Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.

Manthast Absolutely amazing

ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre

lastliberal 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.

bkoganbing 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.

TxMike I will state up front that I am a big Mario Lanza fan, he is the best Tenor I have heard, and I like his personality on film. A little movie like "Because You're Mine" is enjoyable for, and only made for, Lanza's smile and his singing. The purpose of the light romantic comedy story line is to provide a number of opportunities for him to sing.Lanza was only 30 here, and although still not in his prime was to die just a few years later. The story in this movie parallels his own life, where he served in the Army and married his Army buddy's sister. Here his drill sergeant (James Whitmore as Sergeant Batterson) has a sister Bridget (Doretta Morrow) who sings live commercials for radio, and the Sergeant arranges for them to meet as a way to help his little sister further her career. He had no intention of their falling in love, and so we can guess what will happen.As the movie starts famous tenor Renaldo Rossano (Lanza) is only one month away from being too old to be drafted, and is headed for the Army. Even though he earns $5000 a month, he takes it in stride. He is recognized right away in the Army and his drill Sergeant happens to be one of his biggest fans. Renaldo gets preferential treatment right away, but the Captain insists he be treated the same as everyone, and "no more concerts in the barracks." When Sergeant Batterson asks Renaldo to listen to his sister, Renaldo only does it for selfish reasons, so he will continue to get treated well. But he is surprised to find Bridget beautiful, charming, and a great soprano. He is smitten, but Bridget doesn't think she will "fit into his lifestyle" after he gets out of the Army.Renaldo gets into minor difficulties here and there, but the General's wife who also is a big fan helps out. After a fight, and getting thrown in jail, visiting French General, who declares himself to be a "personal friend" of Renaldo's gets him out of jail to sing later that evening. There are the normal lover mix ups, written in to create some tension in the story, but all works out in the end. The movie ends with Renaldo and Bridget singing a duet, the title song "Because You're Mine."

lanzafan After the triumph of "The Great Caruso" in 1951, Lanza was all set to start work on "The Student Prince." MGM had other ideas and wanted to exploit his more popular image. When they approached him, his response was "You cannot put Caruso in the army!" He was persuaded eventually to start on "Because You're Mine" with the dangling carrot of Student Prince promised next in line. He did not like the script, or his co-star, who constantly smoked and was considered by him to be unsuitable, because of her limited experience and he also put on weight at an alarming rate, so that costumes had to be remade or altered almost daily, to accomodate his fluctuating size. This is all too apparent in some scenes, when he walks in slim and walks out again at least 40 pounds heavier. It was his way of rebelling against the system. Once completed, it was chosen as the 1952 Royal Command film in U.K. but the critics panned it. O.K. the plot is thin, the acting dated, but the voice - wow - that voice. He was truly on top form and the soundtrack and studio recordings of the songs from the film are still great favourites today. Just listen to "The Lord's Prayer" to see what I mean. Not a favourite film of mine, but I watch just for the voice and memories of a bygone era.