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Senorita from the West
a.k.a.: Have a Heart
Universal Pictures
Released: October 12, 1945
Runtime: 63 minutes
This was Allan Jones’ last movie before leaving Hollywood. He would not return until the 1960’s for a small appearance in “A Swingin’ Summer.” Like most of his Universal films, the plot is simple, but the songs are worth hearing.
Three old men have raised Jeannie Blake since she was a little girl after her mother died; they have taken upon the duty to do the best they can for her. However, they haven’t told her yet that are very rich; they have a secret gold mine on the side of a mountain. Fearing that she would leave them and marry a bum if she found out, thinking that they wouldn’t need her, they make sure to not tell her until she marries a good, upstanding man. But, she is already planning to leave for New York to pursue a singing career…
Before she leaves, Jeannie listens to the radio; her favorite singer is the crooner, Tim Winters. Unknown to her and the rest of his fans, his voice is actually dubbed by Bill, who has stage fright. He sings, “Am I in Love.” After celebrating her birthday with the men, she sings “Those Hazy Lazy Old Hills” for them. Then, she secretly leaves, in hopes to get a job and repay them for everything they have done for her. Upon arrival, she walks from one agent to the next, and lands her first opportunity as an elevator girl. It just so happens that she works in Radio City, and takes a mob of bobby soxers up the floor to listen to their idol. Tim Winters “sings” “What a Change in the Weather” while the girls swoon. Bill, backstage, wants to quit his phony job, but Tim convinces him to continue for another six months. Bill walks into Jeannie’s elevator, and they watch as Tim is mobbed by the teenagers. Jeannie wants to help him, but Bill stops her. They soon start an argument over celebrities serving their public. Bill manages to convince Jeannie to have a cup of coffee with him, and they begin their relationship. When Jeannie gets to apartment, she is surprised by the three men. They have come to make sure she marries the right man.
The next day, she meets Bill at the coffee shop. Tim is also there and begins to step in between them. Jeannie’s agent comes along to inform her that he landed her a great contract to sing at a nightclub. While Bill takes Jeannie to use the telephone to spread the news, Tim investigates into this contract. He makes her agent spill the beans that the three men are sponsoring her to get this job. Now aware that the men are rich, Tim is determined to get Bill out of the way and marry Jeannie.
That evening, they all meet at the Round-Up Club where she is performing. As part of his plan, Tim talks to the gullible three men and makes Bill look like a fortune hunter. At the same time, Bill is in Jeannie’s dressing room trying to tell her his intentions. They kiss, and she makes her way to the stage to sing “Loo-Loo From Louisiana” with Spade Cooley and his orchestra. Turned against Bill, the three men plan a way to turn Jeannie against him. One of them hides under a table and scratches the foot of a woman sitting next to him. Pretty soon, the woman’s date starts a fight with Bill and the whole club is shut down by the police. Enraged with Bill, Jeannie leaves the club with Tim.
When Bill is let out of jail he sits on her apartment steps to think. A little boy comes up and advises him to leave so it won’t look like he’s hooked on her. So, the two walk up the street while he sings, “Lonely Love.” That day, Tim arranges for Jeannie to sing at a reception at Radio City. Bill comes and demands that Tim tell her the truth about his singing. Tim says he will, but later gets a doorman to take him away, while Jeannie sings, “All the Things I Wanna Say.” Afterwards, Tim asks Jeannie to elope; she is very unsure about the quick marriage but goes along with it anyways.
Finally, Bill tells the three men the truth about his voice and about Tim’s real intentions to get Jeannie’s money. He proves his voice by singing a few notes on the piano. So, they set off to stop the marriage in a taxi cab. Stopped by the police for speeding, Bill sneaks onto the police’s motorcycle and speeds away. They come just in time, and Bill and Tim exchange some punches. Realizing what a fool she was, Jeannie runs to Bill, they kiss, and all is well.
Credits
Director…Frank R. Strayer
Writer…Howard Dimsdale
Associate Producer…Philip Cahn
Cinematography…Paul Ivano
Film Editing…Paul Landres
Music Director…Edgar Fairchild
Art Direction: John B. Goodman, Abraham Grossman
Set Decoration…Russell A. Gausman, Leigh Smith
Assistant Director…Charles S. Gould
Sound Department…Robert Pritchard
Composer: incidental music…Edgar Fairchild (undredited), Milton Rose (uncredited)
Cast
Allan Jones…Phil Bradley
Bonita Granville…Jeannie Blake
Jess Parker…Tim Winters
George Cleveland…Cap
Fuzzy Knight…Rosebud
Oscar O’Shea…Dusty
Renny McEvoy…William Wylliams
Olin Howland…Justice of Peace
Danny Mummert…Kid
Robert Merrill…Elmer
Emmett Vogan…Producer
Billy Nelson…Taxi driver
Jack Clifford…Motorcycle cop
Spade Cooley and his Orchestra…themselves
Soundtrack
• “What a Change in the Weather”
o Sung by Allan Jones
o Written by Kim Gannon and Walter Kent
• “Am I In Love?”
o Sung by Allan Jones
o Written by Jack Gardens and Mark Levant
• “Lonely Love”
o Sung by Allan Jones
o Written by Everett Carter and Inez James
• “Those Hazy Lazy Old Hills”
o Sung by Bonita Granville (dubbed)
o Written by John Blackburn and Les Huntley
• “All the Things I Wanna Say”
o Sung by Bonita Granville (dubbed)
o Written by Buddy Pepper and Inez James
• “Loo-Loo From Louisiana”
o Sung by Bonita Granville (dubbed) with Spade Cooley and His Orchestra
o Written by Everett Carter and Milton Rosen
• “Devil’s Dream”
o Performed by Spade Cooley and His Orchestra
o Music: -
• “Fox Trot for Dancing”
o Performed by Spade Cooley and His Orchestra
o Music: -