SOUSA The Stars and Stripes Forever - "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band - YouTube SOUSA The Stars and Stripes Forever - "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Dec 8, 2011 "The President's Own" United States Marine Band recorded John Philip Sousa's march "The Stars and Stripes Forever" on March, 3, 2009, in the John Philip Sousa Band Hall at Marine Barracks Annex in Washington, D.C. This video was recorded for the National Museum of the Marine Corps gallery titled "A Global Expeditionary Force 1866-1916," where visitors will find an interactive Marine Band exhibit.

Category Stars and Stripes Forever [article]:Song Collection Description: Performing Arts Encyclopedia, Library of Congress { download_links:[ { label:'MODS Bibliographic Record', link: 'mods.xml', meta: 'XML' }, { label:'METS Object Description', link: 'mets.xml', meta: 'XML' } ] } Stars and Stripes Forever [article] Let martial note in triumph float And liberty extend its mighty hand... John Philip Sousa was America's "March King." He was surrounded by music from birth: his father played trombone with the U.S. Marine Band and as a child he studied violin as well as music theory. He grew up during the Civil War in Washington, D.C., where martial music was frequently played both in homes and on the streets. Sousa attended band rehearsals with his father and, after his parents disapproved of his joining a circus band, was pressed into service as an apprentice musician with the Marine Band. By age twenty-six he was the Band's director -- a position he held from 1880-1892.

During those years Sousa added to the Band's repertoire not only the work of Europe's then contemporary composers (Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Wagner and others) but also compositions of his own such as "President Garfield's Inauguration March (1881)," "Semper Fidelis (1888)," and "The Washington Post" (1889). Sousa was the greatest musical star of his era, combining the charisma and popularity of Leonard Bernstein and the Beatles. He was so popular that he left the Marine Band to start his own band in 1892. It toured the nation with unparalleled success. Four years later, while on vacation in Europe with his wife, Sousa received word that his good friend and band manager, David Blakely, had died. Sousa quickly returned to the States aboard the S.S. Teutonic. Pacing the deck of the ship, the music of "The Stars and Stripes Forever" began to come to him, its first stirring notes being those of the "Dies Irae." As he wrote in his autobiography, " ...absorbed in thoughts of my manager's death and the many duties and decisions which awaited me in New York.

Suddenly, I began to sense a rhythmic beat of a band playing within my brain. Throughout the whole tense voyage, that imaginary band continued to unfold the same themes, echoing and re-echoing the most distant melody. I did not transfer a note of that music to paper while I was on the steamer, but when we reached shore, I set down the measures that my brain-band had been playing for me, and not a note of it has ever changed." For twenty-five years Sousa's Band played the march at almost every concert it held. Although the piece is always played as an instrumental, Sousa did set words -- somewhat triumphalistic by today's standards -- to it. Let martial note in triumph float And liberty extend its might hand A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers, The banner of the Western land. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. Sousa always wore a neat military-like uniform when he conducted, displayed a lot of vim and vigor on stage, and carried himself with remarkably fine posture.

He was the prolific composer of 15 operettas, 70 songs, numerous overtures, concert pieces, vocal works, waltzes, books and articles, along with his 136 marches. "The Stars and Stripes Forever" was declared the National March of the United States in 1987. Sousa's other marches included "El Capitan," "The Pathfinder of Panama," "Hands Across the Sea," "Solid Men to the Front" and "The High School Cadets." Sousa also composed a number of pieces to encourage student bands and music education in U.S. schools: "Marquette University March," "University of Illinois March" and "University of Nebraska March." The Dayton Miller Flute Collection Piccolo in C, from Dayton Miller Flute Collection . Used by Louis P. Fritze, Sousa's Band. After William G. Schulze, New Haven, CT, c1900 Flute in C, from Dayton Miller Flute Collection . Used by Louis P. Fritze, Sousa's Band.

