Good News
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Movie Reviews of Good News
Movie Review: If you like Broadway Musicals . . .
Summary: 4 Stars
I actually enjoyed this movie. It is very light-hearted but charming in its own way. The two people I watched it with didn't care for it. As they thought the song and dance numbers were too long. Which for a normal movie they would be, but since it is a Broadway style musical it fits the genre. So with that being said, you'll enjoy this movie if you bear in mind that it is a Broadway show, which mean harsh music and vapid plots. But, hey, sometimes light entertainment has its place. This show centers around a college football star who is used to having the girls come up to him. But with the entrance of this new finishing school graduate upon the scene, he meets the first girl who shuns him. After all, she's after a fellow who has millions behind his name. In order to impressive her then, the football star tries to learn French (as the finishing school girl loves to throw around her French) whereupon he runs into the intelligent library assistant portrayed by June Allyson. He and June's character fall in love, but then the finishing school girl gets word that the football star has millions behind his name after all. So now we get quite a twist in the plot!
Consequently, I do recommend this movie. As it has its merit. There are better ones out there, but there are certainly plenty that are far worse.
Movie Review: Technicolor Musical in its Prime
Summary: 4 Stars
If you love 40s musicals, you'll love this. Stars June Allyson (recently passed away, R.I.P) in one of the best performances. The part where she and the sorority house mother are misleading Pat (Patricia Marshall) about Tommy's (Peter Lawford) family loosing its money and his father no longer being the "pickle king" is a hoot. Miss Allyson's singing is in more of a Broadway than motion picture musical style. However, it fits her character, Connie, who is an All American Girl type, not a glamour gal. Peter Lawford also puts on a credible show in his singing and dancing. The supporting cast is excellent. Joan McCracken shows off her dancing prowess in the "Pass the Peace Pipe" number. An example of the MGM musical in its prime.Movie Review: Quel fromage!
Summary: 4 Stars
I adore this movie! The best pairing of June Allyson and Peter Lawford since "Little Women", in my mind (I saw "Little Women" first and fell head over heels for Lawford's Laurie). Anyway, the best scenes, in my opinion, are the French Lesson and when Connie (Allyson) figures out just how posh Pat McClellan is (hence, quel fromage, instead of quel domage). And fabulous tunes sung as only Mel Torme could sing 'em! Fabulous dance numbers, even if dated ("Pass the Peace Pipe" for one). And many pre-WWI references ("the bees knees!") But overall, great bobby-soxer, co-ed college fun. This is a pre-Rat Pack Lawford flick when he and Frank Sinatra were the idols at MGM. Silly throughout, but purly entertaining! Love it!Movie Review: Cast's Sincere Exuberance Saves Cheery College Musical from Pure Cornpone
Summary: 3 Stars
The death of June Allyson this past week is reason enough to revisit one of her most important starring vehicles, this wholesome 1947 MGM college musical from the golly-gee-whiz school of entertainment. Based on a pre-Depression-era stage hit, it's all pretty ridiculous but very sincere with random moments of clever comedy thanks to the formidable team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green with their first screenplay effort. The thin plot involves exuberant co-eds at Tait College and two in particular, conscientious good girl Connie Lane and football hero Tommy Marlowe. The closest thing the film comes to drama is the risk Tommy faces in not being able to play in the big game if he cannot pass his French class, and you can guess who is the only who can tutor him. There is inevitably a snooty gold-digger out to steal Tommy from Connie under the assumption that he is an heir to a pickle fortune. And naturally, there are hijinks galore among the co-eds who have a more vested interest in the big game than their own studies.
The trivial nature of the film is offset primarily by two things. First, there is Allyson, who exudes cornbelt, girl-next-door appeal effortlessly. With her froggy voice and twinkly smile, she shines as Connie despite the fact that she is not inordinately talented as either singer or dancer. As Tommy, Lawford is actually a better dancer than you would expect, but his character is such a flighty dullard that he comes across as rather silly. The second notable factor is a wonderful bouncing ball of a dancer named Joan McCracken, a Broadway performer who plays Connie's comic sidekick Babe Doolittle. Shamefully an obscure footnote now, she is the dynamic center of the energetic if somewhat politically incorrect "Pass the Peace Pipe" production number, a dazzling example of finely coordinated MGM choreography at its best. Another example of that craftsmanship is the final "Varsity Drag" number where dozens of dancers impressively replicate the moves of Allyson and Lawford in synchronized lockstep. This will definitely not suit everyone's taste, even lovers of MGM musicals, but it is a worthy tribute to Allyson's appeal and the kind of musical that would never be made again without some hint of cynicism.
Movie Review: FINE MGM MUSICAL BUT PETER LAWFORD IS WOODEN!
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a fine, technicolor extravaganza that MGM was famous for. Released in 1947, it stars June Allyson (MGM's most famous girl-next-door) and Peter Lawford. Why Lawford was given the male lead in this film remains a mystery. As an actor he is completely wooden and as a singer...well....let's just skip that. He seems bored to death in his role and I just don't understand why June Allyson would be attracted to him after the way he uses her in the film. The musical numbers are what make this film stand out.....especially "Lucky in Love", "Pass that Peace Pipe" and "Varsity Drag". Forties hairstyles and, at times, forties costumes permeate throughout the film which is supposedly set in 1927. Somebody was asleep at the switch in this department. If they had cast a more believable and much more dynamic leading man, the movie would have been great. Also miscast is the femme fatale, the girl named Pat who has all the guys clamoring for her. She doesn't exude the kind of sex appeal needed for the part as she is more a girl-next-door type so it makes the story less plausible. "Good News" is good fun, nevertheless, its flaws notwithstanding. It certainly isn't the finest musical MGM ever made....that title belongs to either "Singing in the Rain" or the universally loved "The Wizard of Oz". The remastering of the film is beautiful, the sound is excellent and for extras we have a trailer of the film, a deleted musical number, subtitles, scene index and an interesting excerpt of the production number of "The Varsity Drag" from the 1930 film version.