Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) User Reviews

The First Irving Berlin Songfest

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 30 September 2006]

I wouldn't want to put money on it, but I'm willing to say there must be at least 25 Irving Berlin songs in Alexander's Ragtime Band. This was the first of those Irving Berlin extravaganzas where a history of an era was told with his music, the others being Blue Skies and There's No Business Like Show Business.

After what happened to his score in Reaching for the Moon, Berlin demanded and got complete control in every film that he wrote or supplied the music for. And you will not hear one note of any other composer's music. Just listen to the background music and you'll see what I'm talking about.

The song Alexander's Ragtime Band is considered Berlin's first big popular hit and so a story was constructed around a group of itinerant musicians who when they hire girl singer Alice Faye make a huge hit with the selfsame Alexander's Ragtime Band.

So the film is about the lives and loves of Faye, Tyrone Power, Don Ameche, Ethel Merman, Jack Haley, etc. for an over quarter of a century. Except for Power, all these other folks are real talented musically and they contribute vocally with a lot of Irving Berlin old favorites. And Alice Faye and Don Ameche both sang a new tune Berlin wrote for this film, Now It Can Be Told. Faye's version is especially grand, one of her best movie songs.

Tyrone Power one of the finest of leading men in old Hollywood was unfortunately not blessed with a singing voice. Just hear him on a few bars of another Irving Berlin song in Second Fiddle and you'll see what I mean. He leads the band and it looks a bit ridiculous for him to be doing that and watching the others perform.

This film is the reason I've been long convinced that Darryl F. Zanuck hired John Payne, an actor who looked somewhat like Power and could contribute musically in films with Faye, Betty Grable and the rest of Fox female musical ladies.

Of course anyone who really loves Irving Berlin's music will watch this film and won't quibble about Tyrone Power not singing.

DVD COMMENTARY A FEAST OF KNOWLEDGE!

[blue-7 · 8/10 · 6 October 2004]

20th Century Fox's 1938 Alexander'S RAGTIME BAND, Number 22 in their "Studio Classics" series, is with the exception of there 1927 SUNRISE (which was offered only as a promotional item), the earliest title to be offered and it turns out to be quite delightful!

Like many musicals of the time the story is slight and mainly used to advance the musical portions, but this one boasts a large collection from the pen of one of the best -- IRVING BERLIN!

Fox had wanted to do a biography on Irving Berlin -- instead Berlin worked out the story idea of a fictional bandleader ushering in a whole new era of swing music. Berlin worked with Fox during the two year period that was needed to prepare this lavish musical -- and the results are very entertaining as it presents 28 of his most famous songs. Alfred Newman's handling of the music won him a well deserved Oscar.

The cast, which includes Tyrone Power, the delightful Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Jack Haley (the Tin Woodman in "The Wizard of Oz") and a young and very attractive looking Ethel Merman, soars under the hand of veteran director, Henry King. There really isn't a "false note" in acting department.

Over all the picture rendered on the DVD is quite beautiful (though there are a few side scratches from time to time). The icing on this DVD is found in some marvelous "Extras": First of all there is a very fine A&E Biography, "Alice Faye: The Star Next Door", that gives a wonderful account of this once very popular star. There are dozens of nice clips from her film work at Fox (that make you wish that Fox would put out an Alice Faye Collection of six or so of her films in a package like Universal did with Deanna Durbin). After watching this biography I felt like Miss Faye must have been a very nice person as well as a talented singer and actress.

The big surprise is found in the Commentary Track provided by Film Score Restorationist RAY FIOLA. I had the opportunity to meet this gentleman at a Film Score presentation at Brigham Young University. BYU holds the Max Steiner Collection, which includes a large number of phonograph recordings of sound track music that were used for playback as the scores as they were recorded on the sound stages. BYU has issued a series of sound track CD's made from their holdings. Fiola is one of the world experts on preparing these 78rpm records for transferring to CD's. His commentary on this DVD provides a wealth of information about Berlin, his songs and the actors and other behind-the-scenes people who brought ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND to life. He's more informative then a university film class -- and very interesting. This is one of the best of the Fox commentary tracks. Fiola even gives you information on ordering a CD of the ALEXANDER tracks that he worked on.

There is even more: How about three deleted scenes -- which means three deleted songs (and they are all very nice to see and hear). Also included are shots of Irving Berlin being interviewed at the London premiere of the film in newsreel footage.

