This being Thursday, it's time for another edition of Thursday Movie Picks, the blogathon run by Wandering Through the Shelves. This week's theme is "The Band", and I had a couple of ideas in mind until I realized I'd used both of them in previous editions of the blogathon. So I thought a little further, and came up with three movies that a search of the blog claims I haven't used before:
Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938). Society man Tyrone Power decides he's going to pursue "popular" music rather than the classical music that would be "proper" for his social class circa 1914, so he organizes a band including pianist Don Ameche and singer Alice Faye. Both men fall in love with the singer, but World War I separates Power from the other two, even though we know he's really the one who's right for Faye. The story was probably old even for 1938, but the real reason to watch the movie is for all the Irving Berlin songs.
Sun Valley Serenade (1941). Glenn Miller, technically not playing himself, gets his band a job at Idaho's Sun Valley ski resort. The band's pianist (John Payne) is in love with the singer (Lynn Bari), but when the manager (Milton Berle) suggests they sponser a war orphan (Sonja Henie), she immediately sets out to break up the relationship between Payne and Bari because she knows that, she and Payne getting top billing, they should wind up together in the last reel after she does one of her ice skating routines. As I mentioned the other day, Miller got an Oscar nomination for the song "Chattanooga Choo Choo" which is accompanied by dancing Dorothy Dandridge.
Sweet and Low-Down (1944). Benny Goodman plays himself, a clarinetist who escaped the projects of Chicago such as they were back in the early 20th century. He performs a benefit for the local kids each year, which results in one of them concocting a plot to introduce Goodman to brother trombonist James Cardwell. Cardwell gets invoved in a love triangle with Linda Darnell and Lynn Bari, while the band eventually gets back to New York.
4 comments:
There for a minute I thought you had a mini theme within the theme going with Lynn Bari but she's not in Alexander's Ragtime Band even as an extra. Too bad she's not better remembered, she's a pleasing performer.
Just rewatched Sun Valley Serenade the other day when TCM ran it as part of their Dorothy Dandridge Star of the Month tribute. Sonja Henie's character is pretty obnoxious and scheming for someone we're supposed to be pulling for but the music is glorious.
Same goes for the music in Sweet and Low-Down which I watched specifically because of my love for Linda Darnell. The role hardly challenged her but she had some amazing hairdos! As for James Cardwell, he was certainly attractive but James Cardboard would have suited him better. The man had all the charisma of lint.
We match on Alexander's Ragtime Band! The story is so much hogwash but between the music and the stars it goes over easily.
Outside of our match I was surprised I hadn't used my Judy & Mickey film before but it looks like I haven't. The other is just a strange Disney musical from that rough period after they hit big with Mary Poppins.
Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1938)-In San Francisco near the turn of the last century concert violinist Roger Grant (Tyrone Power) abandons classical music when he falls under the spell of jazz much to his family’s disapproval. Circumstances lead to him renaming himself Alexander and forming a ragtime band with buddy, pianist Charlie Dwyer (Don Ameche) and singer Stella Kirby (Alice Faye) who both men love. Two decades, and a flock of great Irving Berlin songs, pass as they reach the heights of success even as their love lives founder.
Strike Up the Band (1940)-Teenagers Jimmy Connors (Mickey Rooney) the drummer of the band he leads and his girlfriend, singer Mary Holden (Judy Garland) dream of winning a contest for school bands hosted by popular band leader Paul Whiteman. There’s just one hitch, the contest is in Chicago and for the band to take the train they need $200 (the equivalent to almost $3,800 today). They borrow the cash but when one of their number becomes seriously ill the money has to be used to help out. What to do now? Why put on a show of course!!! Mickey’s on the unctuous side but Judy is appealing and sings like a dream.
The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band (1968)-The Bower Family Band (including Buddy Ebsen, Lesley Ann Warren and Kurt Russell) are newly arrived in Dakota Territory just as statehood talk is at its peak and the 1888 battle between Benjamin Harrison and Grover Cleveland for the presidency is in full swing. The Bowers are Republicans as are most of the other residents of their new town but Grandpa Bower (Walter Brennan) is a staunch Democrat which causes no end of trouble for the clan. All the strife doesn’t keep them from breaking into elaborate musical numbers from time to time in this Disney flick. In the small role of the “Giggly Girl” Goldie Hawn makes her screen debut.
You got me once again. Haven't seen any of these. However, with 2 mentions this week, I'm now curious about Alexander's Ragtime Band.
I have to see Ragtime Band still. And I own the DVD! I bought it for $2.00. I haven’t see the other 2 but am now intrigued with Lynn Bari who was in 2 of your picks. Good Old Sonja Henie was so big back The and would like to see her films just like Esther Williams.
Watching Sonja Henie, you can see why audiences of the day liked them and the escapism; 80 years on you may find yourself shaking your head at the plot or lack thereof.
Alexander's Ragtime Band reminds me a bit of Stormy Weather and, to a lesser extent, The Duke Is Tops, both with Lena Horne.
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