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."

Derek McGovern Because You're Mine was Mario Lanza's fourth movie, and was much criticised on its release as artistically a step backwards for the celebrated tenor. Certainly, coming straight after The Great Caruso it suffers badly in comparison with that considerable achievement, but is Because You're Mine really THAT bad?Actually, this is a fun movie. It lacks the polish of That Midnight Kiss and the sheer high spirits of Toast of New Orleans, but vocally at least this film has more going for it than either of those two movies. Highlights include a definitive Granada (in a key one and a half tones higher than the Three Tenors have ever dared to attempt!), a moving Lord's Prayer and several pleasing operatic and popular selections. My only regret is that All the Things You Are was inexplicably cut from the movie. One of Lanza's loveliest recordings, it was recently restored on the Mario Lanza at MGM soundtrack CD released by Rhino.The film also boasts a fine co-star in James Whitmore, who provides much of the movie's comic relief, and a pleasant leading lady in Doretta Morrow of the Broadway Kismet fame. She's no great shakes as a singer, but then - unlike Kathryn Grayson in the earlier movies - she isn't meant to be.Lanza hated making this movie, and did his best to sabotage it, gaining a huge amount of weight in the vain hope that this would discourage the producers from going ahead with it. As a result, Lanza's weight varies from 240 pounds to 159 pounds (often in successive scenes), a distracting but intriguing sight.But none of this need detract from your enjoyment of a pleasant movie that includes some agreeable singing from the finest tenor of his generation. And you can always watch Serenade (Lanza's next movie) straight after it for a reminder of what this man could do with a much meatier tale.