning a large segment of that talent loose at once? By adding an additional measure to the operation by having those bright talents perform the best in the repertoire of one of the legends of American music in "Till The Clouds Roll By."
Jerome Kern was one of America's brightest songwriting talents and MGM received permission just prior to his 1946 death to do a biography depicting his great music. The finished product was released that same year.
The film begins with Kern at the peak of his powers as his 1927 musical classic "Showboat" based on a novel by Edna Ferber with Oscar Hammerstein supplying book and lyrics was opening on Broadway. Kathryn Grayson, who would later star in MGM's version of "Showboat" in 1951 with Howard Keel and Ava Gardner performed in tandem with Tony Martin Kern's "Only Make Believe."
The film then moves into a flashback as Robert Walker, portraying the musical legend, asks his chauffeur to drive him back to an old familiar neighborhood prior to attending the big celebration on his behalf at the Waldorf Astoria. They stop at the former residence of his departed partner and closest friend. We see how Walker as a young songwriter had to entice Van Heflin, a leading Broadway musical arranger, to give him a helping hand. Heflin talks glowingly about leaving for London in three weeks, when he will say goodbye to popular music and turn his attention to classical selections. Heflin speaks glowingly of Beethoven and Mozart.
Before their first mutually profitable meeting ends Heflin goes to work helping his newly acquired friend. He leaves for London, but soon Walker boards a boat and rejoins him there. It turns out that Heflin has made no progress on his classical career, and they go to work on songs for the popular musical "gaieties" show, with Angela Lansbury performing a number.
Walker not only gets launched in London, he meets the girl of his dreams. Dorothy Patrick will eventually become Mrs. Kern and while in London he meets prominent New York producer Charles Frohman. He returns home and Kern begins making strides toward the greatness he will eventually achieve.
Judy Garland portrays the great Broadway musical star Marilyn Miller and performs a brilliant rendition of one of her big hits, "Who." One of the picture's leading dramatic scenes occurs when Garland and Kern, against their personal wishes, must convince Lucille Bremer, Heflin's daughter, who has known Kern from her youth and calls him "Uncle Jerry," that she must give up the "Who" number for the good of the show. While Bremer rebels angrily at the time and goes to Memphis to perform at a nightclub on her own, eventually she learns the importance of teamwork and at film's end is given an opportunity to make good in Hollywood.
One of the film's highlights, coming appropriately at the end, the equivalent of the final show stopping medley of a Broadway musical, when selections from some of Kern's greatest songs are played. One number complete with stairway and a costumed chorus includes Frank Sinatra delivering a stirring rendition of "Old Man River" while June Allyson cutely dances in two numbers. Dinah Shore also sings two numbers while future MGM dancing starts Cyd Charisse and Gower Champion are also showcased.
A heartwarming musical that displays great musical talent doing excellent numbers, "Till The Clouds Roll By" also presents solid human values in a feel good setting, with Walker finding himself in effect as part of a new family. Widower Heflin becomes his closest friend and musical partner while Lucille Bremer idolizes "Uncle Jerry" as he achieves enduring greatness on Broadway.
Rating:
Summary: Good musical with many Kern songs
Review: Overall, a very good biography of Jerome Kern that tracks his career as a songwriter. So-so script, talented cast, and great Kern music. A pregnant (it's hard to notice at first) Judy Garland is featured as a Broadway star who perform's Kern's songs. Also in the cast are Lucille Bremer, (Garland's older sister in "Meet Me In Saint Louis," her playing someone younger than Garland, Van Johnson, Van Heflin, June Allison, Angela Lansbury, Lena Horne, and Frank Sinatra (singing Ol' Man River).
Rating: 
Summary: Till the Clouds Roll By
Review: Quite a good film, I thought, and especially notable for its musical numbers. It contains a star-studded cast, and they execute their roles quite skillfully, though most of their roles are merely cameo appearences. It should also be noted that this film seems to have been damaged somewhere along the line -- although still quite watchable, it is a great deal fuzzier than most films.
Rating: 
Summary: LOOKS LIKE BOOTLEG, SOUNDS LIKE BOOTLEG
Review: STAY AWAY FROM THIS ONE. THE QUALITY OF PICTURE AND SOUND ARE SO TERRIBLE, NOT EVEN A DIEHARD FAN COULD STAND IT.
Rating: 
Summary: Judy is the Only Reason to Watch the Film
Review: The film is a major bore except when Judy plays her role. Look for the Silver Lining is one of Judy's best performances and who would have guess that Judy was pregnant with Liza while she was singing and dancing it up with the big production number Who. Just shows that Judy can do anything.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT BAWULS OF THUNDAH!!!!
