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If only for an hour, original interviews. Sammy Fain

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Data source:

Research Catalog

View IIIF Manifest

Link to Item Manifest

Item data

Title

If only for an hour, original interviews. Sammy Fain

Collection

General Dance Video Archive

Names

Fain, Sammy, 1902-1989 (Speaker)
Fain, Sammy, 1902-1989 (Performer)
Fain, Sammy, 1902-1989 (Composer)
Fain, Sammy, 1902-1989 (Lyricist)
Joyce, Vicki, vocalist (Performer)
Reed, Jane Levy (Producer)
Heller, Peggy (Producer)
Reed, Jane Levy (Director)
Heller, Peggy (Director)

Date / Origin

Date Issued: 1976

Library Location

Jerome Robbins Dance Division
Shelf locator: *MGZIDF 8630
Shelf locator: *MGZIC 9-6238 cassette four (former)

Subjects

Kelly, Gene, 1912-1996
Berkeley, Busby, 1895-1976
Composers -- United States -- 20th century
Motion picture music
Artistic collaboration

Genres

Interviews
Music

Notes

Funding: Preservation of this video was supported by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Physical Description

Extent: 2 videocassettes (U-matic) (43 min.) : sound, color ; 3/4 in.

Abstract

Unedited footage for the documentary If only for an hour. For the completed program, see: *MGZIC 9-7 If only for an hour. Composer-lyricist Sammy Fain looks back at his career: how he got his start as a songwriter, his collaboration with lyricist Lew Brown, and his experiences in writing songs for movies under the studio system. He recalls collaborating with dancer Gene Kelly, first on the music for Kelly's dance with Jerry the mouse in Anchors aweigh, then on the theme song for Marjorie Morningstar, which was sung by Kelly. In reminiscing about his collaborations with dancers and choreographers, he describes Busby Berkeley's setting of his song "By a waterfall." Throughout the interview Fain tells anecdotes about songs and personalities, and sings and plays examples of his work. Vocalist Vicki Joyce sings along with him in some of the songs.

Languages

English

Identifiers

RLIN/OCLC: NYPY00-F551
NYPL Catalog ID (bnumber): b14604287
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 5bcd6e30-8a89-0135-dd20-0bb4a7396cc9

Rights

The copyright and related rights status of this item has been reviewed by The New York Public Library, but we were unable to make a conclusive determination as to the copyright status of the item. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use.

Type Of Resource

Moving Image

Date Issued

1976

Cite this item

MLA format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. "If only for an hour, original interviews. Sammy Fain" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1976. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/5bcd6e30-8a89-0135-dd20-0bb4a7396cc9

APA format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. (1976). If only for an hour, original interviews. Sammy Fain Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/5bcd6e30-8a89-0135-dd20-0bb4a7396cc9

Chicago/Turabian Format

Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library. "If only for an hour, original interviews. Sammy Fain" New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed December 4, 2025. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/5bcd6e30-8a89-0135-dd20-0bb4a7396cc9

Wikipedia citation

<ref name=NYPL>{{cite web | url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/5bcd6e30-8a89-0135-dd20-0bb4a7396cc9 | title= (moving image) If only for an hour, original interviews. Sammy Fain (1976) | author=Digital Collections, The New York Public Library | accessdate=December 4, 2025 | publisher=The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations}}</ref>