If You Knew Susie is a 1948 American comedy film directed by Gordon Douglas and written by Warren Wilson, Oscar Brodney, Bud Pearson and Lester A. White. The film was produced by, and starred, Eddie Cantor in his final starring role in a feature film. The film also stars Joan Davis, Allyn Joslyn, Charles Dingle and Bobby Driscoll. The film was released on February 7, 1948, by RKO Pictures.
Plot Sam and Susie Parker, a husband and wife team of vaudeville performers retire and return to Sam's ancestral historic New England home to be with their children. The pair turn their 17th century home into a hotel with entertainment that turns the community against them. Sam and Susie's son Junior faces bullying and ridicule because his ancestor was "America's First Draft Dodger" in the American War of Independence. The town boycott of the Parker's inn forces Sam and Susie to sell their home and auction off the family's antique furniture. When moving a cabinet, a recess in the wall is discovered that contains a letter to Sam's ancestor from George Washington thanking him for his services as a blockade runner that brought needed munitions to the Continental Army. An additional part of the letter is illegible.
The pair travel to Washington D.C. to investigate whether the document is genuine. The National Archives not only prove that it is, but they possess a misfiled but genuine identical copy with the illegible portion of Sam's copy declaring the new American government will pay Sam's ancestor or his descendants £10,000 with compounded interest for the munitions giving the Parkers seven billion modern dollars that attract the attention of the media and criminals.
Cast Eddie Cantor as Sam Parker Joan Davis as Susie Parker Allyn Joslyn as Mike Garrett Charles Dingle as Mr. Whitley Bobby Driscoll as Junior Phil Brown as Joe Collins Sheldon Leonard as Steve Garland Joe Sawyer as Zero Zantini Douglas Fowley as Marty Margaret Kerry as Marjorie Parker Dickie Humphreys as Handy Clinton Howard Freeman as Mr. Clinton Mabel Paige as Grandma Sig Ruman as Count Alexis Fritz Feld as Chez Henri Isabel Randolph as Mrs. Clinton Kay Christopher as the Telephone Operator
Reception The film recorded a loss of $490,000.Richard B. Jewell, Slow Fade to Black: The Decline of RKO Radio Pictures, Uni of California, 2016
Soundtrack If You Knew Susie Music by Joseph Meyer Lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva Sung by Eddie Cantor What Do I Want with Money Music by Jimmy McHugh Lyrics by Harold Adamson Performed by Eddie Cantor and Joan Davis My, How the Time Goes By Music by Jimmy McHugh Lyrics by Harold Adamson Performed by Eddie Cantor and Joan Davis My Brooklyn Love Song Music and Lyrics by George Tibbles and Ramey Idriss Sung and Danced by Margaret Kerry and Dickie Humphreys Auld Lang Syne Traditional Scottish 17th century music Lyrics by Robert Burns Lucia Sextet (1835) from "Lucia di Lammermoor" Music by Gaetano Donizetti Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano Performed by Eddie Cantor, Joan Davis, George Murphy and Constance Moore from the film Show Business
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