You Will Remember

{{Infobox film

| name = You Will Remember

| image = File:You Will Remember.jpg

| caption =

| director = Jack Raymond

| producer = Charles Q. Steel

| writer = {{ubl|Lydia Hayward|Christopher Morley|Sewell Stokes}}

| narrator =

| starring = {{ubl|Robert Morley|Emlyn Williams|Dorothy Hyson}}

| music = Percival Mackey

| cinematography = Henry Harris

| editing = Peggy Hennessey

| studio = Jack Raymond Productions

| distributor = British Lion

| released = {{Film date|1941|02|08|df=yes}}

| runtime = 86 minutes

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

You Will Remember is a 1941 British musical drama film directed by Jack Raymond and starring Robert Morley, Emlyn Williams and Dorothy Hyson.{{Cite web |title=You Will Remember |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150043295 |access-date=2 February 2025 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}{{Cite book |last=Andrew |first=Lamb |title=Leslie Stuart: Composer of Florodora |publisher=Psychology Press |year=2002 |isbn=978-0415937474 |pages=263}} It portrays the life of the composer Leslie Stuart. Featured songs include "Tell Me Pretty Maiden", "Sue", "Florodora", "Lily of Laguna", "Soldiers of the King" and "Dolly Daydream".{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/you-will-remember-v118015|title=You Will Remember (1941) - Jack Raymond - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie|publisher=}}

The title stems from the master of ceremonies in the British music halls who would say "You will remember (this song)" when introducing old favourites.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

Plot

The film is a biography of popular English composer Tom Barrett known by his stage name Leslie Stuart, who rose to fame through performances of his songs by the tenor Ellaline Terriss. The story is told in flashback with an elderly Barrett listening to a band playing his tunes played by a band on a pier. The women next to him confidently tells him that the composer is dead.

We then go to his childhood, Manchester in 1870, where his relatively poor parents buy him a piano. He proves to be a prodigy. His first break comes in a small hall/bar where the regular piano player falls ill and he is asked to play Stephen Foster tunes. In later life he earns money teaching piano but is not satisfied. He goes to a concert by Signor Foli (actually an Irishman called Foley) and they become friends. Foley convinces him to start writing songs full time but under a new name.

Despite growing success he is not good with money. Others are also printing his work without permission. This is partly addressed by the Copyright Act but is not enough to save him from debtors prison. Leaving prison a day late (so he can finish reading a book on Beethoven) he descends to obscurity with the arrival of the Jazz Age.

Through good times and bad his childhood friend Bob Slater stands by him, and encourages him back into society. He has a comeback in British music halls shortly before his death.

Cast

{{cast listing|

Robert Morley as Tom Barrett / Leslie Stuart
Emlyn Williams as Bob Slater
Dorothy Hyson as Ellaline Terriss
Tom E. Finglass as Eugene Stratton
Nicholas Phipps as Earl of Potter
Gertrude Musgrove as Polly Potter
Charles Lefeaux as Mr Carr
Allan Jeayes as Signor Foli
Charles Victor as Pat Barrett
Maire O'Neill as Mrs Barrett
Maurice Kelly as young Tom Barrett
Roddy McDowall as young Bob Slater
Marie Ault as bit role
Muriel George as Manchester landlady
James Harcourt as Judge
Mary Merrall as London landlady
Johnnie Schofield as sheet music seller

}}

Production

The film was made at Isleworth Studios, with art direction was by James A. Carter.{{cite web |title=You Will Remember (1940) |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6bb7a249 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309132914/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6bb7a249 |archive-date=9 March 2016 |publisher=}}

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "If the film is based on fact it is to be commended for its courageous presentation of the less praiseworthy aspects of the composer's life. Robert Morley makes of Barrett, later known as Leslie Stuart, a likeable figure, though the part calls for little dramatic ability. Emlyn Williams makes the most of a small but ultimately significant part, and there is a delicious study of a peer-hunting chorus girl of the period by Gertrude Musgrove."{{Cite magazine |date=1 January 1948 |title=You Will Remember |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305806210 |url-access=subscription |magazine=The Monthly Film Bulletin |pages=61 |via=ProQuest |volume=15 |issue=169}}

Kine Weekly wrote: "The complete impression, quietly amplified by sensitive and accurate acting on the part of Robert Morley, is agreeable popular entertainment. ... In short, biography is handled with showmanlike regard for immediate box oftice needs."{{Cite magazine |date=5 December 1940 |title=You Will Remember |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2339694399 |url-access=subscription |magazine=Kine Weekly |pages=41 |via=ProQuest |volume=286 |issue=1755}}

Allmovie wrote, "Jack Raymond's perfunctory direction does not always do full justice to his subject."

TV Guide noted, "production numbers featuring the singing of music-hall performer Finglass are well done, overcoming the weaknesses of the sentimental screenplay."{{cite web |title=You Will Remember |url=http://www.tvguide.com/movies/you-will-remember/review/110102/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818012853/https://www.tvguide.com/movies/you-will-remember/review/110102/ |archive-date=18 Aug 2016 |website=TV Guide |publisher=}}

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Well-acted but low-key biopic."{{Cite book |last=Quinlan |first=David |title=British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 |publisher=B.T. Batsford Ltd. |year=1984 |isbn=0-7134-1874-5 |location=London |pages=262}}