Boehm and Mendler, Munich, 1862-1881 The "Flute in C" with silver keys and ferrules was used for 11 years by Mr. Louis P. Fritze, a member of the Sousa Band. He played it in the Band's 1910 around-the-world tour. It has been repaired by a broad silver band at the socket of the head-joint and had mother-of-pearl set in the "stopper." Learn More About It John Philip Sousa John Philip Sousa John Philip Sousa, America's "March King" Born: November 6, 1854 Died: March 6, 1932 John Philip Sousa was an American entertainer and composer. He is best remembered for his marches, his band, and his patriotism. Known as the "March King," he wrote 136 marches, including The Stars and Stripes Forever, the national march of the United States.

(If you go to the "Jammin' Jukebox" in the See, Hear & Sing" section, you can listen to it.) He also wrote many other musical pieces, including operettas, popular songs, waltzes and more, as well as seven books and many articles. He first became famous while serving as the leader of the U.S. Marine Band. Later he formed his own band, the Sousa Band, which toured for 39 years and entertained millions of people. Stars and Stripes Forever - John Philip Sousa - YouTube Stars and Stripes Forever - John Philip Sousa Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Apr 13, 2011 The Stars and Stripes Forever, composed by John Philip Sousa in 1896. It is the national march of the United States of America and probably Sousa's greatest composition. God bless America!

Category John Philip Sousa | A Capitol Fourth | PBS Sousa's Patriotic Music Biography of the March King: John Philip Sousa Who was this man who became a musical legend during his own lifetime with such hits as "The Stars and Stripes Forever", "The Liberty Bell" (best known as the theme song for Monty Python’s Flying Circus) and "The Washington Post"? Fittingly, John Philip Sousa was born on November 6, 1854, at 636 G Street, SE, Washington, D.C., near the Marine Barracks where his father, Antonio, played trombone in the U.S. Marine Band. John Philip was the third of 10 children of John Antonio Sousa (born in Spain of Portuguese parents) and Maria Elisabeth Trinkhaus (born in Bavaria). Young John Philip grew up surrounded by military band music, and when he was just six, he began studying voice, violin, piano, flute, cornet, baritone, trombone and alto horn.

By all accounts, John Philip was an adventure-loving boy, and when at the age of 13 he tried to run away to join a circus band, his father instead enlisted him in the Marine Band as a band apprentice. Except for a period of six months, Sousa remained in the band until he was 20 years old. In addition to his musical training in the Marine Band, he studied music theory and composition with George Felix Benkert, a noted Washington orchestra leader and teacher. It was during his years in the Marines that Sousa wrote his first composition, "Moonlight on the Potomac Waltzes". Discharged from the Marines in 1875, the 21-year-old Sousa began performing on violin, touring and eventually conducting theater orchestras, including Gilbert & Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore on Broadway. In 1879, Sousa met Jane van Middlesworth Bellis, and they married on December 30, 1879. Just a year later, the couple returned to Washington, D.C., where Sousa assumed leadership of the U.S. Marine Band.

Over the next 12 years, Sousa conducted the band The President's Own, serving under Presidents Hayes, Garfield, Cleveland, Arthur and Harrison. In his book, The Experiences of a Bandmaster, Sousa described what it was like to play for presidents: “The ladies of the White House were always interested in the music, and frequently suggested selections for the programme, Mrs. Hayes being particularly fond of American ballads. During the brief Garfield administration there were no state receptions or dinners given by the President, and the band did not play at the White House, except for a few of Mrs. Garfield's receptions immediately after the inauguration. While Mrs. McElroy was mistress of the Executive Mansion for her brother, President Arthur, the lighter music was much in favor, as there were always many young people at the Mansion. Miss Rose Elizabeth Cleveland was much interested in music, and evinced a partiality for Arthur Sullivan's melodies. Mrs. Harrison's favorite music was Nevin's 'Good Night, Beloved' and the Sousa marches. The soundness of Mrs. Cleveland's musical taste was shown by her liking for the 'Tannhauser' overture and other music of that character.

