Good News
Added 9/12/2009
Great cast. I love any movie with June Allyson I wish there were more of her movies on DVD I would buy them all. June Allyson is such a great talent. As there is not enough of her movies on DVD I pleased to have a few in my Classic collection of DVD's. But there is always room for more June Allyson movies great to watch.
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June and Peter kick up their heels in this buoyant musical treat
Added 7/12/2009
GOOD NEWS (1947), based on the tried and tested 1920s hit Broadway musical--and originally filmed in 1930--really has no business in working as well as it does. The plot is thinner than a wafer, the characters have little substance and the situations are cliche to say the least. But it works wonderfully! In the best tradition of the MGM musical, GOOD NEWS is a rollicking good time.
Tait College's star football player Tommy Marlowe (Peter Lawford) looks set to flunk the mid-terms--and miss the chance of leading his teammates to victory--unless his grades are pulled into shape. Assigned to help tutor him in French is no-nonsense sorority leader Connie Lane (June Allyson). Before you can say "opposites attract", these two battling co-eds find love whilst hitting the books; until snooty new girl Pat (Patricia Marshall) decides to sink her catty claws into Tommy!
Highlighted by the energetic dance numbers "Pass That Peace-Pipe" (newly-written for the 1947 remake) and "The Varsity Drag", GOOD NEWS is a great big bouncy ball of musical fun. June Allyson and Peter Lawford tackle the tour-de-force "French Lesson", Mel Torme croons "The Best Things in Life are Free", and June Allyson tugs at the heart with the lovely ballad "Just Imagine".
This movie also boasts two of the most talented dancers from the period, Joan McCracken and Ray McDonald, paired together in comedic secondary roles. Sadly both would die young without realising their full potential in movie musicals. Savour their adorable work in GOOD NEWS.
The DVD from Warners includes a song deleted from the final cut of the film ("An Easier Way"), plus the "Good News" and "Varsity Drag" numbers from the original 1930 movie--which has sadly yet to appear on DVD. Recommended.
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Sis boom bah
Added 3/28/2009
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 Tormé 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.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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The musical is great, the transfer needs a touch-up
Added 2/28/2009
This DVD was first released in the year 2000, and the transfer is a bit fuzzy for my taste. I'm surprised that Warner Bros. hasn't touched it up and rereleased it by now, but then I have the same complaint with "The Music Man".
The musical itself is everything you expect from an MGM musical of the late 1940's - rather light on story and heavy on visual style and good music. I've had the advantage of seeing the original movie musical from 1930, at least what's left of it, which is actually the entire film minus the Technicolor finale. That original has the disadvantage of not having the technical advantages in sound recording and camera mobility. However, the original 1930 movie does have the character of Babe being played by the pixie-like Bessie Love of "Broadway Melody of 1929", and she is every inch the mischievious flapper that Joan McCracken just is not. In fact, the coeds in the 1947 film seem very much like they're from 1947, they're just dressed up in the fashions and driving the cars of the 1920's.
In this film, Connie (June Allyson) is tutoring Tommy (Peter Lawford) in French just as in the 1930 version. However, there are two big differences here. In the 1947 film, Lawford's motivation for studying French is to win the affection of a beautiful new student. Also, Tommy knows exactly who Connie is, and their attraction builds slowly. In the 1930 film, the first time Tommy sees Connie she isn't exactly wildly attractive, but she is the best student in the subject at the college. Also, Tommy is already enrolled in French, he is just in danger of failing it and not being able to play in the big game. Also notice in this later film the presence of a very young Mel Torme who seems to be standing in for Cliff Edwards from the 1930 version, complete with ukelele.
This DVD release has some great extras, including the "Varsity Drag" and "Good News" musical excerpts from the 1930 film. I suggest Warner Bros. upgrade this film using the current DVD technology. Also, 1930 version of "Good News" in its entirety would be great as an extra feature on a new release of the 1947 film.
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Insert Clever Title Here:
Added 5/8/2008
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!
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Good News
Added 9/12/2009
Great cast. I love any movie with June Allyson I wish there were more of her movies on DVD I would buy them all. June Allyson is such a great talent. As there is not enough of her movies on DVD I pleased to have a few in my Classic collection of DVD's. But there is always room for more June Allyson movies great to watch.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
June and Peter kick up their heels in this buoyant musical treat
Added 7/12/2009
GOOD NEWS (1947), based on the tried and tested 1920s hit Broadway musical--and originally filmed in 1930--really has no business in working as well as it does. The plot is thinner than a wafer, the characters have little substance and the situations are cliche to say the least. But it works wonderfully! In the best tradition of the MGM musical, GOOD NEWS is a rollicking good time.
Tait College's star football player Tommy Marlowe (Peter Lawford) looks set to flunk the mid-terms--and miss the chance of leading his teammates to victory--unless his grades are pulled into shape. Assigned to help tutor him in French is no-nonsense sorority leader Connie Lane (June Allyson). Before you can say "opposites attract", these two battling co-eds find love whilst hitting the books; until snooty new girl Pat (Patricia Marshall) decides to sink her catty claws into Tommy!
Highlighted by the energetic dance numbers "Pass That Peace-Pipe" (newly-written for the 1947 remake) and "The Varsity Drag", GOOD NEWS is a great big bouncy ball of musical fun. June Allyson and Peter Lawford tackle the tour-de-force "French Lesson", Mel Torme croons "The Best Things in Life are Free", and June Allyson tugs at the heart with the lovely ballad "Just Imagine".
This movie also boasts two of the most talented dancers from the period, Joan McCracken and Ray McDonald, paired together in comedic secondary roles. Sadly both would die young without realising their full potential in movie musicals. Savour their adorable work in GOOD NEWS.
The DVD from Warners includes a song deleted from the final cut of the film ("An Easier Way"), plus the "Good News" and "Varsity Drag" numbers from the original 1930 movie--which has sadly yet to appear on DVD. Recommended.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Sis boom bah
Added 3/28/2009
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 Tormé 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.
2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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