Higher and Higher (1943)

Frank Sinatra's first featured film role

By drbernabo  Aug 5, 2001

Frank Sinatra had his first featured film role in "Higher and Higher," a musical romantic comedy. The story deals with a household of servants who learn their employer is bankrupt. The valet Mike (Jack Haley), wants to pass off Millie (Michelle Mor...gan), the scullery maid, as Drak'e debutante daughter in the hopes she can snag a wealthy husband. Their prime target is Frank (Sinatra), the guy next door. Another prospect, Fitzroy Wilson (Victor Borge), turns out to be equally phony, while society matron Mrs. Keating (Elisabeth Risdon), has plans for her own debutante daughter Catherine (Barbara Hale). You know everybody is going to end up living (and singing) happily ever after, but for most of the film it is up in the air as to how everybody is going to end up pairing up. A pleasant enough musical, once you get past the convoluted plot, the film is certainly representative of the early Frank Sinatra who was beloved of the bobby soxers, who is essentially playing himself here. Sinatra sings five songs in "Higher and Higher," all written by Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adamson: "You Belong in a Love Song," "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night," "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening," "The Music Stopped," and "I Saw You First." Based on the play by Gladys Hurlbut and Joshua Logan, this 1943 film was directed by Tim Whelan. Read more Less