Directed by the prolific and versatile Michael (“Casablanca”) Curtiz, “The Best Things in Life Are Free” is a biopic of the songwriting team of DeSylva, Brown, and Henderson, starring Gordon MacRae as Buddy DeSylva, Ernest Borgnine as Lee Brown, and Dan Dailey as Ray Henderson.
Oscar Nominations: 1
Scoring of Musical Picture: Lionel Newman
Oscar Context:
The Oscar stayed in the Newman family: The winner was Lionel’s brother, Arthur, who won the Oscar for his work with Ken Darby on “The King and I.”