Alexander's Ragtime Band Review

Overall 5.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

GeorgeChabot
Conyers, GA

C'mon and hear, C'mon and hear, Alexander's Ragtime Band!

Movie guru, admirer of great storytelling, Fan of Superb Productions

Pros

Tyrone Power, Irving Berlin Music

Cons

Fictional, but good music

NOV

2008

Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)

This is a musical of Irving Berlin's music by 20th Century Fox starring their number one box office talent Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, and Don Ameche. The story is fictional and is just an excuse to showcase Irving Berlin's music, which is some of the best in America.

Tyrone Power is an orchestra leader who wants to switch from long hair music to popular. He gets a combo of his orchestra members and goes to audition at a club on the Barbary Coast of San Francisco but forgets their music. Luckily the bartender has a new song that another performer brought in for their audition. When she hears them playing through the number she is really steamed but they play it together, Irving Berlin's Alexander's Ragtime Band. They are a big hit but like all boy meets girl movies they are in and out of love and back in by the end. Don Ameche plays one of the band members who also sings a few numbers and Ethel Merman also sings a few numbers with her inimitable voice.

Irving Berlin liked Alice Faye's delivery and insisted on her singing a bunch of songs. There is a tremendous lot of music that will bring back memories and you also may get a few new ones watching this movie.

The Fox DVD is in excellent condition and the black and white movie lasts 106 music filled minutes. There is an A&E Biography segment on Alice Faye as an extra feature as well as subtitles. There is also a great commentary by film historian Ray Faola who gives very pertinent comments, scene by scene. When you hear his commentary you will finally know how a commentary should be done - that's how good it is.

Last edited on Nov 16, 2008

Alexander's Ragtime Band is recommended by GeorgeChabot

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Comments about GeorgeChabot’s Review

In response to GigiandAdonai's comment from Dec 1, 2008 at 1:11PM:

You'd definitely enjoy this, Gigi! :>

At last something I might be able to relate to. I love to hear Irving Berlin sing! Gigi

In response to Meri's comment from Nov 18, 2008 at 1:54PM:

I'll bet. Tyrone Power would make the girls swoon in his day. ;>

This is one of my Mom's favorites!

In response to AngelaWLaFon's comment from Nov 17, 2008 at 1:53PM:

Probably. If you have ever heard White Christmas, by Bing Crosby, that's Irving Berlin's music. They are catchy tunes. ;>

In response to LaurieM's comment from Nov 17, 2008 at 9:04AM:

Thanks, Laurie! ;>

I wonder if I could find Berlin's music at the library? Sounds worth checking out.

Never heard of this one!!! Good review though!

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Nov 17, 2008 at 7:41AM:

That was what the commentator said, except Berlin could not read music and could only play piano in one key F#. He had a guy who could figure out what he was playing and do the notation in whatever key to fit the singer. Tyrone just swung a baton after the opening. Alice Faye was a big star back then, too. ;>

This is one of my all-time favorite musical movies! I loved all the performers in it too, they are some of my favs also. Although it was just fiction, I think that Tyrone Power's character was very much like Irving Berlin's real persona. Thanks for the memories, George!