If You Knew Susie (film)


If You Knew Susie is a 1948 American comedy film directed by Gordon Douglas and written by Warren Wilson, Oscar Brodney, Bud Pearson and Lester A. White. The film was produced by, and starred, Eddie Cantor in his final starring role in a feature film. The film also stars Joan Davis, Allyn Joslyn, Charles Dingle and Bobby Driscoll. The film was released on February 7, 1948, by RKO Pictures.

Plot

Sam and Susie Parker, a husband and wife team of vaudeville performers retire and return to Sam's ancestral historic New England home to be with their children. The pair turn their 17th century home into a hotel with entertainment that turns the community against them. Sam and Susie's son Junior faces bullying and ridicule because his ancestor was "America's First Draft Dodger" in the American War of Independence. The town boycott of the Parker's inn forces Sam and Susie to sell their home and auction off the family's antique furniture. When moving a cabinet, a recess in the wall is discovered that contains a letter to Sam's ancestor from George Washington thanking him for his services as a blockade runner that brought needed munitions to the Continental Army. An additional part of the letter is illegible.
The pair travel to Washington D.C. to investigate whether the document is genuine. The National Archives not only prove that it is, but they possess a misfiled but genuine identical copy with the illegible portion of Sam's copy declaring the new American government will pay Sam's ancestor or his descendants £10,000 with compounded interest for the munitions giving the Parkers seven billion modern dollars that attract the attention of the media and criminals.

Cast

The film recorded a loss of $490,000.

Soundtrack

Music by Joseph Meyer
Lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva
Sung by Eddie Cantor
Music by Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics by Harold Adamson
Performed by Eddie Cantor and Joan Davis
Music by Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics by Harold Adamson
Performed by Eddie Cantor and Joan Davis
Music and Lyrics by George Tibbles and Ramey Idriss
Sung and Danced by Margaret Kerry and Dickie Humphreys
Traditional Scottish 17th century music
Lyrics by Robert Burns
from "Lucia di Lammermoor"
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano
Performed by Eddie Cantor, Joan Davis, George Murphy and Constance Moore from the film Show Business''