All in all, this is a very nice addition to the Fox "Studio Classics" series -- one that is well worth adding to anyones collection who is interested in the history of the movies -- especially the history of film musicals.

Great music, perfunctory story

[perfectbond · 7/10 · 30 March 2003]

The main reason to watch this movie is to enjoy the great music of Irving Berlin (né Israel Baline). Anyone who is responsive to good music will enjoy his compositions. The dance numbers are not spectacular but they do add to the music. As for the story, well it's nothing more than to tide the viewer over from song to song. Tyrone Power, Alice Haye and Don Ameche are all more than competent in their roles though they really aren't asked to do too much given the triteness of the plot. They are all very photogenic. A great film for any fan of swing music, 7/10.

An All-Time Classic

[Kalaman · 4 November 2003]

"Alexander's Ragtime Band" has always been a personal favorite of mine and an excellent example of the kind of lively and jubilant musicals Fox specialized during the golden age. It was a huge hit in its day and remains a huge improvement over the monotonous "In Old Chicago"(1937). I saw "Alexander's Ragtime Band" again last night and it may well be my favorite Fox musical, though I have dozens of other favorites. Directed by the underrated Henry King with a rich and endlessly tuneful score, the film is a fictionalized account on the early days of jazz, and contains close to 30 Irving Berlin songs. Alice Faye never looked so ineffably beautiful, Tyrone Power never more charismatic, Don Ameche never more genial. It's all about the music and the stars. A great timeless classic that becomes more entrancing and enriching with each viewing.

Down Melody Lane

[lugonian · 9/10 · 3 January 2006]

ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND (20th Century-Fox, 1938), directed by Henry King, reunites the lead performers of Tyrone Power, Alice Faye and Don Ameche from the blockbuster success of IN OLD CHICAGO (1937) in a musical cavalcade of Irving Berlin songs spanning two decades. One of the first in a long cycle of 20th/Fox musicals focusing on the "as time goes by" theme, keeping the story together through the mixture of old and new song standards. Fox would recycle such stories similar to this over the years, with imitations done by other studios as well, with ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND, the one that started it all, musically ranks one the best of its kind.

The story begins in San Francisco's Barbary Coast, circa 1911, where young aristocratic Roger Grant (Tyrone Power) disappoints his strong-willed Aunt Sophie (Helen Westley) and Professor Heinrich (Jean Hersholt) by abandoning classical music for something on a more popular level. Forming a band consisting of Charlie Dwyer (Don Ameche), composer and pianist, and Davey Lane (Jack Haley), a drummer, they go to audition at a bar called Dirty Eddie's. Charlie misplaces their song sheet and at the last minute acquire one belonging to another. They play the new composition of "Alexander's Ragtime Band," but when Stella Kirby (Alice Faye), mixing with some friends, hears her borrowed music being played, she immediately heads towards the platform singing the lyrics. They become an immediate hit and Roger becomes Alexander and his Ragtime Band. In spite of Alexander and Stella constantly bickering and misunderstanding each other, it is Charlie who acts as their referee. As time passes on, Charlie, who now loves Stella, learns, while she sings one of his original compositions, that she really loves Alex. After Stella gets a job offer from Broadway producer Charles Dillingham (Joseph King), she accepts, forgetting about the band. In doing this, Alex and Stella part company, as does Charlie during a heated argument. Charlie marries Stella,and realizing she's still in love with Alex, decides to grant her a divorce for her sake. As for Alex, he prospers with Jerry Allen (Ethel Merman), as his new vocalist, while Stella leaves Dillingham and fades away to obscurity, causing Alex, now world renowned and performing at Carnegie Hall, to wonder whatever became of her. 

The motion picture soundtrack is as follows: "Alexander's Ragtime Band" (sung by Alice Faye); "Ragtime Violin" (sung by Jane Jones, Otto Fries and Mel Kalish); "International Rag" (Alice Faye, Jack Haley and Chick Chandler); "Everybody's Doing It" (Alice Faye, Wally Vernon and Dixie Dunbar); "Now It Can Be Told" (Don Ameche); "Now It Can Be Told" (reprize/Alice Faye); "This is the Life" (Wally Vernon); "When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam'" (Alice Faye); "For Your Country and My Country" (Don Douglas); "In the Y.M.C.A." (The Kings Men); "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning" (Jack Haley/chorus); "We're on Our Way to France" (sung by soldiers); "Say It With Music" and "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody" and "Blue Skies" (all sung by Ethel Merman); "Blue Skies" (reprize, Alice Faye and Merman); "Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the Devil" (Ethel Merman); "What'll I Do?" (The Kings Men); "My Walking Stick" (Ethel Merman); "Remember?" (Alice Faye); "Everybody Step" (Ethel Merman); "I'm All Alone" (Alice Faye); "Marie" (instrumental); "Easter Parade" (sung by Don Ameche); "Heat Wave" (Ethel Merman, chorus); "Alexander's Ragtime Band" (reprize, Alice Faye).

