Rose of Washington Square (1939)

TOMATOMETER

——

——

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

50%

Want to See

Not Interested

Add Rating
My Rating    

Rose of Washington Square Photos

View All Photos

Movie Info

This barely-disguised portrait of singer Fanny Brice led to Brice's lawsuit against 20th Century Fox for defamation of character, a case which was settled out of court. Alice Faye plays Rose Sargent, a New York singer of the 1920s who falls for handsome, cocky wheeler-dealer Bart Clinton (Tyrone Power in a role patterned on Brice's troubled real-life paramour Nicky Arnstein). Rose's new romance is much to the dismay of her pal and former partner Ted Cotter (Al Jolson), who doesn't trust the slick, smooth-talking Bart. Eventually, Rose and Bart marry, but as the entertainment careers of Rose and Ted take off, Bart's tendency to get over his head in get-rich-quick schemes evolves into a bona fide criminal career. Rose finally makes the big time, becoming a popular star with the Ziegfeld Follies, and Bart skips town in order to preserve her reputation. However, Bart is nabbed by the authorities and sentenced to five years in jail. Despite the public scandal, Rose and Bart's devotion remained undiminished. Songs include the classics "California, Here I Come", "Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye", "I'm Just Wild About Harry" and the perhaps unwise inclusion of "Funny Lady" Brice's signature song, "My Man".

Cast

Alice Faye
as Rose Sargent
Tyrone Power
as Barton DeWitt Clinton
Al Jolson
as Ted Cotter
William Frawley
as Harry Long
Joyce Compton
as Peggy
Hobart Cavanaugh
as Whitey Boone
Moroni Olsen
as Buck Russell
E.E. Clive
as Barouche driver
Louis Prima
as Himself
Charles C. Wilson
as Mike Cavanaugh
Hal K. Dawson
as Chump
Paul E. Burns
as Chump
Ben Welden
as Toby
Horace MacMahon
as Irving
Paul Stanton
as District attorney
Harry Hayden
as Dexter
Chick Chandler
as Master of Ceremonies
Murray Alper
as Candy Butcher
Ralph Dunn
as Officer
Edgar Dearing
as Lieutenant
Robert "Buddy" Shaw
as Reporter
James Flavin
as Guard
Leonard Kibrick
as Newsboy
Irene Wilsen
as Miss Lust
Bert Roach
as Mr. Paunch
Charles Lane
as Sam Kress
Adrian Morris
as Jim
John Hamilton
as Judge
Winifred Harris
as Mrs. Russell
Maurice Cass
as Mr. Mork
Horace McMahon
as Irving
View All

Critic Reviews for Rose of Washington Square

All Critics (1)

Faye and Jolson are enjoyable throughout.

Nov 13, 2008 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
DVDTalk.com
View All Critic Reviews (1)

Audience Reviews for Rose of Washington Square

½

Except for the names a blantant telling of the Fanny Brice story, Alice even sings My Man! The smoking number is odd to say the least and Al Jolson is very much an acquired taste.

jay nixon
jay nixon

Super Reviewer

View All

Rose of Washington Square Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

News & Features