The Marine Band played all the music for President Cleveland's wedding, which took place in the Blue Room of the White House. The distance from the room up-stairs to the exact spot where the ceremony was to take place was carefully measured by Colonel Lamont and myself, in order that the music might be timed to the precise number of steps the wedding party would have to take; and the climax of the Mendelssohn 'Wedding March' was played by the band just as the bride and groom reached the clergyman." Sousa first received acclaim in military band circles with the writing of his march "The Gladiator" in 1886. In 1888, he wrote "Semper Fidelis", which he dedicated to "the officers and men of the Marine Corps." It is traditionally known as the "official" march of the Marine Corps. Under Sousa, the Marine Band also made its first recordings. The phonograph was a relatively new invention, and the Columbia Phonograph Company sought a military band to record. The Marine Band was chosen, and 60 cylinders were released in the fall of 1890.

By 1897, more than 400 different titles were available for sale, placing Sousa's marches among the first and most popular pieces ever recorded, and making the Marine Band one of the world's first "recording stars." After two successful but limited tours with the Marine Band in 1891 and 1892, promoter David Blakely convinced Sousa to resign and organize a civilian concert band; thus was born Sousa's New Marine Band. The band's first concert was performed on Sept. 26, 1892 at Stillman Music Hall in Plainfield, New Jersey. Two days earlier, bandleader Patrick Gilmore had died in St. Louis. Nineteen of Gilmore's former musicians eventually joined Sousa's band, including Herbert L. Clarke (cornet) and E. A. Lefebre (saxophone). Although its original name was Sousa's New Marine Band, criticism from Washington eventually forced the band to drop the new Marine part of its name. In 1896, Sousa and his wife were vacationing in Europe when word came that David Blakely had died. The couple immediately left for home.

It was on the return voyage home that Sousa was inspired to begin writing his most famous composition, "The Stars and Stripes Forever." From 1900 to 1910, the Sousa Band toured the U.S., Europe, Great Britain, the Canary Islands, in the South Pacific, strengthening its growing reputation as the most admired American band of its time. After World War I, Sousa continued to tour with his band while championing the cause of music education for all children. He also received several honorary degrees and fought for composers' rights, testifying before Congress in 1927 and 1928. Sousa's last appearance before the Marine Band was on the occasion of the Carabao Wallow of 1932 in Washington, D.C. Sousa, as a distinguished guest, rose from the speaker's table, took the baton from Captain Taylor Branson, the band's director, and led the band in "The Stars and Stripes Forever." Later that year, after conducting a rehearsal of the Ringgold Band in Reading, Pa., the 77-year old Sousa passed away.

The last piece Sousa had rehearsed with the band was "The Stars and Stripes Forever." In addition to hundreds of marches, Sousa also wrote 10 operas and a number of musical suites. He had many talents aside from music, authoring three novels and a full-length autobiography, as well as a number of articles and letters-to-the-editor on a variety of subjects. Sousa is not forgotten. On December 9, 1939, the new Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge across the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C. was dedicated to the memory of John Philip Sousa. In a tribute to its 17th leader, in 1974, the Marine Band rededicated its historic band hall at Marine Barracks as John Philip Sousa Band Hall. The bell from the S.S. John Philip Sousa, a World War II Liberty ship, is there. In 1976, Sousa was enshrined in the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in a ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

And in 1987, "The Stars and Stripes Forever" was designated as the national march of the United States. A White House memorandum states that the march has become "an integral part of the celebration of American life." John Philip Sousa, Band Leader, Dies in Hotel at Reading John Philip Sousa, Band Leader, Dies in Hotel at Reading Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES READING, Pa., Sunday, March 6.--John Philip Sousa, famous American band conductor and march king of a generation ago, died unexpectedly early this morning in his room in the Abraham Lincoln Hotel from an attack of heart disease. He came to Reading to lead the local Ringgold Band today in its 80th Anniversary concert as its guest conductor. He rehearsed the band yesterday afternoon and at that time showed no signs of illness. Last night he attended a civic dinner at the hotel in his honor at which 100 leading citizens and all the members of the Lincoln Band were present. In response to laudatory addresses he made a brief speech, asking to be excused from saying more in order that he might save his strength for the concert ahead of him.

He told two or three funny stories, reminiscences of his long career, and sat down amid great applause. On Nov. 6, his seventy-seventh birthday, Mr. Sousa stood before the WJZ microphone, led a large band in "The Stars and Stripes Forever" on a nation-wide network, cut a birthday cake given by five noted conductors and told the radio audience he wanted to live to be 100 so that he could write many more marches. On Feb. 11 he was the guest of honor at a dinner of the American Legion Post of the New York Athletic Club given at the club. Five hundred Legion members applauded as Mr. Sousa received an honorary American Legion citation as the oldest and most distinguished Legionnaire. On Feb. 6 Representative Norton, Democrat, of Nebraska, introduced a Congressional resolution to designate "The Stars and Stripes Forever" as the national march. Conductor Since 1878 John Philip Sousa had been a conductor since 1878 and had been a musician since about 1861.

The Famous Sousa Band, his own organization, has been in existence for nearly forty years and for the twenty years immediately preceding he was the conductor of the Marine Band attached to the President's household. Throughout his career as a conductor he had also been a composer, and it is an open question which of his two activities brought him the greater renown. It would be difficult to segregate the two, however, for his marches, his band and his personality served as a single unit in creating his unique reputation. Mr. Sousa was born in Washington in 1854. The fact that his father was a musician and a member of the Marine Band which his son was later to lead, combined with the marital spirit of Civil War days of his youth in Washington, served to give his talent the bent which made him the "march king" to all the world for a quarter of a century. His musical education began at 7. He had already made up his mind that he wanted to be a musician, and four years later he won all the medals at the conservatory, the beginning of his collection of decorations, which is said to be the largest in his field in the world.

That same year he became a violin soloist, and two years later his father enrolled him as an apprentice with the Marine Band. After several years with that organization he left it to join a theatrical orchestra, and early in this period of his career he had an opportunity to substitute for the conductor. He was a conductor from that day on, and in 1880 he was appointed to head the Marine Band at the White House. Three years earlier, at 23, he had been first violinist in the orchestra conducted by Jacques Offenbach during the latter's tour of this country. His service at the White House covered the terms of Presidents Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland and Harrison. Many of his most famous musical works were composed during this period. One of these, "The Washington Post March," was adopted by many dancing masters for use in teaching the two-step, which was just being introduced at the time. He sold that composition, which is still widely played, for $35. Organized Band in 1892 Mr. Sousa organized his own band in 1892. It was not long before he attained world fame.

It has been estimated that the band covered an aggregate itinerary of a million and a quarter miles, visiting nearly every city in this country, a great many in Europe and others in all parts of the world. The wide travels of the band throughout the United States on the semi-annual tours which were its customary program are considered to have contributed toward the furtherance of musical education in the nation. At the Paris Exposition in 1900 Sousa's Band represented the United States as the official band from this country and was warmly acclaimed. After the exposition the band toured Europe, being the first musical organization from this country in a quarter of a century to undertake a tour of the Continent. Enthusiastic appearances were made in France, Germany, Belgium and Holland. Five tours of Europe were made by Sousa's Band. Appearances by royal command were made before Queen Victoria and later before King Edward, the first at Sandringham and the second at Windsor. Started on Tour of World Mr. Sousa started out with his band in 1910 on a world tour which occupied fourteen months, concluding with a concert in New York.

The leader and his 100 musicians covered 60,000 miles, visiting Europe, Africa, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Honolulu and the Fiji Islands. Four years later they remained the entire season at the Hippodrome here, playing to 60,000 persons each week. After having repeatedly refused to conduct his band over the radio, Mr. Sousa was at last persuaded to lead a selected group of fifty-two of his 100 musicians in a series of one- hour concerts, largely of his own compositions, in 1929. At the time it was reported he was receiving "more than $50,000" for his fee. The famous bandmaster had been fearful that he would not "go over" on the radio because of a lack of personal contact with his audience, but within a few hours of his initial appearance on May 6, 1929, he was overwhelmed with congratulatory messages, including one from Commander Richard E. Byrd at Little America, in the Antarctic Region. Wrote Welsh Fusiliers March Mr.