With such an impressive cast headed by the up-and-coming Tyrone Power, who spends more time waving his stick, and in true Hollywood storytelling, arguing and making love with his female vocalist(s), it's easy to see its initial popularity, earning several Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, with the music keeping much the scenario together. A personal favorite of Alice Faye's, it not only allows her to sing one hit song after another, but to challenge herself as both vocalist and actress, whose character starts off as a tough gal sporting flashy clothes and plenty of facial make-up before changing through the passage of time to a more softer persona moderately dressed. While much of the principal players remaining physically the same throughout its 106 minutes of screen time, with the exception of costumes reflecting the changing of times, Don Ameche's only major change is sporting a mustache during the film's second half.

At one point in television history, ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND did enjoy frequent revivals until the mid 1970s when some legal entanglement kept it off the TV markets for quite some time. Then in 1991, it was brought back to the airwaves, on commercial television, and notably on cable television's American Movie Classics in 1991-92 before distribution on video cassette in 1992, and later onto DVD, Fox Movie Channel and Turner Classic Movies where it premiered February 11, 2010. In 1997, AMC presented a the well documented special titled "Hidden Hollywood: From the Vaults of 20th Century-Fox" narrated by Joan Collins, presenting musical outtakes, several from ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND, including Ameche's singing "Some Sunny Day," and Merman in fine voice as always singing "Marching Along With Time," the tune that underscores the opening and closing credits. These outtakes are used as added attractions on DVD. Other victims of the editors ax might be those of Jean Hersholt and Helen Westley, whose characters are seen to the limit. Of the supporting players, many are too numerous to pen their individual attention, are Paul Hurst, best known for playing villains or gangster stooges, ideally cast in a sympathetic role as Bill Mulligan, and John Carradine, appearing briefly as a taxi driver and avid fan of Stella Kirby.

With Power and Faye constantly settling the score with one another, ALEXANDER'S RAGTIME BAND swings into action hitting many high notes, with much of its melody lingering on. (****)

Kind of ridiculous. Anyway, an earful

[marcslope · 7/10 · 26 September 2023]

Ignore the story as much as you can, and the erratic production design, and enjoy the Irving Berlin, there's a lot of it. 20th's big 1938 musical is mainly an excuse to cram as much Berlin as it can into a screenplay that makes utterly no sense. What year we're in at any given moment is almost never clear, but we start in, oh, 1914 or so, where longhair musician Tyrone Power (he mimes violin playing badly, but conducts rather well later) steers toward ragtime, to the disappointment of aunt Helen Westley and music professor Jean Hersholt, who have practically nothing to do. He forms a San Francisco swing band with the aid of pals Don Ameche and Jack Haley, and first despises then falls very suddenly in love with their singer, Alice Faye. Faye had first been hired by 20th to be a sort of Jean Harlow but quickly had her image changed to lady contralto; here, she reverts to sassy platinum blonde, for at least the first third. The Power-Faye romance is rather pointless, they stay apart and reunite without much provocation. The picture gets a boost with the late arrival of Ethel Merman; the first thing out of her mouth is, "AAAAHHH!" She belts some choice Berlin; too bad her best song, "Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the Devil," leaves out its clever counterpoint. Power doesn't sing, he couldn't, but he does look like Tyrone Power, and for most audiences that was enough. Faye, as film historian David Shipman said, was no great shakes as an actress, but hers was a supreme example of an ingratiating temperament caught by the camera; she's a pleasure to watch, in sassy or dignified mode. Ameche leads a sappy rendition of "Easter Parade," and Haley hasn't much to do besides "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning." The fashions and cars go directly from 1918 to 1938 with nothing in between, and the stars, of course, never age, the better to keep them looking their best in time for the finale. Henry King, one of 20th's most reliable directors, guides it surely, though nothing can help that plot.

classic entertainment

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 24 November 2005]

The last time I saw this movie was probably the late '60s, when I watched it on television with a group of friends. I just saw it again on DVD, and it's as much fun as I remember it. In 108 minutes, I wouldn'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.

