A Song Is Born

A Song Is Born

Year: 1948

Runtime: 113 mins

Language: English

Director: Howard Hawks

ComedyMusicSong and danceCatchy songs and hilarious musical comedyDazzling vocal performances and musicals

Seven eager scholars set out to find a swing‑music expert and believe they have discovered the perfect teacher in charming nightclub singer Honey Swanson. As Honey prepares to share her talent, her violent gangster boyfriend intervenes, determined to keep her from leaving his control.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – A Song Is Born (1948)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Song Is Born (1948). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1930s

The action unfolds during the Swing era, a period when jazz, big bands, and radio broadcasts shaped popular culture. The city pulses with clubs, performances, and musical exchanges that blur the line between academia and entertainment. This setting provides the backdrop for the professors' musical awakening and the accompanying romance and conflict.

Location

Totten Foundation’s Victorian mansion, New York City

Set in the Totten Foundation’s Victorian mansion in New York City, the film presents a secluded scholarly enclave where seven professors live cut off from the outside world. They write and record a comprehensive musical encyclopedia, inviting visiting musicians to teach them about popular genres. The mansion also becomes the stage for Honey Swanson's escape and the ensuing romance and musical upheavals that drive the plot.

🏛️ Victorian mansion 🎷 Jazz era 🗽 New York City

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:19

Main Characters – A Song Is Born (1948)

Meet the key characters of A Song Is Born (1948), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Hobart Frisbee (Danny Kaye)

Mild-mannered professor of ‘folk music’ who guides the group’s exploration of popular forms. He is curious, idealistic, and eager to learn from visiting musicians, turning scholarship into living performance. His growing affection for Honey reveals a tender, decisive side as he navigates love and music.

🎭 Scholar 🎷 Jazz Enthusiast

Honey Swanson (Virginia Mayo)

Nightclub singer who seeks refuge at the foundation to avoid police questioning about her gangster lover. She introduces the professors to swing and other genres, catalyzing their transformation. Her romance with Hobart pushes her to confront her past and choose honesty.

🎤 Singer 💘 Romance 🕵️‍♀️ Dual Life

Miss Bragg (Esther Dale)

The housekeeper of the Totten Foundation, practical and protective of the household. She represents the institution’s rules and initially resists Honey’s stay, serving as a foil to the freer musical exploration.

🧹 Housekeeper 🎭 Authority

Tony Crow (Steve Cochran)

Gangster who forces Honey into a marriage to prevent testimony, unleashing a hostage situation. He embodies the criminal threat that must be overcome, and his plans are undone by the musicians’ unity and music.

🕴️ Gangster ⚖️ Antagonist

Miss Totten (Mary Field)

Wealthy foundation patron planning to close the Totten Foundation, representing the financial and institutional hurdle to the professors’ project. Her involvement heightens the stakes and tests the group’s resolve.

💼 Patron 🏛️ Philanthropist

Professor Magenbruch (Benny Goodman)

One of the seven fellow academics who contributes to the Foundation’s scholarly discussions while engaging with the world of popular music. His involvement underscores the theme of learning across boundaries.

🎷 Musician 🎭 Scholar

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:19

Major Themes – A Song Is Born (1948)

Explore the central themes of A Song Is Born (1948), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎶 Music Discovery

The professors start from a place of scholarly isolation and discover a spectrum of popular music—swing, jive, jump, blues, boogie woogie, and bebop. Hobart invites artists to the foundation, turning the mansion into a living classroom and recording studio. The encounters broaden the scholars’ worldviews and show how music can educate as well as entertain.

🤝 Cultural Exchange

The film frames a bridge between academia and the street, as scholars learn from performers and audiences alike. The foundation becomes a hub of collaboration that challenges rigid norms. Tensions with Miss Totten and Tony test the group, but music fosters unity and resilience.

💘 Love & Risk

Honey Swanson’s presence unsettles the foundation but also deepens Hobart’s humanity. Their romance develops amid deception, danger, and a looming threat from Tony Crow. The narrative resolves not by violence but through music and emotional honesty, affirming love as a transformative force.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:19

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A Song Is Born Summary

Read a complete plot summary of A Song Is Born, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

A Song Is Born Summary

A Song Is Born Timeline

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A Song Is Born Timeline

More About A Song Is Born

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A Song Is Born (1948) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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A Song Is Born (1948) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow