Good News

Good News
by Charles Walters

Good News
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DVD Cover Information

Actor: Joan McCracken, June Allyson, Patricia Marshall, Peter Lawford, Ray McDonald
Director: Charles Walters
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: Pan & Scan, 1.33:1
Running Time: 93 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2000-09-19
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video

Movie Reviews of Good News

Movie Review: Sis boom bah
Summary: 4 Stars

This film is dear to many fans of old movie musicals because in so many ways it shows MGM's Arthur Freed Unit at its best. The producers, its director (Charles Walters, in his first film effort) and its screenwriters (Betty Comden and Adolph Green, also in their first major Hollywood project) put this silly, unpretentious adaptation of the 1927 DeSylva - Brown- Henderson stage musical of the same together and let themselves absolutely fun with it, which translates terrifically onto the screen. What makes the film so likable is how they seem to have gauged the songs and especially the dancing exactly right, so that the musical numbers are marvelous but they never call too much attention to themselves. The film's musical highlight--the novelty number "Pass that Peace Pipe," written especially for this adaptation by Comden and Green and Roger Edens, and led by the charismatic Joan McCracken--wows you with its choreographic inventiveness and energy, but then the film wisely moves on quickly.

Peter Lawford might not have been an ideal song and dance man for the leading role of the vain and popular football captain Tommy Marlowe, but he is more than pleasant enough and gets by on charm. June Allyson fares even better as his frustrated love interest Connie; this was the film that really cemented Allyson's stardom, and she's just about perfect in the role. It can be hard for younger audiences to understand Allyson's appeal--besides her whiskey voice, she always had terrible Forties sausage hairdos and the studio always purposefully dressed her frumpily to trade on her girl next door image as "The Perfect Wife" (the MGM promotional department's tagline for her). But she does contrast very well with the usual MGM glamour gals of the time (here represented by Patricia Marshall, in the film's only less than robust lead performance), and she does winningly convey intelligence, (a quality rarely valued in musicals, and spirit. Best of all, she's a terrific dancer, and when she really kicks loose in the closing "Varsity Drag" number she's great fun. Be on the lookout for Mel Torm? in a smaller role where he doesn't have to act hardly at all but does get some elbow ring for his gorgeous singing (he enjoys a long reprise of the film's big Broadway ballad "The Best Things in Life are Free). The cinematography on this print is sharp and gorgeous; the hairdos are more Forties than Twenties, but the sets look expensively suitable. The extras are terrific in the big numbers, and don't overwhelm with too much incessant smiling, the way they can sometimes in other Freed Unit musicals.

Summary of Good News

At fictitious tait university in the roaring 20s co-ed and school librarian connie lane (june allyson) falls for football hero tommy marlowe (peter lawford). Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 03/15/2005 Starring: June Allyson Mel Torme Run time: 93 minutes Rating: Nr Director: Charles Walters
Tait College football captain Tommy Marlowe (Peter Lawford) is used to getting any girl he wants. When new coed Pat McClellan (Patricia Marshall) arrives on campus sporting racy fashions and pseudo-French phrases, he decides he wants her. But Pat only has eyes for men with millions, so Tommy enlists sweet Connie Lane (June Allyson), Pat's sorority sister who is working her way through Tait as an assistant librarian, to help him learn French. Tommy falls for down-to-Earth Connie, who falls for him right back, but his ego gets in the way when Pat does a turnabout and decides she does want him after all.

Based on the Broadway play and 1930s musical, Good News is an enthusiastic, good-hearted romp through late-'20s college life. Broadway actress Joan McCracken as Connie's roommate Babe Doolittle exudes energy as she leads nearly all the musical numbers, particularly shining in "Good News" and "Pass the Peace Pipe." A young Mel Torm? sings a lovely reprise of "The Best Things in Life Are Free," and one of the signature songs, "The Varsity Drag," is led by Allyson and Lawford showcasing their dancing and singing talents (Lawford is a better hoofer than vocalist). Though the movie seems mainly constructed around the musical numbers, the writing is sharp and the cast members seems to be enjoying themselves. Director Charles Walters went on to direct Easter Parade and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and screenwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green would make their mark with, among others, On the Town and Singin' in the Rain. --Dana Van Nest

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