Sousa led the Marine Band in a new composition, the "Royal Welsh Fusiliers March," at the dinner of the Gridiron Club in Washington on April 26, 1930, before President Hoover and a distinguished audience. The march was composed in honor of the cooperation of the famous Welsh regiment with the American marines in the relief of Tientsin in the Boxer uprising. He later conducted the Fusiliers' own band in the march and was entertained at their barracks in London. In January, 1931, Mr. Sousa revealed that he was setting Edgar Allan Poe's poem "Annabel Lee" to music. His last public appearance in this city was on April 20, 1931, when he conducted the orchestra in "The Stars and Stripes Forever" at the annual Lambs Gambol at the Metropolitan Opera House. One thing on which Mr. Sousa prided himself was his service record, it being his boast that he had seen service with the army, the navy and the Marine Corps. The latter was represented by his service at the head of the White House Band. During the Spanish- American War he served as musical director for the Sixth Army Corps.

In the World War he organized bands at the Naval Training Station at Great Lakes, Ill. Composed Many Stirring Marches Mr. Sousa composed more than 300 musical works, about a third of which were stirring marches. "The Stars and Stripes Forever," composed on the homeward voyage after a tour of Europe, has been frequently reported to have been his own favorite. Others which have enjoyed wide popularity include "Semper Fidelis," "The High School Cadets," "King Cotton," "El Capitan," "Liberty Bell," "Manhattan Beach," "The Fairest of the Fair," "The Invincible Eagle" and "The Thunderer." His musical works also included ten operas and a number of suites, as well as "The Last Crusade," for orchestra, choir and organ, frequently considered his major work. He was also the author of several novels, as well as verses and magazine articles, and a compiler of volumes of musical pieces. Mr. Sousa was a member of the Sons of the Revolution, a Mason, and a member of the Society of Authors and Composers.

His clubs included the Salmagundi, Players, Musicians, New York Athletic, Lambs, Army and Navy and the Gridiron of Washington. He was an enthusiastic trapshooter, and was also interested in horseback riding and boxing. Celebrating The Fourth With John Philip Sousa's Iconic Marches | Here & Now closemore The USA Marine Band with conductor John Philip Sousa, who wrote "The Stars and Stripes Forever" as well as numerous marches, waltzes and songs. (Keystone/Getty Images) John Philip Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever” will be played a lot over the next three days. It’s America’s national march, as voted by Congress in 1987. But as Sousa lover and founder of the New Sousa Band Keith Brion tells Here & Now's Robin Young, there are a number of other great patriotic Sousa marches that would fit well into any celebration of the Fourth. Today, we revisit that conversation from July 2015. John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) Create an account American Conductor, Composer & Patriot John Philip Sousa was born in 1854 in Washington, D.C.

and died in 1932. He worked as a theater musician and conducted the U.S. Marine Band before starting his own civilian band in 1892. Sousa toured with his band for 40 years and was indisputably the most famous musical act in the world. He composed 136 marches, 15 operettas, 70 songs and many other pieces. The Stars and Stripes Forever The Stars and Stripes Forever Our National March It is arguably the most famous march in the world and it's certainly one of the best! It is recognized by the U.S. government as the official march of the United States ( U.S. Code, Title 36, Section 304 ). It has original lyrics by Sousa and some other words you may have learned as a child that are definitely NOT by Sousa ("Be Kind To Your Web-Footed Friends"). With crashing cymbals, bombastic brass and chirping piccolos, "The Stars and Stripes Forever!" gets millions of people on their feet, clapping and cheering every year. Listen to The Stars and Stripes Forever!

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here . You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Performed by the Dallas Wind Symphony on Strictly Sousa The Original 1897 Recording Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here . You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Performed by Sousa's Band, Berliner Gramophone MIDI, YouTube video and additional info can be found on the Stars And Stripes Forever page in our database. The Story Behind The Music In late 1896, Sousa and his wife took a much-deserved vacation to Europe. While there, Sousa received word that the manager of the Sousa Band, David Blakely, had died suddenly. The band was scheduled to begin another cross-country tour soon, and Sousa knew he must return to America at once to take over the band's business affairs. Sousa tells the rest of the story in his autobiography, Marching Along: Recollections of Men, Women and Music : Here came one of the most vivid incidents of my career.

