ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND

Alexander's Ragtime Band
(aka Irving Berlin's Alexander's Ragtime Band)
20th Century-Fox, 1938, B/W, 109 minutes, ****
Premiere release May, 1938
General release August, 1938

Tyrone Power stars in this "must-see" (TV Guide) extravaganza of music, story and romance. Set in the early 1900s, Irving Berlin's masterpiece follows the highs and lows of San Francisco aristocrat Roger Grant, who changes his name to Alexander and leads a band with a whole new sound - swing! As Grant meets with musical successes and failures, he also conducts an on-again, off-again love affair with Stella Kirby (Alice Faye), his lead singer. Also featuring Don Ameche, Jack Haley and then-newcomver Ethel Merman. This musical treasure is a perfect addition to any collection of film classics.

Wonderful film. Alice Faye turns in an even better than usual performance, and Ty Power is perfect as her romantic interest. Setting begins on the Barbary Coast where Ty Power has a new band, and Alice is accidentally thrown in with them when they show up for an audition. I love the scene where the boys start playing "Alexander's Ragtime Band" in the bar, and Alice Faye joins in . After they finish, she starts in on them about stealing her song. Great scene!

The Setting ultimately shifts to prohibiton-era New York, where Ty's band eventually plays Carnegie Hall - but not before a love triangle develops and Ty Power goes off to war in Europe.

Dixie Dunbar makes a dance appearance, and Ethel Merman has several numbers. The Irving Berlin song score includes the beautiful Academy Award winning "Now It Can Be Told" in an unforgettable delivery by Alice Faye.

Producer: Darryl F. Zanuck
Associate Producer: Harry Joe Brown
Directed by: Henry King
Screen Play by: Kathryn Scola and Lamar Trotti
Adaptation by: Richard Sherman
Lyrics and Music by: Irving Berlin
Musical Direction: Alfred Newman
Dances Staged by: Seymour Felix
Art Direction: Bernard Herzbrun, Boris Leven
Set Decorations by: Thomas Little
Costumes: Gwen Wakeling
Sound: Arthur Von Kirbach, Roger Heman
Photography: Peverell Marley
Film Editor: Barbara McLean

Awards: Academy Award for Best Score; Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Original Story, Best Film Editing, Best Song ("Now It Can Be Told"), Best Interior Decoration

Cast: Tyrone Power [Alexander (Roger Grant)], Alice Faye [Stella Kirby], Don Ameche [Charlie Dwyer], Ethel Merman [Jerry Allen], Jack Haley [Davey Lane], Jean Hersholt [Professor Heinrich], Helen Westley [Aunt Sophie], John Carradine [Taxi Driver], Paul Hurst [Bill], Wally Vernon [Himself], Ruth Terry [Ruby], Douglas Fowley [Snapper], Chick Chandler [Louie], Eddie Collins [Corporal Collins], Joseph Crehan [Stage Manager], Robert Glecker [Eddie], Dixie Dunbar [Specialty], Joe King [Charles Dillingham], Charles Coleman [Head Waiter], Stanley Andrews [Colonel], Charles Williams [Agent], Jane Jones, Otto Fries, Mel Kalish [Trio], Selmer Jackson [Radio Station Manager], Donald Douglas [Singer], Additional Cast: Grady Sutton [Babe], Tyler Brooke [Assistant Stage Manager], James Flavin [Sergeant], Jack Pennick [Sergeant], Harold Goodwin [M.P.], Edward Keane [Major], Ralph Dunn [Captain], Charles Tannen [Secretary], Robert Lowery [Reporter], Eleanor Wesselhoeft [Martha], The King's Men [Vocals]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture: medley of tunes from the song score (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:01] Chamber music (played by Roger Grant and Musicians); [0:06] Alexander's Ragtime Band (played at "Ship Cafe" by Ty Power [violin], Don Ameche [piano], Jack Haley [drums], unidentified actor [trumpet], unidentified actor [clarinet], joined by Alice Faye [vocals]); [0:10] Ragtime Violin (excerpt sung by Jane Jones, Otto Fries and Mel Kalish; played onscreen by Alexander's Ragtime Band - by this time a trombonist and stand-up Bass have been added); [0:15] That International Rag (sung by Jack Haley, Alice Faye and Chick Chandler); [0:19] Everybody's Doing It (sung by Chorus, danced by Dixie Dunbar and Wally Vernon; then sung by Alice Faye and Chorus; by now the band is a full orchestra and is billed as "Alexander's Ragtime Band with Stella Kirby); [0:21] "Opening the Beautiful Rococo Room, Cliff House" presenting Alexander's Ragtime Band with Stella Kirby [0:22] Now It Can Be Told (sung by Don Ameche at the Piano); [0:25] Now It Can Be Told (reprised by the Band at a rehearsal); [0:26] Now It Can Be Told (sung by Alice Faye); [0:34] This Is the Life (sung and danced by Wally Vernon); [0:37] When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam' (sung by Alice Faye); [0:42] For Your Country and My Country (sung by Douglas Fowley for Army Recruiting publicity); [0:45] I Can Always Find a Little Sunshine at the YMCA (sung by the King's Men); [0:47] Oh How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning (sung by Jack Haley and Chorus - this is a mini-production of "This Is the Army," the traveling show produced and starred in by Irving Berlin, himself, as a morale booster during WWI); [0:51] We're on Our Way to France (sung by Men's Chorus, Soldiers march off stage and out the door to be shipped off to war); [0:53] War montage; [0:59] Say It with Music (excerpt sung by Ethel Merman); [1:01] A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody (excerpt sung by Ethel Merman); [1:12] Blue Skies (sung by Ethel Merman; then sung by Alice Faye, Ethel Merman and Chorus); [1:15] Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the Devil (sung and danced by Ethel Merman and Ensemble); [1:17] What'll I Do? (short excerpt sung by Chorus); [1:18] My Walking Stick (sung and danced by Ethel Merman and Girl's Chorus); [1:20] Remember (sung by Alice Faye); [1:21] Everybody Step (sung and danced by Ethel Merman and Chorus); [1:22] All Alone (sung by Alice Faye); [1:25] Gypsy in Me (short excerpt sung by auditioner); [1:32] Alexander's Ragtime Band plays Carnegie Hall: [1:32] Everybody Step (?) (instrumental arrangement played by Alexander's Ragtime Band at Carnegie Hall); [1:35] Easter Parade (excerpt sung by Don Ameche and Girl's Chorus in formal gowns with Easter bonnets at Carnegie Hall); [1:38] Heat Wave (sung and danced by Ethel Merman and Mixed Chorus at Carnegie Hall); [1:42] Finale: Alexander's Ragtime Band (played by Alexander's Ragtime Band at Carnegie Hall, joined by Alice Faye and Chorus)