Good News
by Charles Walters
List Price:
Our Price: $14.99
You Save: $4.99 (25%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $9.97 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Joan McCracken, June Allyson, Patricia Marshall, Peter Lawford, Ray McDonaldDirector: 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 WaltersTait 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
Drama DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in HUGH MARTIN, Songwriter
Have Yourself a Blessed Little Christmasby Carol Tornquist
Word Music; Published: 2004-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.94
Price in other shops:
Buckle Down, Winsock! (From "Best Foot Forward")by Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Chappell & Co., Inc.; Published: 1941; Sheet music; Book
What Do You Think I Am?by Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Chappell & Co; Published: 1941; Sheet music; Book
Shauny O'Shayby Hugh Martin
Chappell & Co., Inc.; Published: 1947; Sheet music; Book
Pass That Peace Pipe (From "Good News", All Stars on Cover.)by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane Roger Edens
Crawford Music Corporation; Published: 1947; Sheet music; Book
Connecticutby Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane
Harry Warren Music Inc.; Published: 1946; Sheet music; Book
The Boy Next Door Sheet Music from Meet Me in St. Louisby Hugh ; Blane, Ralph Martin
Leo Feist Inc.; Published: 1971; Sheet music; Book
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Sheet Music - (Hugh Martin, Choral Octavo SATB)by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane / arr. Mark Hayes
Alfred; Published: 2007; Sheet music; Book
Best price: $3.99
The Trolley Song (From the M-G-M Picture "Meet Me In St. Louis")by Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
Leo Feist, Inc.; Published: 1944; Sheet music; Book
![Athena [VHS] Image](/images/Athena-VHS-6302747236-X.jpg){kind=small}
Athena [VHS]MGM (Warner); Release date: 1998-09-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $35.00
Similar DVD Movies
The Harvey GirlsWarner Brothers; Release date: 2001-04-30; DVD
Best price: $4.07
Price in other shops:
In the Good Old SummertimeWarner Brothers; Release date: 2004-04-06; DVD
Best price: $5.11
Price in other shops:
Show BoatWarner Brothers; Release date: 2000-08-08; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
Classic Musicals from the Dream Factory, Vol. 3 (Hit the Deck/ Deep in My Heart/ Kismet/ Nancy Goes to Rio/ Two Weeks with Love/ Broadway Melody of 1936/ Broadway Melody of 1938/ Born to Dance/ Lady Be Good)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-04-08; DVD
Best price: $51.46
Price in other shops:
Tammy And The Bachelor / Tammy Tell Me True / Tammy And The Doctor (Triple Feature)Universal; Release date: 2008-02-05; DVD
Best price: $12.30
Price in other shops:
With a Song in My Heart - The Jane Froman StoryTwentieth Century Fox; Release date: 2007-11-13; DVD
Best price: $12.24
Price in other shops:
Little WomenWarner Brothers; Release date: 2003-08-26; DVD
Best price: $9.99
Price in other shops:
A Date with JudyWarner Brothers; Release date: 2008-04-22; DVD
Best price: $11.78
Price in other shops:
The Mickey Rooney & Judy Garland Collection (Babes in Arms / Babes on Broadway / Girl Crazy / Strike Up the Band)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2007-09-25; DVD
Best price: $36.95
Price in other shops:
Words and MusicWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-07-24; DVD
Best price: $9.58
Price in other shops: