The defence The Sentimental Softie
“Sincerity is not manipulation.”
The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.
Back to trending 
A Song Is Born
Comedy · Music · 1948
The story of seven scholars in search of an expert to teach them about swing music. They seem to have found the perfect candidate in winsome nightclub singer Honey Swanson. But Honey's gangster boyfriend doesn't want to give her up.
Movie details
A Song Is Born
“...with the hottest men in music - beating out the rhythm with'm!”
1948 Comedy · Music 1h 53m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
6.4 / 10
Community rating
The story of seven scholars in search of an expert to teach them about swing music. They seem to have found the perfect candidate in winsome nightclub singer Honey Swanson. But Honey's gangster boyfriend doesn't want to give her up.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over A Song Is Born?
For the defence
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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During the Florida land boom, the Marx Brothers run a hotel, auction off some land and thwart a jewel robbery.
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The Girl Can't Help It
Comedy · 1956
A down-and-out gangster hires a down-on-his-luck agent to make his girlfriend a recording star within six weeks.
The Big Store
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A detective is hired to protect the life of a singer, who has recently inherited a department store, from the store's crooked manager.
Wayne's World
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CB4
Comedy · 1993
A "rockumentary", covering the rise to fame of MC Gusto, Stab Master Arson, and Dead Mike: members of the rap group "CB4". We soon learn that these three are not what they seem and don't appear to know as much about rap music as they claim... but a lack of musical ability in an artist never hurts sales, does it? You've just got to play the part of a rap star...
Arlo the Alligator Boy
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Upon learning that he is from New York City, a wide-eyed boy, who is half human and half alligator, decides to leave his sheltered life in the swamp and search for his long lost father. A musical adventure.
Footlight Parade
Comedy · 1933
A fledgling producer finds himself at odds with his workers, financiers and his greedy ex-wife when he tries to produce live musicals for movie-going audiences.
The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash
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The story of the rise and fall of the Pre-Fab Four.
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Howard Hawks
Written by
Thomas Monroe · Billy Wilder
Danny Kaye
Hobart Frisbee
Virginia Mayo
Honey Swanson
Benny Goodman
Professor Magenbruch
Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
L
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Charlie Barnet
Charlie Barnet
Court is in session
Put A Song Is Born on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“The strings are showing.”
Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.