A thinnish plot surrounds the songs. It's the story of a classical musician (Tyrone Power) who forms a swing band and, because of the song "Alexander's Ragtime Band" 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 there's not a gray hair to be found among our heroes.

Ameche and Power were friends before either one of them was signed by 20th Century Fox, and with Faye, they made "In Old Chicago" 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.

As lovely as she was, though, she's no competition for the most gorgeous one in the movie, Tyrone Power. He's pretty darn breathtaking in that tuxedo of his. He could have conducted me anywhere.

Monumentally entertaining music and plenty of eye candy - highly recommended.

Enjoyable but inaccurate?

[debo-mills · 6/10 · 12 February 2010]

I thought this movie started out with a bang, with rousing ragtime numbers, but then drifted into dull ballads and slower music. I kept on wondering what happened to the peppy ragtime! And surely the songs played after the boys returned from WWI were not from the 1920s? Didn't sound like it.

The story got a bit dull after the promising beginning, but the stars Powers, Faye, Ameche, and Haley were all entertaining in their ways and great to look at.

Also, I was distracted by the inappropriate costumes, which again started out correct for the turn of the century, but for some mysterious reason became 1930s fashion after WWI. The skirts were too short, the jackets had shoulder pads and nipped in waists, and the women's hairstyles and hats were totally wrong for the 1920s. I kept wondering how many years had passed!

All in all, a good movie, but could have been better in some ways.

Waste of time

[m-leschack · 2/10 · 8 January 2018]

Sorry to disagree with the other reviewers. This movie is trash. There are so many wonderful Irving Berlin musicals. Astaire Rogers. White Christmas, Holiday Inn, Easter Parade and one of my favorites, Call Me Madam. This last one is Ethel Merman at her best. Alexanders Ragtime Band has wonderful actors and singers, too bad they are wasted on such an over sentimentalized story line. At least in the dvd I looked at the sound and picture were not that good either.

Test of Time

[Dale-40 · 10/10 · 3 September 1999]

Half a century ago, when I was 10, I wanted to dance my way home after seeing this film at the old Princess Theater in Urbana, Illinois, the theater where Roger Ebert said he fell in love with movies. In August, 1999, I rediscovered the film on a rented video cassette. Two days ago I bought the video. Irving Berlin wrote so many great songs that they carry the narrative of star-crossed lovers in the years before and after World War I as well.

Pretty but not much substance

[HotToastyRag · 5/10 · 18 April 2019]

Good news: Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, and Don Ameche made another movie together after the success of In Old Chicago. If you loved that love triangle set against a well-remembered time in history, you'll love this love triangle set against a well-remembered time in history.

The only real problem with this movie is the lack of historical accuracy. According to this movie, a rich, white boy and his friends, all classically trained musicians, stumble across a fun, new type of music, and ragtime jazz sweeps the nation. There are no black people in this movie! For a slightly more realistic approach, check out 1941's Birth of the Blues, starring Bing Crosby and a supporting cast of many colors. Alexander's Ragtime Band is strictly white.

If that won't bother you and you want to watch this movie, you will be treated to some good qualities. Alice Faye, Ethel Merman, Jack Haley, and Don Ameche each get to sing several songs, all Irving Berlin standards like "Easter Parade," "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody," "Remember," "The International Rag," and the title song. A memorable supporting cast, including Jean Hersholt, Helen Westley, and John Carradine, provide entertainment in between songs sung by the leads. And of course, there's the incredible beauty of the star. Alice Faye looks very pretty too, but Tyrone Power provides so much eye candy, no leading lady is even necessary.

The music is everything.

[roberts-1 · 12 July 2002]

The plot is really nothing more than boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl, but it's enough of a framework to present an almost non-stop catalogue of great Irving Berlin songs. The music itself is all that is needed to make this a grand entertainment; the litany of classic Berlin standards includes the title song, "Now It Can Be Told", "Everybody's Doing It Now", "Easter Parade" and many others, performed by Twentieth-Century Fox's stock musical players Tyrone Power, Alice Faye and Don Ameche, as well as Jack Haley (who does a great comic rendition of "Oh How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning") and a young, vibrant Ethel Merman, singing, amongst others, "Blue Skies" and "My Walking Stick". All in all, a wonderful "escape" film.

