Sigmund Romberg was born on this date in 1887. Romberg, of course, was the super-successful composer of musicals and operettas like “The Student Prince,” “Desert Song” and “New Moon.”

His life was made into a film, “Deep in My Heart,” in 1954. If you were to make a film about Sigmund Romberg, who would you cast in the title role? Why, José Ferrer, of course! This would be after Ferrer’s Academy Award-winning turn as Cyrano de Bergerac, by the way.

Here’s a radio broadcast promoting the film, featuring much of the cast, including Helen Traubel, Rosemary Clooney, Jane Powell, Vic Damone, Gene and Fred Kelly, Ann Miller, Tony Martin, and Howard Keel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyoG8x_x1BU

PHOTO: José Ferrer, skating on Oscar gold