One of the best jazz films Hollywood has made, Young Man With a Horn indulges in many of the clichés associated with such films, but it treats the clichés with respect, giving even the most familiar moments an undeniable power. Much of the credit goes to Michael Curtiz, who seems to feel a real affinity for the loneliness and yearning infused in the story. Curtiz does an excellent job of capturing the sometimes stifling solitude that is found in the city, as well as the frenetic joy and release that music can bring. He also helps Kirk Douglas to give a savagely intense, muscular performance. His Rick Martin is an explosion waiting to happen, and Douglas pulls the viewer in from the outset and rarely lets him go. Lauren Bacall doesn't find enough variety in her performance, but she's effective. Doris Day does better; her part is as one-note in its way as Bacall's, but she manages to flesh it out -- and has the added benefit of being in tip-top vocal shape. Harry James' dubbing of Douglas' horn is another major asset. Young Man bogs down in a few places, but not for long, and it gives Douglas a chance to shine.
