Love Me or Leave Me

Play trailer

Love Me or Leave Me

1955

2h 2m

Musical

Music

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

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

Howard G

@RT77023737 Jun 19

In this wonderful film, Doris Day, a true triple threat, gets to display her many talents - acting, singing, and dancing. A classic for the ages.

See more

Stephen C

@bob25009 Apr 8

The worldwide gross is $193.00.

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

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Charles Vidor

Director

Doris Day

Ruth Etting

James Cagney

Martin Snyder

Cameron Mitchell

Johnny Alderman

Robert Keith

Bernard V. Loomis

Tom Tully

Frobisher

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

89%

87%

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Watchlist

The Band Wagon

95%

82%

The Band Wagon

Watchlist

Yolanda and the Thief

80%

48%

Yolanda and the Thief

Watchlist

Brigadoon

75%

71%

Brigadoon

Watchlist

The Pirate

78%

75%

The Pirate

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

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