THE MAKING OF RHYTHM ON THE RIVER

In the summer of 1940, Paramount Pictures was buzzing with excitement. The studio had a new musical comedy in the works—Rhythm on the River—and at its heart were two rising stars: Bing Crosby, already America’s favorite crooner, and Mary Martin, the Broadway sensation with a voice as bright as her smile. The story was lighthearted: a ghostwriter for a famous composer meets a lyricist, and together…