As the vessel (the Teutonic) steamed out of the harbor I was pacing on the deck, absorbed in thoughts of my manager's death and the many duties and decisions which awaited me in New York. Suddenly, I began to sense a rhythmic beat of a band playing within my brain. Throughout the whole tense voyage, that imaginary band continued to unfold the same themes, echoing and re-echoing the most distinct melody. I did not transfer a note of that music to paper while I was on the steamer, but when we reached shore, I set down the measures that my brain-band had been playing for me, and not a note of it has ever changed. The march was an immediate success - Sousa's Band played it at almost every concert until his death over 35 years later. Sousa even set words to it: The Stars and Stripes Forever! (lyrics by John Philip Sousa) Let martial note in triumph float And liberty extend its mighty hand A flag appears 'mid thunderous cheers, The banner of the Western land. The emblem of the brave and true Its folds protect no tyrant crew; The red and white and starry blue Is freedom's shield and hope.

Other nations may deem their flags the best And cheer them with fervid elation But the flag of the North and South and West Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation. Hurrah for the flag of the free! May it wave as our standard forever, The gem of the land and the sea, The banner of the right. Let despots remember the day When our fathers with mighty endeavor Proclaimed as they marched to the fray That by their might and by their right It waves forever. Let eagle shriek from lofty peak The never-ending watchword of our land; Let summer breeze waft through the trees The echo of the chorus grand. Sing out for liberty and light, Sing out for freedom and the right. Sing out for Union and its might, O patriotic sons. Other nations may deem their flags the best And cheer them with fervid elation, But the flag of the North and South and West Is the flag of flags, the flag of Freedom's nation. Hurrah for the flag of the free. May it wave as our standard forever The gem of the land and the sea, The banner of the right.

Let despots remember the day When our fathers with might endeavor Proclaimed as they marched to the fray, That by their might and by their right It waves forever. Be Kind To Your Web-Footed Friends (attributed to Fred Allen) Be kind to your web-footed friends. For a duck may be somebody's mother. They live all alone in the swamp, Where the weather is cold and damp. Well, you may think that this is the end. Yes, it is, but to prove that you are wrong, We're going to sing it once again, Oh, yes we will, but it will be just a bit louder! Be kind to your web-footed friends. For a duck may be somebody's mother. They live at the bottom of the swamp, Where the weather is cold and damp. You may think that this is the end. Well, it is ## you are right! So, just remember: Be kind to your web-footed friends! Be ever kind, yes, oh, so kind to all the duckies! More Information Stars and Stripes Forever (1952) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property.

Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error Stars and Stripes Forever ( 1952 ) 1h 30min A film biography of the composer John Philip Sousa, from his early days in the Marine Corps Band through the Spanish-American War in 1898. Director: a list of 48 titles created 08 Jul 2013 a list of 45 titles created 16 Jul 2014 a list of 31 titles created 6 months ago a list of 5472 titles created 5 months ago a list of 24 titles created 3 months ago Title: Stars and Stripes Forever (1952) 7.3/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. See more awards » Photos In 19th century India, three British soldiers and a native waterbearer must stop a secret mass revival of the murderous Thuggee cult before it can rampage across the land.

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Director: Henry Levin In 1877 Wyoming, during the peace negotiations between the Cheyenne and the USA, an Indian girl falls in-love with a land surveyor, causing the ire of her Cheyenne fiance. Director: Robert D. Webb In early 1900s' Pennsylvania, Mr. Pennypacker has two company offices and two families with a combined total of 17 children. With an office in Harrisburg and an office in Philadelphia, he ... See full summary » Director: Henry Levin A working class bigot constantly squabbles with his family over the important issues of the day. Stars: Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, Rob Reiner Jane Froman (Susan Hayward), an aspiring songstress, lands a job in radio with help from pianist Don Ross (David Wayne), whom she later marries. Jane's popularity soars, and she leaves on a... See full summary » Director: Walter Lang David Blakely (as Tom Browne Henry) Rest of cast listed alphabetically: Edit Storyline In the 1890s, Sgt.

