The Man I Love (1946)

A woman of the world, Petey Brown, a sultry nightclub singer with deep roots in New York, decides to abandon her itinerant lifestyle and reconnect with her estranged family for the Christmas holidays. Landing in the sun-soaked shores of Long Beach, California, she finds her three younger siblings embroiled in a web of emotional turmoil and neighborhood intrigue. In the midst of the chaos, Petey's spirited sister Sally finds herself in the crosshairs of the notorious club owner and gangster, Nicky Toresca, despite her commitment to her shell-shocked war veteran husband, Roy. Meanwhile, Petey's wayward brother Joey is trying to navigate the treacherous waters of working for Nicky, and her youngest sister, Ginny, is secretly yearning for the affections of their neighbor, Johnny O'Connor, an adoring husband to the party-loving and neglectful Gloria. With her siblings' lives teetering on the brink of disaster, Petey finds herself drawn into their problems. She takes a job at Nicky's nightclub, not only to fend off his predatory advances on Sally but also to bring some sense of stability to her scattered family. Amidst the bustling club scene and the complex dynamics of her siblings' world, Petey finds herself falling hard for the brooding San Thomas, a former jazz pianist turned merchant marine, still haunted by the ghost of a failed marriage. As Petey navigates through the labyrinth of her siblings' lives, she must patiently watch as San grapples with his past and decides whether to embark on a new life with her or to flee from his demons aboard a merchant steamer. 'The Man I Love' is a riveting tale of familial bonds, love, and resilience against the backdrop of post-war America, filled with the soulful music of a bygone era.

The Man I Love is a drama movie featuring Ida Lupino.

The Man I Love is currently streaming on TCM.