[Kern, Jerome. (1885–1945)]

"The Way You Look Tonight" - Publisher's Copyist Manuscript

Rare pre-publication fair copy manuscript of the celebrated song, penned by a staff copyist for the T.B. Harms Company in 1936. On four pages of two adjoining 9.25 x 12.5 sheets of musical manuscript paper, titled and with composer and lyricist attributions at the head, and inscribed in the lower margin of the first page with the publisher copyright (where Kern was then managing) "T.B. Harms Company 1936." 72 bars of music and lyrics to the song, several brushes to music and lyrics throughout, scattered light creasing and handling wear, and uniform toning to pages, otherwise fine condition.

Featured in the film Swing Time, originally performed by Fred Astaire, it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936. The song was sung to Ginger Rogers as Penelope "Penny" Carroll by Astaire's character of John "Lucky" Garnett while Penny was busy washing her hair in an adjacent room, and feeling anything but beautiful at the time. The song was written by Kern with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and has become a standard. Fields later remarked, "The first time Jerry played that melody for me I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn't stop, it was so beautiful." (6229)

Manuscript Music Song