Good News
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Movie Reviews of Good News
Movie Review: PLEASANT& SILLY& WONDERFUL
Summary: 5 Stars
GOOD NEWS has long been a favorite musical of mine: on the stage, on a recording, on VHS and now, delightfully, on a DVD with several Extra Features which are both surprising and very entertaining.First the movie, itself: Betty Comden and Adolph Green are in top form here only about four years before their work on, arguably, the finest movie musical ever made SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. The dialogue here is funny, sharp, clever and altogether very happily silly. The song they added to the Broadway score, "The French Lesson" for stars Peter Lawford and June Allyson is one of the true highlights in this pretty to look at, MGM college caper. It's the all-too familiar story of the football hero who must pass a course (yes, it's French!)and to do so, he must be tutored by the co-ed he dumped for her much more glamourous rival. Guess what? He passes the course, Tate College wins the big football game, the rival gets the rich boyfriend she deserves and Lawford gets Allyson.
In the supporting cast beautiful Patricia Marshall is charmingly funny as the snooty sorority girl who has no trouble attracting men and Joan McCracken as the tomboyish 'Babe' who dances up a storm in one of the movie's best numbers, "Pass That Peacepipe" which is, probably, in today's climate, far from politically correct. Also in the cast is a dusky-voiced, very young singer you may have heard of named Mel Torme.
As for the DVD Extras, the most interesting is a song number for Allyson, Marshall and the sorority girls which was cut from the finished picture called "An Easier Way" which could be a variation on Comden and Green's "100 Easy Ways" from WONDERFUL TOWN. Even better are two song and dance numbers from the 1930 movie version of GOOD NEWS with a singer/dancer/comedienne named Penny Singleton who is absolutely priceless.
It goes without saying that the color, settings and costume designs for this movie are tops. After all, the movie was made by MGM. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Movie Review: Insert Clever Title Here:
Summary: 5 Stars
Good News...what can I say about this movie? It's one of my favorites!
The story is about Connie Lane (June Allyson) and Tommy Marlowe (Peter Lawford). Tommy is the big man on campus, why he's captain of the football team! Then he meets Pat McLellan (Patricia Marshall) and she couldn't care less. She only wants a man for his wealth *ahem* of culture! So While Tommy is trying to figure out how to win Pat he meets Connie. And, well that's really where it starts get interesting.
The B plot is about Bobby Turner ( Ray McDonald) and Babe Doolittle (Joan McCracken). Babe is dating football player Beef (Sadly I can't remember that actor's name!) but she's crazy about little ol' Bobby, who's scared to death of Beef!
Oddly enough, the very first time I watched it I hated it. I thought it was one of the worst movies ever made! But, it got under my skin. It grew on me. The story really is pretty cute, and the acting is great and well, you have to give Mr.Lawford credit for singing because it was most definately not his strong point! The dancing is also very good, I only wish there was more! And it really is pretty funny to see everyone run around in the 1940's version of the 20's (it was still terribly, terribly, terribly, 40's. No matter how many times they called the girls flappers, it didn't change the fact.) Something else fun, on the DVD they included two numbers from the movie version that came out in the 20's. I don't know exactly how to describe them, so I won't.
If you want to watch a light (and I do mean light!) musical, This one is great! And really, I personally don't think you can go wrong if Peter Lawford is in it...his er, unique singing voice I think only makes him more charming!
P.S. For all of you Mel Torme fans, he has a small role in the film as Danny. He sings a couple of songs and even has a few lines! A couple of them are pretty funny too!
Movie Review: Excellent, A Great Musical
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently discovered this movie and found out that it is one of the best musicals out there. It has easily become one of my favourites because of its youthful exuberance and great music. I have a number of movies with Peter Lawford in my collection, and in most such as Royal Wedding and Easter Parade, Peter is the backup or shares the romantic lead. Good News is different in that he has the main romantic lead and so we get to see him more often. Peter Lawford and June Allyson are a great pair and have such great romantic chemistry. This movie features the song "The Best Things in Life are Free" (you know the song that was used in phone commercials years ago? lol) and it is the love theme for the characters in the movie. June Allyson does a moving presentation of the song. Both Allyson and Lawford are just so cute in this movie. Peter Lawford portrays the football star, Tommy Marlowe, who learns French in order to impress the new student, and most recent love interest, Pat McCellan (Patricia Marshall), only to fall in love with his French tutor, Connie Lane (Allyson) along the way! Includes a couple of so-so appearances by Mel Torme.
French is such an integral part of the story that the captions and English subtitles on the DVD actually include both languages. However the French subtitles are not as complete. It is unfortunate for French viewers that are hearing impaired, that the words that are spoken in French are not subtitled (only the English is translated).
Anyway, it's a great film to cheer you up on a rainy afternoon!
Movie Review: Catchy Tunes; Light & Breezy
Summary: 5 Stars
The singing voice of Peter Lawford will not blow you away; there are no huge stars in this movie; yet, the songs, witty Comden & Greene script, and energy of the performers make it an often overlooked gem of the MGM Musical library. June Allyson leads the way as a totally believable college girl who must work her way through school and doesn't get the man until the end. Peter Lawford gives a nice performance and dances up a storm as the college football star. The picture is incredible; razor sharp and bursting with technicolor splendor. Mel Torme has a small part, and although his singing adds a nice touch to the movie, it's hard to believe him as a college student. A few nice extras; one deleted musical number which denies Patricia Marshall another solo turn (but rightfully so; it would only have slown down the nice pacing of the film), a theatrical trailer, and two numbers from the 1930 version. Although the two numbers are very dated, they are fun to watch, and it's a shame they couldn't put the entire movie on this disc.Movie Review: Allyson is Great in this 1947 TECHNICOLOR Musical now on DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
This second film (1947 Technicolor) post WWII version of the Broadway Musical classic "Good News" has June Allyson providing us with a nice song & dance lead. The original 1930 version with Penny Singleton (aka "BLONDE" movie series of the 30 -50's) was a Depression upbeat/ fun, crazy go lucky musical.The "Good News" 1947 remake has been beautifully remastered & provides us with the most vivid & clear TECHNICOLOR transfer imagineable!! It is just perfect! June Allyson referred to as "the girl every man wants to marry & the girl every woman wants as a friend" proves her musical talents both in song & dance. Especially in the "Varsity Rag" dance finale". Allyson even commented this was one of her favorite films. (It shows!!!)...
A very pleasing musical DVD with feature extras to include: 1947 deleted scenes & from the 1930 Black & White version dance numbers with Penny Singleton, Production Notes & Trailer. This DVD delivers what it promises, "GOOD NEWS". Enjoy.