He's not even called Alexander

[AAdaSC · 6/10 · 5 March 2023]

Tyrone Power (Roger) stars as a classically trained violinist who needs to work on his pizzicato but would rather lead a swing band and hustles for jobs in the evenings. Well, it pays off and a chance encounter with singer Alice Faye (Stella) - also looking for work - in a bar one night leads to the formation of Alexander's Ragtime Band. From this moment on, he is known as Alexander! We then have the usual fall in love, out of love, hook up with someone else kind of story until everything is resolved at the end.

The story isn't much to write home about and the relationships don't make sense but the music is good and John Carradine as a taxi driver single-handedly saves the film towards the end as it starts to get a little tedious. We know where things are headed but the cliché story begins to drag. Carradine is the best taxi driver ever - great attitude. I didn't realize so many tunes came from this film. I'm off to Portugal in a couple of days - "We're having a heatwave......."

Snappy tunes, sappy romance but fun song-filled movie...

[dwpollar · 7/10 · 16 April 2014]

1st watched 4/13/2014 -- 7 out of 10 (Dir-Henry King): Snappy tunes, sappy romance but fun song-filled movie manipulating the hopeless romantic in all of us way down until the inevitable happy conclusion brings us back up again. The movie is the story of a classical trained musician who becomes enticed to the hipper ragtime sound and then becomes Alexander due to performing the song "Alexander's Ragtime Band" after accidentally receiving the tune that was originally brought to the place of their initial show by a singer played by Alice Faye. This changed this band leader's life as portrayed by Tyrone Powers into a big time person on the music scene. The two main characters start out at odds against each other due to the before-mentioned issue with the title song, but eventually quickly fall in love like would be expected in an American-made happy-go-lucky movie. The only real negative part of the movie is how they extend the ending and bring the Faye character down to the point of depression just for the sake of adding more Irving Berlin songs but this can be excused fairly easily because of the quality of these songs. The movie is filled with singable staples in early American music like "Blue Skies", "Heat Wave", and "Easter Parade" along with an Oscar winning ballad named "Now it can be Told." Don Ameche, plays the male part of the third cog in the romantic triangle with a young Ethel Merman being the female, and they are amazingly accepting of the stars getting together despite their love for the main characters -- but for the sake of Americana we accept this for the overall goal of enjoying the tune-filled movie. This movie is really about the music and we know it from the very beginning with the title flashing Irving Berlin's name in front of the movie name and this is acceptable to the audience and makes for an enjoyable experience with eventually love winning out in the end and ultimately the viewer being the winner.

John Carradine and Lon Chaney, part 2

[kevinolzak · 7/10 · 18 November 2023]

1938's "Alexander's Ragtime Band" found Darryl Zanuck combining the talents of Alice Faye, Tyrone Power, Don Ameche, and Ethel Merman in a star studded celebration of early 20th century music by Irving Berlin, three composed expressly for this film. Power as Alexander chooses to forego a career as a classical violinist to become a popular bandleader with Faye his star attraction, their budding romance terminated when she leaves and eventually weds Ameche. A radio career beckons to reunite the two years later, aided by a little luck and a helpful taxi driver (John Carradine). It was a real oddity to see Carradine in such a sympathetic light, with a scar on his face and suspicious demeanor, here paired for a second time with frequent costar Lon Chaney, in for an unbilled bit as a photographer with one line at the 54 minute mark. The picture was a huge success, and remained a favorite of Alice Faye, who ended her Fox career opposite Carradine again, in Otto Preminger's 1945 "Fallen Angel."

Where are the Irving Berlins of today

[bruno-32 · 7/10 · 20 October 2014]

How sad ....wonderful songs that make you whistle or sing them time after time..as compared to today's garbage. All the accolades mentioned in other reviews were right on, the music, the stars at their pinnacle success. Aside from that, no one mentioned the one skit that really impressed me was the one that Wally Vernon and Dixie Dumbar did...wonderfully performed...It was one of the highlights for me. I could buy the DVD just for that one skit.The scene where Tyrone is insulting Alice with her Plantinium hair wig, must have been a ' dig' at the rage Jean Harlow caused when M-G-M created it for her and the 'penciled' eyebrows.