Review: This poor stepchild of a movie ......saw it barely as an infant centuries ago and mama was not impressed by the length [got a bit of a whipping for staying out too late that time] ..... then years later in a 3rd world country in a musty little cinema with locals barely understanding what was going on - movie broke down a few times - gunshots from the projectionist's booth ..... [!]HOWEVER, this DVD print is DREADFUL [but it IS CHEAP] and upon occasion - somewhere towards the end in a non-crucial moment, the same happens ... we don't decode .... cheap stuff! CAN ONLY HOPR THAT SOMEONE RESTORES THIS ONE TO FULL DOLBY 5.1 and CLEANS UP THE NEGATIVE> WHY? Well, there's LENA HORNE as the doomed JULIE singing "Can't Help Loving dat Man of Mine" in "Showboat" [looking spectacular in Egyptian II a shade developed especially for her by Max Faxtor - alas in the full lenth Miss Ava Gardner inherited the skin tone from Factors]. However, this is just ONE of the reasons to get this DVD .....there's also Judy Garland, Angela Lansbury, Van Johnson, old blue eyes Frank, Cyd Charisse, Eather William and a truckload of stellar talent. It's a lavish production - very lavish - currently snubbed by this poor version - but destined to be resurrected in spelndor [please?] Footnote ...Whatever Happened to LUCILLE BREMER? She's a pivot character in this saga, looks and dances great - especially with Van Johnson [wow!] Pity - ah, but that's Hollywood.....
Rating:
Summary: a star-studded musical "bio"
Review: Though only marginally a biography of Jerome Kern, and with a corn and syrup plot, anyone who likes traditional American musical theater will appreciate this film, which is a great showcase for Kern's wonderful songs.
Robert Walker as Kern, and Van Heflin as his arranger James Hessler are good, but this film is all about the music and the singers, especially Judy Garland. Lena Horne, and Frank Sinatra.
Directed by Richard Whorf, with Vincente Minelli directing the Judy Garland portions, and musical numbers staged by Robert Alton. Total running time is 132 minutes.
I own a cheap DVD edition (released by Vina) which is remarkably clear considering the price, though it has a slight "bootleg" quality to it.
Musical numbers include:
Excerpts from "Showboat", with Lena Horna exquisite singing "Can't Help Loving that Man of Mine". Others include Kathryn Grayson, Tony Martin and Caleb Peterson.
"Howja Like to Spoon Me" from the "London Gaieties" with Angela Lansbury.
"They'll Never Believe Me", Dinah Shore.
"Till the Clouds Roll By" from "Oh Boy" with Ray McDonald.
"Leave it to Jane" with June Allyson and Ray McDonald.
"Look for the Silver Lining" from "Sally" with Judy Garland. This may be the most interesting song of the film.
"Who" from "Sunny" with Judy Garland.
"I Won't Dance" with Lucille Bremer and Van Johnson.
"Smoke gets in Your Eyes" from "Roberta" with Cyd Charisse (a short but lovely dance).
"The Last Time I Saw Paris" with Dinah Shore.
"The Land Where Good Songs Go" with Lucille Bremer.
"Yesterdays" by the chorus (one of my favorite songs).
"Long Ago and Far Away" with Kathryn Grayson.
"A Fine Romance" with Virginia O'Brien.
"All the Things You Are" with Tony Martin.
"Why Was I Born ?" with Lena Horne.
"Old Man River" with a remarkable vocal performance by a very bushy-haired Frank Sinatra.
Rating: 
Summary: Good movie - Bad DVD Transfer
Review: While this film may not have the most exciting plot, one cannot deny the great production values of the musical numbers thanks to the Arthur Freed Unit. Judy Garland's numbers are top notch, along with the rest of them. Unfortunately, this film must have slipped into public domain, and the company who picked up the rights to doing a DVD print are not sticklers for quality! Since Warner Brothers now has the MGM library, if the DVD doesn't say Warner Home Video on it, you may want to get the VHS version instead. :-) Hopefully, sometime in the future, Warner Brothers will get the rights back to do a DVD, and get it done in nice crystal clear mastering. Then I can go out and re-buy it. Arther Freed musicals are a "must have" on DVD!
Rating:
Summary: just filling in the gaps and fixing to watch this soon
Review: [from the sleeve] "Star-studded musical biography of Jerome Kern with great song numbers featuring some of MGM's finest talent: Robert Walker, Judy Garland, Dinah Shore, Van Johnson, Lena Horne, Cyd Charisse, Frank Sinatra, Angela Lansbury, Tony Martin & June Allyson." 1946, Color, 135 minutes
Rating:
Summary: As the Clouds Roll by
Review: [from the sleeve] "Star-studded musical biography of Jerome Kern with great song numbers featuring some of MGM's finest talent: Robert Walker, Judy Garland, Dinah Shore, Van Johnson, Lena Horne, Cyd Charisse, Frank Sinatra, Angela Lansbury, Tony Martin & June Allyson." 1946, Color, 135 minutes
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