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Doris Day, James Cagney, Cameron Mitchell, Robert Keith, Tom Tully ... see more see more... , Harry Bellaver , Richard Gaines , Peter Leeds , Claude Stroud , John Harding , Dorothy Abbott , Jay Adler , Genevieve Aumont , Veda Ann Borg , Benny Burt , Claire Carleton , John Damler , John Day , James Drury , Roy Engel , Mauritz Hugo , Henry Kulky , Robert Malcolm Young , Paul McGuire , Otto Reichow , Bob Stephenson , Larri Thomas , Dale Van Sickel , Audrey Wilder , Robert Carson , Jimmy Cross , Chet Brandenburg , Michael Kostrick , Barry Regan , Phil Schumacher , Shirley Wilson , Dick Simmons

One of the gutsiest movie musicals of the 1950s, Love Me or Leave Me is the true story of 1930s torch-singer Ruth Etting, here played by Doris Day. While working in a dime-a-dance joint, Ruth is disco... read more read more...vered by Chicago racketeer Martin "The Gimp" Snyder (fascinatingly played with nary a redeeming quality by James Cagney). The smitten Snyder exerts pressure on his show-biz connections, and before long Ruth is a star of nightclubs, stage and films. Ruth continues to string Snyder along to get ahead, but she can't help falling in love with musician Johnny Alderman (Cameron Mitchell). After sinking his fortune into a nightclub for Ruth's benefit, Snyder is rather understandably put out when he finds her in the arms of Alderman. Snyder shoots the musician (but not fatally) and is carted away to prison. Upon his release, Snyder finds that Ruth is still in love with Alderman; he is mollified by her act of largesse in keeping her promise to perform in his nightclub at a fraction of her normal salary. No one comes off particularly nobly in Love Me or Leave Me, even though the still-living Ruth Etting, Martin Snyder and Johnny Alderman were offered full script approval. The fact that we are seeing flesh-and-blood opportunists rather than the usual sugary-sweet MGM musical stick figures naturally makes for a more powerful film. In his autobiography, James Cagney had nothing but praise for his co-star Doris Day, and bemoaned the fact that she would soon turn her back on dramatic roles to star in a series of fluffy domestic comedies. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

70% liked it

3,835 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

6 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 2 min.

Directed by: Charles Vidor

Release Date: June 10, 1955

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DVD Release Date: April 26, 2005

Stats: 146 reviews

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Doris Day as Ruth Etting James Cagney in Love Me or Leave Me Love Me Or Leave Me Love Me Or Leave Me James Cagney in Love Me or Leave Me James Cagney in Love Me or Leave Me
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Flixster Reviews (146)

  • jjnxn
    March 29, 2007
    jjnxn
    a different doris day but a wonderful showcase for her talents
  • jam233
    September 2, 2009
    jam233
    Outstanding performances from James Cagney and Doris Day make this film one of the better bio's from the 1950's. Excellent production values, the costumes are beautifully done. Professionally done in all aspects. Great score.
  • bballgirl1334
    March 23, 2009
    bballgirl1334
    Doris Day did a great job in this movie... I liked that she sang alot but it wasnt like every 5 minutes...
  • addienoir
    April 4, 2008
    addienoir
    If you like Doris Day, you will like her, if not you wont because, that is the charactor she sticks with, unfortunitly it is not like Ruth Etting, the person she is suppossed to be portraying.
    Cagney is perfect struggling with being the big mob guy and trying to get Etting to L... read moreove him back.
    Some great swing, good musical numbers, sadly, none with Cagney,.
  • ashleyjimenez1
    October 10, 2007
    ashleyjimenez1
    Hmm what can i say about this movie...Doris Day has a beautiful voice...the others need acting lessons
  • johnbassett
    November 15, 2006
    johnbassett
    Bigger than life Hollywood film biography with a great performance dramatically and musically by Doris Day

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
March 22, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Truthfully told musical saga of '20s singer Ruth Etting with fine turn by Doris Day; Cagney eats up scenery.

Dennis Schwartz
August 13, 2007
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Doris was called on to act dramatically and not just sing and be the girl-next-door. Full Review

Ken Hanke
March 7, 2007
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

As a highly colored biopic, it's is an enjoyable mix of Day putting her stamp on Etting's best known songs and the contrasting acting styles of Day and Cagney. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 18, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Charles Vidor's crime-gangster musical, about the rise of fall of singer Ruth Etting, offers James Cagney (Oscar-nominated) and Doris Day some of the best dramatic roles of their careers. Full Review

Christopher Null
April 28, 2005
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com

abrasively repetitious Full Review

Jeremiah Kipp
April 25, 2005
Jeremiah Kipp, Slant Magazine

A slow crawl through a hellish relationship. Full Review

February 18, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 10, 2004
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Geoff Andrew
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Love Me Or Leave Me Trivia

  • What is the time frame that Love Me Or Leave Me takes place ?  Answer »
  • What does Ruth Ettings want to do for a career in Love Me Or Leave Me ?  Answer »
  • What kind of job did Ruth have in the beginning of Love Me Or Leave Me ?  Answer »
  • How much did each dance cost in the beginning of Love Me Or Leave Me ?  Answer »
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