The Music Of Irving Berlin

[Lechuguilla · 22 July 2009]

For viewers who like Irving Berlin music, this is a film to watch. His songs are really the main attraction. But the story, which encompasses a group of musicians and their career changes, has an interesting series of romantic plot twists that is intriguing.

The main character is Roger (Tyrone Power), a man who starts his career in a highbrow musical setting, but changes to more popular ragtime. The story is fictional, but Roger's character arc is inspired by the life of Irving Berlin.

A big-budget film that was in production for almost two years, "Alexander's Ragtime Band" received a huge promotional build-up in 1938. And it was well received by audiences. Sets are lavish. B&W cinematography is competent. Casting and acting are acceptable overall. However, Tyrone Power is the only major actor who lacks musical talent, and it shows. Both Don Ameche and Jack Haley add luster. Alice Faye is adequate.

The film is less constricted by plot than other musicals. But there's still a lot of dialogue. And, except for the title song and a quick version of "Easter Parade", the music is somewhat bland and uninteresting. I would have preferred more evocative music. The film's tone ranges from semi-bawdy to mushy romanticism.

This is a large-scale, Americana period piece film, with an accent on the music of Irving Berlin. It is old fashioned, both in plot and in style. It's technically well made. But to me it's too removed in time from current culture to be anything other than historically quaint.

I finally got a chance to see this movie, which is believed to be about a distant relative.

[ralphwatzke · 8/10 · 16 February 2015]

For a long time, it has been said, in our family (the Watzkes), especially in New Orleans, and in the New Orleans jazz/ragtime community, that this movie, and the 1911 Irving Berlin song that inspired it, were based on a real person, the New Orleans band-leader Alexander Constantin Watzke Jr. (also known as "Alex" or "King" Watzke), whose band, popular c. 1904-11 or later, actually was known as Alexander's Ragtime Band! He was in fact, the only known ragtime/jazz band leader of the time named Alexander! The movie itself was an awesome period piece, and the music was excellent! The previous reviewers have described it in so much detail, there's little we can add of relevance. The story line does closely parallel the real Alexander Watzke's story, in that too, he was the son of a wealthy merchant & politician (Alexander Sr.), and that Junior's decision to play ragtime (an African- American genre at the time), deeply scandalized his conservative New Orleans family,and he was considered a "black sheep" It is unclear why his name and the city were changed in the movie, but it is believed that may have been as a result of pressure from the family; Alexander Jr.'s final years and death are shrouded in controversy. Anyway, I heartily recommend this fine movie about my famous relation!

For Irving Berlin fanatics, 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' is a must watch

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 24 November 2016]

The involvement of a talented cast (Tyrone Power, Don Ameche, Alice Faye, Ethel Merman, Jack Haley) and director (the undervalued Henry King) and with songs penned by one of the greatest song-writers of all time Irving Berlin were reasons enough to see 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' in the first place.

And on the most part it did not disappoint. Its only primary fault really is the thin-on-the-ground (merely an excuse to string along songs together) and old-hat (with a concept that has been done to death and much better) story, that is even further advantaged by that it's pure sappy hokum, that it's rather perfunctorily paced at the beginning and that the First World War stuff is dispatched rather too quickly, almost like a throwaway.

It is constantly mentioned that one shouldn't see musicals for their stories, but it always depends on how well done everything else is, if other elements are not very well executed or if the story is the only element not so well executed that it sticks out like a sore thumb it is more noticeable and does sort of matter. The latter is the case here.

However, the main reason to see 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' is the music. It is literally an Irving Berlin song-fest and what a glorious one it is too, not hard at all to see why the musical is considered his first big popular hit. Some of the songs are among his most well-known and best, especially "Blue Skies", "Easter Parade" and "Heat Wave".

The title song, "This is the Life", "My Walking Stick" and "All Alone" are similarly wonderful, but really there isn't a bad song in the bunch. They are very nicely staged too, with the most note-worthy being "My Walking Stick", a lot of fun, and the Faye and Merman rendition of "Blue Skies", which admittedly made me tear up.

'Alexander's Ragtime Band' looks good too, being handsomely shot and with elegant costume design. The sets, while not lavish or expansive, are still very easy on the eye. The script crackles, amuses and affects, and despite the perfunctory beginning once the film picks up and it does so very quickly the energy is non-stop. King directs with panache and class.

