Alexander's Ragtime Band dvd movie.|
Alexander's Ragtime Band buy bestselling dvd movies, videos find reviews, ratings, prices |
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List Price: $14.98 Our Price: $12.99 You Save: $1.99 Features • Closed-captioned • Black & White • Full Screen • Subtitled • NTSC In Theaters : 19 August, 1938 DVD Release : 07 September, 2004 |
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Alexander's Ragtime Band description The jaunty rhythms of Irving Berlin drive Alexander's Ragtime Band, an epic musical from 1938 that follows the up-and-down romance of a young bandleader (Tyrone Power, Witness for the Prosecution) and the singer he loves (Alice Faye, Tin Pan Alley) over decades. Their journey from a San Francisco honky-tonk to mass popularity is marked by classic songs like "Oh How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning," "Blue Skies," "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody," "Easter Parade," and the title track. Power and Faye are a little bland, but the supporting cast--including Don Ameche (Midnight), Jack Haley (the Tin Woodsman from The Wizard of Oz), and a very young Ethel Merman--give the movie some real personality, as do a few wild dance numbers. At the end, the movie becomes surprisingly suspenseful and even a little touching. --Bret Fetzer |
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| ♥♥♥♥♥ | Standard Hollywood Movie with Above-Average Music |
| I watched this movie because I noted that it was an Oscar winner in 1938 for Best Music (it was nominated for a few more including Best Picture). I must admit that the plot has nothing to offer that you haven't seen dozens of times before. What makes it worthwhile is the music that it won the Oscar for. The highlight is the two or three numbers that a younger, slimmer Ethel Merman got to sing. I had forgotten that she was in the cast so I wasn't paying much attention until I heard her start to belt out a song as only she can do. I don't know why Alice Faye was given the top female role as a singer if Ethel was going to be in the cast. I suppose she had the bigger name back then but you can't hide a voice like Merman's. There is some good orchestration in the movie as well. Irving Berlin is credited with the lyrics and music but I think some of the songs predated even him. The acting was somewhat mediocre. Tyrone Power was poorly cast to play anything but Tyrone Power. Don Ameche was an improvement and there was some good dance routines included. John Carradine showed his unique talent in a minor role. This movie is strictly for the song and dance fans but it is definitely one that that group will enjoy. | |
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