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Love Me or Leave Me

Play trailer Poster for Love Me or Leave Me 1955 2h 2m Musical Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
During the 1920s, a small-time Chicago criminal, Martin Snyder (James Cagney), discovers a beautiful dancer, Ruth Etting (Doris Day), after she's fired from her job at a nightclub. Under Martin's management, Ruth works her way to the top of the entertainment industry, eventually becoming a famous jazz singer and Broadway actress. But as Ruth's popularity grows, Martin's obsessive and controlling behavior begins to threaten her success and happiness.
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Love Me or Leave Me

Critics Reviews

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Jeremiah Kipp Slant Magazine 04/25/2005
3/4
A slow crawl through a hellish relationship. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jan 11
3.5/4
Cagney’s terrific, of course, but Day matches him with one of her best performances, dramatic or otherwise. Go to Full Review Andrew Sarris Film Culture 02/03/2021
Charles Vidor has mounted a solid, grimy-textured production around his two principals, and must be credited in some measure for Doris Day's triumph over off-beat casting. Go to Full Review Steve Crum Video-Reviewmaster.com 03/22/2008
5/5
Truthfully told musical saga of '20s singer Ruth Etting with fine turn by Doris Day; Cagney eats up scenery. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 08/13/2007
C+
Doris was called on to act dramatically and not just sing and be the girl-next-door. Go to Full Review Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) 03/07/2007
4/5
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Gabrielle d @RT33701135 12/07/2022 Cagney is mesmerizing; Doris Day is Doris Day and Cameron Mitchel is solid. What I couldn't understand was the horrible costume and hair designs, and the odd, odd 1927 Ziegfeld Follies number. The costumes were pure 50s with defined waists (this is supposed to be 1920s-30s, folks) and the hair was straight out of Pajama game; not a cloche hat or a spit-curl in the fill. The Ziegfeld number looked like something out of There's No Business Like Show Business or Cover Girl, not Ziegfeld. Obviously, no Edith Head or Irene Sharif around. See more 07/10/2021 Doris Day never had a better role, though her funny crying scenes may have prevented her from snagging an Oscar nomination. See more 07/02/2021 Wonderful film due to Doris Day’s great performance. She finally shows she can handle heavy performing with real depth. It’s only dragged down by the stereotypical (and hugely irritating) James Cagney schtick. See more 02/07/2021 Doris Day and James Cagney are brilliant in this story of singer Ruth Etting's life and career with an unlikeable manager played by Cagney. MGM made these kind of picturr better than any other studio. See more steve d @RT35616104 07/21/2020 Day is terrible and the story is weak. See more Diane H 06/30/2019 Great. Love Doris Day. Songs were great. See more Read all reviews
Love Me or Leave Me

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Cast & Crew

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Charles Vidor

Director

Doris Day

Ruth Etting

James Cagney

Martin Snyder

Cameron Mitchell

Johnny Alderman

Robert Keith

Bernard V. Loomis

Tom Tully

Frobisher

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Love Me or Leave Me

Love Me or Leave Me (1955) Love Me or Leave Me (1955) Love Me or Leave Me (1955) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis During the 1920s, a small-time Chicago criminal, Martin Snyder (James Cagney), discovers a beautiful dancer, Ruth Etting (Doris Day), after she's fired from her job at a nightclub. Under Martin's management, Ruth works her way to the top of the entertainment industry, eventually becoming a famous jazz singer and Broadway actress. But as Ruth's popularity grows, Martin's obsessive and controlling behavior begins to threaten her success and happiness.
Director
Charles Vidor
Producer
Joe Pasternak
Screenwriter
Daniel Fuchs, Isobel Lennart
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
Musical, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 10, 1955, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 11, 2015
Runtime
2h 2m
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