Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)

Alexander’s Ragtime Band: Directed by Henry King. With Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Ethel Merman. This send-up of ragtime song and dance begins in 1915 San Francisco when society boy Roger Grant decides to pursue popular rather than serious music.

“The last time I saw this movie was probably the late u0026#39;60s, when I watched it on television with a group of friends. I just saw it again on DVD, and itu0026#39;s as much fun as I remember it. In 108 minutes, I wouldnu0026#39;t be surprised if 90 minutes was music, and what music! One Irving Berlin song after another, sung by either Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Ethel Merman, or Jack Haley. A young Merman, with a sexy figure, really pops in this film with her exciting belt voice.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA thinnish plot surrounds the songs. Itu0026#39;s the story of a classical musician (Tyrone Power) who forms a swing band and, because of the song u0026quot;Alexanderu0026#39;s Ragtime Bandu0026quot; takes the name Alexander for himself and the Ragtime Band for his group. The movie takes us loving, losing, and playing music through World War I and into the swing era, though thereu0026#39;s not a gray hair to be found among our heroes.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAmeche and Power were friends before either one of them was signed by 20th Century Fox, and with Faye, they made u0026quot;In Old Chicagou0026quot; together plus this film – and both Faye/Ameche and Faye/Power made other films together as well. The three work very well as an ensemble. Faye is especially lovely in this. She sings in a commanding contralto, wears some great fashions, and is appropriately feisty, low-class, or classy as the part demands.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs lovely as she was, though, sheu0026#39;s no competition for the most gorgeous one in the movie, Tyrone Power. Heu0026#39;s pretty darn breathtaking in that tuxedo of his. He could have conducted me anywhere.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMonumentally entertaining music and plenty of eye candy – highly recommended.”