Till the Clouds Roll By

The movie follows Jerome Kern, a renowned composer, as he reflects on his life's journey to success. He shares stories about his close friendship with arranger James I. Hessler, who helped him develop his craft and aimed to transition to composing serious music. Kern also recounts overcoming the biases of Broadway producers who favored English music halls, meeting his future wife Eva Leale, and a near-death experience on the ill-fated Lusitania. Additionally, he discusses his long-standing friendship with Hessler's daughter Sally, whose desire to become a Broadway performer led to a rift, and the events that led to the creation of "Show Boat" with lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II. As the advent of talking pictures approaches, Kern's music will reach a broader audience through Hollywood movies.