I Could Go on Singing movie storyline. Jenny Bowman (Judy Garland) is a successful concert singer who regularly tours the world. During a stay in London, she visits recently widowed David Donne (Dirk Bogarde), a prominent ENT surgeon. It is revealed that over a decade ago the two had an affair that led to the birth of Matt, who is raised alone now by David and has been told he was adopted.
Although Jenny and David agreed that Matt would never know the truth, David takes Jenny to Matt’s boarding school in Buckinghamshire so she may meet him just once. Jenny and Matt hit it off and the three spend the whole day together. Jenny invites the two to her concert at the London Palladium, but David is unable to make it due to work in Rome.
With David absent and under the impression that Matt is back at school, Jenny and Matt spend a few days together exploring London. Jenny’s manager and assistant try to cover for Matt by calling his school, but word about his absence gets back to David in Rome, who is furious. When David returns to London, he and Jenny have a row during which Matt overhears that they are his birth parents. David implores Matt to remain in England and finish his schooling, while Jenny insists Matt should accompany her on her world tour. Confused, Matt rejects Jenny’s invitations and the two agree to see each other again sometime in the future.
I Could Go On Singing is a 1963 British-American musical drama film directed by Ronald Neame, starring Judy Garland (in her final film role) and Dirk Bogarde. Originally titled The Lonely Stage, it was renamed so that audiences would know Garland sang in it, the first such movie since A Star Is Born in 1954.
Although not a huge box office success on release, it won Garland much praise for her performance. In Bogarde’s autobiographies and in the 2004 biography, it is recounted that Judy Garland’s lines were substantially rewritten by Bogarde (with Garland’s consent). The film had its world premiere at the Plaza Theatre in London’s West End on March 6, 1963.
All songs performed by Judy Garland
“I Am the Monarch of the Sea” (Judy Garland and Boys) from H.M.S. Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan
“Hello Bluebird”, words and music by Cliff Friend
“‘It Never Was You”, Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson
“By Myself”, Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz
“I Could Go On Singing”, Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg
I Could Go on Singing (1963)
Directed by: Ronald Neame
Starring: Judy Garland, Dirk Bogarde, Jack Klugman, Aline MacMahon, Gregory Phillips, Russell Waters, Pauline Jameson, Jeremy Burnham, Robert Rietty, Leon Cortez, Eric Woodburn
Screenplay by: Mayo Simon, Dirk Bogarde
Production Design by: Wilfred Shingleton
Cinematography by: Arthur Ibbetson
Film Editing by: John Shirley
Costume Design by: Beatrice Dawson, Edith Head
Set Decoration by: John Hoesli
Music by: Mort Lindsey
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: United Artists
Release Date: May 15, 1963 (New York City)
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