Major John Philip Sousa, leader of the Marine Corps Band, meets Private Willie Little, inventor of an instrument he calls the Sousaphone...and Little's girlfriend, shapely showgirl Lily. To support his growing family, Sousa leaves the Marines and forms his own band; Willie and Lily go along. Though he'd rather write ballads, Sousa's marches bring him increasing fame; from their debut in 1892 the band is a great success. But Sousa's 'no wives' rule threatens the romance of Willie and Lily...as does the Spanish-American War. Written by Rod Crawford <puffinus@u.washington.edu> 22 December 1952 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Did You Know? Trivia Clifton Webb , who had starred in musicals on Broadway, had been offered the chance to appear with Fred Astaire in the MGM musical The Band Wagon (1953)--which is now considered one of the classics of the era--but passed it up to be in this film because his role of John Philip Sousa was the lead in that film, whereas he would have only played a supporting role to Astaire in "The Band Wagon".

See more » Goofs In the film the famous Sousaphone was invented by Willy Little. In actuality the first sousaphone was developed by James Welsh Pepper in 1893 at the request of John Philip Sousa. See more » Crazy Credits During the opening display of 20th Century Fox's logo, Sousa's "Semper Fidelis" was played instead of the usual 20th Century fanfare See more » Connections Written by 'Harry Wincott' (1897) Performed by Debra Paget at the Sousa home (New York, N.Y.) – See all my reviews John Philip Sousa was not only America's "March King," he was a skilled organizer and entertainer who also composed much music now thoroughly unknown to most Americans (and fans elsewhere). His life spanned the era of an optimistic, brash America where live music was the only music to the burgeoning and eventually triumphant victory of an insatiable technology that even in Sousa's lifetime was employed to record almost everything. Sousa benefited from the new world of recording and he can be heard on compact disc in his later years conducting his famed quasi-military band.

20th Century Fox enlisted a cadre of fine performers for a seamlessly entertaining biopic of John Philip Sousa with a nice, anachronistically innocent, fictional romance interwoven with the band leader/composer's story. As Sousa Clifton Webb brings to life a character who was, as in reality, ambitious and driven to succeed. Sousa left the Marine Corps, where he led The President's Own, to start his hand-picked band. In uniforms which the leader designed, the outfit mirrored great military bands (of which the U.S., as opposed to England, had a clear shortage during Sousa's life). Sousa understood the importance of touring and he was light years ahead of the twentieth century's pops ensembles in making his musicians - and his music - as ubiquitous as travel of his day allowed. Sousa's patient and adoring wife, Jennie, is well played by Ruth Hussey. A nice romantic plot is the courtship of aspiring singer Lily Becker and the alleged inventor of the sousaphone, Willie Little. Lily is the gorgeous Debra Paget and Willie the young and upcoming Robert Wagner.

Neither character existed in real life but their romance is well threaded into Sousa's story and is coyly affecting. 1952 was a hard year for many Americans. A self-designated lame duck president presided over an unpopular war, the first in our history in which victory in the traditional military sense wasn't a strategic or political objective. "The Stars and Stripes Forever" was a refreshing patriotic film that didn't require thinking about the realities of the day. I remember seeing it as a kid and loving every minute. I still watch it occasionally. Credit also goes to the producer and to director Henry Koster for including a scene at an Atlanta festival where a black chorus sings The Battle Hymn of the Republic under Sousa's baton right after a rousing version of Dixie was performed. This was two years before Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court's belated start of the final assault on the obscenity of legalized racial discrimination. I doubt everyone in the South felt good about that scene. Musical pieces are well interwoven with the story and the final minutes have Sousa's most famous march, also the movie's title, played with a segue from his band to contemporary marching marines and soldiers.

His superimposed spectral leading is a fine reminder of his role. A very nice touch. Folks who only know Sousa from a relative handful of oft-performed and wonderful marches should check out his less well-known music. NAXOS is currently releasing a series of CDs of works that reflect Sousa's extraordinary creativity. But above all, Americans owe him an everlasting debt for composing stirring music that still animates listeners as it did when first performed under his baton. 10/10 11 of 14 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes

Question: Who wrote the national march of the USA, "The Stars and Stripes Forever"?
Answer: John Philip Sousa