The Benny Goodman Story
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Movie Reviews of The Benny Goodman Story
Movie Review: Thanks for the Music
Summary: 3 Stars
The value of this film lies not in the story but the music. The story is filled with flaws including the Carnegie Hall concert. However, there are some versions of the musical material on the soundtrack that surpasses many of the studio recorded versions available today. "One O'Clock Jump, Stompin' at the Savoy," and "Bugle Call Rag" are three that come to mind. This is where the film shines, in the musical presentation. As one of the other reviewers stated, if you want to learn about the life of Benny Goodman, get a copy of "Swing, Swing, Swing: The Life and Times of Benny Goodman." Next get a copy of the Carnegie Hall concert and listen. The recording is noisy, but the music is amazing. Furthermore, this event elevated Jazz from popular music to an artform. 1 star for the acting and 5 stars for the music.
Movie Review: Not bad if you ignore the silly elements.
Summary: 3 Stars
It seems clear that the real BG is not to be found in this movie. The factual distortions are pretty extreme, even by Hollywood biopic standards. For more on the real Benny (gifted; demanding; egocentric; alternately generous and selfish; etc.), the biography "Swing, Swing, Swing" by Ross Firestone is a very good read.Still, if not taken too seriously (and how can you take seriously a movie in which various characters keep saying "Benny, don't be that way!"?), this movie is pretty entertaining and the music (while a pale imitation of that from his glory years) is worth listening to.
Movie Review: Movie was OK
Summary: 3 Stars
Showed this movie to a senior audience at an Assisted Living community. The reviews were mixed. My Mom said it was not nearly as good as The Glenn Miller Story. I personally have not watched it yet because of the so-so reviews I got from the group...Movie Review: Benny Goodman bio worth it for the music
Summary: 3 Stars
Not much for historical accuracy, but the music is great -- especially since some of the real people were still around in '56 when it was made. E.G. Harry James, Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, Gene Krupa, Ziggy Elman, Martha Tilton, etc.Movie Review: The King Of Swing Deserves Better Than This
Summary: 2 Stars
"The Benny Goodman Story" is a movie that is comparable to "The Babe Ruth Story"--a watered-down, fictionaliized Hollywood version of the life of an authentic American original. While some of the scenes are factually correct, they are diluted by the silly love story. While a guest on the Merv Griffin Show in the 1970s, Goodman's own reflection on the film was "Every time my wife and I see it, we laugh like Hell!"The movie is not without its merits, however. The real value of the film is to the young aspiring musician who might have only heard of Goodman in passing. It provides a young person to be introduced to the personages of Ben Pollack, Fletcher Henderson, and to get a mere glimpse of what the Original Benny Goodman Orchestra sounded like. Just as valuable is the chance to see Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson and Lionel Hampton on the screen, and to hear them perform with Goodman himself on the sountrack. Even in 1955, 20 years after the Goodman trio and quartet were in their heyday, their music is as timeless as ever. Hopefully, the experience will be enough to get the aspirant to pursue the real "Benny Goodman Story" via countless good historical CDs and biographies.
One last note--whoever designed the DVD cover obviously is not a student of the clarinet, as the picture of Steve Allen is backwards!