I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (1947)
Director:
Lloyd Bacon
Writers:
Lewis R. Foster, Marion Turk (additional dialogue)
Stars:
June Haver, Mark Stevens, Martha Stewart
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now is the heavily laundered musical biopic of sentimental songwriter Joe E. Howard. As played by Mark Stevens (whose singing voice was dubbed by Buddy Clark), Howard is a humble 19th century organ salesman who rises to Broadway fame as the composer of maudlin ballads like {&"What's the Use of Dreaming"} and jaunty ditties like {&"Hello My Baby"}. Along the way, he enjoys several romantic interludes, but it is fresh-faced American chorine Katie (top-billed June Haver) who lands Howard as her hubby. In real life, Joe E. Howard, who lived well into his eighties, was married several times; he was also a notorious "lifter" who regularly claimed credit for songs he never wrote (including this film's title tune!) But producer George Jessel chooses not to let the facts get in the way of a good story, maintaining a policy established by his earlier The Dolly Sisters and sustained through such subsequent musical life stories as Oh, You Beautiful Doll The I Don't Care Girl. Singer/dancer/director GENE NELSON makes his screen debut as Tommy Yale.