Elaborate but off-putting musical drama loosely based on ’’THE MAN I LOVE’’. Egoistic and fire brand Saxophonist Robert De Niro and vocalist Liza Minnelli love and fight with each other right through the Big Band era. While Liza succeeds big time Robert De Niro finds success hard to come. Some people consider this film extraordinary but it is not as great as expected. Outstanding production designby Boris Leven, and superb music by arranger Ralph Burns, and the Kander-Ebb title song. Initially released at 153m. , then cut to 137m. , and finally reissued in 1981 at current length of 165 minutes with splashy ``Happy Endings’’ number (featuring Larry Kert) added. All The Musical Numbers are outstanding.
The Method Actor that he is ROber De Niro had learned to play the saxaphone for this movie and all the saxaphone numbers are actually played by him. Originally the movie was nearly 270 minutes long.