Rhythm on the River is a 1940 American musical comedy film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Bing Crosby and Mary Martin as ghostwriters whose songs are credited to a composer played by Basil Rathbone.

Crosby and Martin sang "Only Forever",[1] for which James V. Monaco (music) and Johnny Burke (lyrics) were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Oliver Courtney is an arrogant composer who lets other people write songs he takes credit for.

She becomes ambitious to write better lines, but is not able to concentrate at home, and it is suggested she move to a small and quiet place.

He takes his job back as Oliver's ghost writer and raises $200 so Cherry can premiere with the song they wrote together at Nobody's Inn.

Various musicians and entertainers also make appearances, including Wingy Manone, Jack Pepper, and Harry Barris Bosley Crowther of The New York Times enjoyed it.

One producer may come along with a supercolossal whopper, all dressed up in fancy pants and boasting a high-class score and folks will find themselves sitting watch on a dull and pretentious fizzle.

Well, there’s Bing, whose frank and guileless indifference, whose apparent dexterity with ad libs is, in this case, beautiful to behold.

There is also Oscar Levant, slumming from “Information, Please,” who makes up in bashless impudence what he lacks in looks, charm, poise and ability to act.

There are Mr. Rathbone, Charley Grapewin and Wingy Manone, who plays a hot trumpet, and there are several tuneful numbers, especially “Rhythm on the River” and “Ain’t It a Shame about Mame.” Add them all up and they total a progressively ingratiating picture—one that just slowly creeps up and sort of makes itself at home.

Bing Crosby continues his policy of splitting co-starring credits and performance importance with others in the cast.