Alexander’s Ragtime Band
Directed by Henry King
Written by Kathryn Scola and Lamar Trotti based on an adaptation by Richard Sherman
1938/USA
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Broadway has been very good to me. But then, I’ve been very good to Broadway. — Ethel Merman [/box]
If you love old standards, Irving Berlin, or Ethel Merman, this movie is for you. I’m there on all three counts. For story, not so much.
Darryl F. Zanuck’s idea was to do a biopic on the composer Irving Berlin. Berlin preferred fiction so we get the story of band leader Alexander (Tyrone Power), singer Stella Kirby (Alice Faye), and composer/pianist Charlie Dwyer (Don Ameche) in a love triangle reminiscent of In Old Chicago. Charlie loves Stella but Stella loves Alexander. A series of misunderstandings separates Alex and Stella for years leading to many torch songs on Stella’s part. The story is a vehicle to showcase the history of American popular music in the early 20th century through the songs of Irving Berlin. With Jack Haley as a drummer, Ethel Merman as the band’s second vocalist, Jean Herscholt as Alex’s violin teacher, and John Carradine as a taxi driver.
This was a prestige production and a pet project of studio head Zanuck. No expense was spared and the production is lavish. Thirty Berlin songs are included and these are all performed as parts of various shows. Irving Berlin specifically asked for Alice Faye, but I must say I’m not a huge fan of her singing. Ethel Merman, on the other hand, is electrifying in her film debut. She is quite a bit softer and less brassy than later in her career. Jack Haley and others have some good comedy numbers.
Alfred Newman won an Oscar for his scoring of Alexander’s Ragtime Band, in which he arranged the songs to reflect the style characteristic of each period. The film was also nominated by the Academy in the categories of Best Picture, Best Writing (Original Story), Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, and Best Original Song (“Now It Can Be Told”).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bx3DaxPyeVc
Trailer