Power's gorgeously handsome looks, immense likability and magnetic charisma film are so winning here that I was willing to forgive his reasonably limited singing ability and lack of rhythm, things usually not really that forgivable personally when watching musicals. Faye sings beautifully, especially in "Remember" and "All Alone" that are also sung with heartfelt emotion, the camera clearly loves her and she is impossible to resist or dislike.

Ameche completes the love triangle charmingly in the most effortless of ways, and is every bit as likable as Power. Merman steals scenes with her boundless energy and big brassy voice that soars in songs like "My Walking Stick", "Everybody Step" and particularly "Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the Devil" while also softening in "Blue Skies" and "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody". Haley, in a pre-Tin Man role, dances with energetic athleticism and has a very appealing presence on film.

In summary, with the sole exception of the story a winner all round, with the biggest joy being the songs. Essentially a must watch for Berlin fanatics, because they will be in heaven.

Power, Ameche, Faye and King also worked together in 'In Old Chicago', and while it had a riveting final twenty minutes, with terrific visuals for back then and now, and the cast acquit themselves very well it is nowhere near as good a film. 8/10 Bethany Cox

A Classic With Good Music

[Lin-4 · 2 June 1999]

Alexander's Ragtime Band is a combination musical/drama with Alice Faye belting out Irving Berlin songs and making eyes at her leading man, Tyrone Power. Young Power is far more beautiful than his leading lady and is good as the wealthy classic musician turned band leader who shapes a cheap Faye into a classy performer. Worthwhile to see because of the song Faye sings "to" Power and the kiss they share afterward.

Otherwise, the movie is melodramatic with its storyline stretching over many years, rivalry, and World War I. But what else do you expect from a musical? A classic worthy to be seen.

good film but

[rickdumesnil-55203 · 8/10 · 10 February 2016]

as always Tyrone power is excellent in what he does and is quite believable in Alexander platinum hair...singers ragtime band. Alice Faye prettier when she drops the platinum hair...sings so beautifully and combines it with acting she makes very realistic. don ameche is a good egg a in this and plays the best friend rightfully. the but is ETHEL MERMAN.....cant stand her. she in my opinion ruined the flow of the film...there was too much of her and she was annoying. in 1938....i was thinking.....Dorothy L'Amour Carmen Miranda even Betty Hutton could have rendered the role more agreeable than Ethel merman. as for the songs not all good but loved ragtime band and blue skies. all and all a good film made in an era where everything seemed so carefree and fun.

A lively musical

[nnnn45089191 · 8/10 · 13 May 2007]

Stacked with the music of Irving Berlin,this lively musical extravaganza is one of the best musicals made prior to WW II.Reuniting the three stars of "In Old Chicago",Fox had a smash on their hands. Alice Faye shines in her role as the feisty band singer.Don Ameche is even better than he was in "In Old Chicago" and only Power seems somewhat out of place.The great Ethel Merman was really good in this.Although she's mostly in the movie for her singing she delivers a very good performance as an actress too.Jack Haley (who would gain immortality the next year in "The Wizard of Oz")has a marvelous production number as recruit who hates to get up in the morning. I really enjoyed this movie a lot and if you catch it you won't be disappointed.

A real swinger!

[willrams · 9/10 · 13 October 2002]

Again, Alice Faye with Tyrone Power and Don Ameche in Alexander's Ragtime Band. The best musical comedy of the year with Jack Oakie and June Havoc (sister to Gypsy Rose Lee), and also starring the great belter of the ages Ethel Merman. I believe this was her first film and everyone took notice! A great Irving Berlin score, the title number as well as "Always", "Wanting You".

Packed with Great Songs

[LeonardKniffel · 9/10 · 7 April 2020]

With music by the incomparable Irving Berlin, this pre-World War II ditty in black-and-white tells the story of a classical musician played by handsome and sensitive Tyrone Power who rejects the good life for ragtime. Highlights include a great turkey trot dance sequence to "Everybody's Doin' It," "When That Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam'," "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning," "Remember," Ethel Merman singing "Say It with Music" and "A Pretty Girl Is like a Melody," "Blue Skies," "Heat Wave" and Don Ameche singing "Easter Parade." A great storyline makes this movie even more watchable. On the eve of World War II it is not accidentally full of American optimism and packed with more great songs than any movie has a right to. --Musicals on the Silver Screen, American Library Association, 2013

One of the Musical Essentials

[JLRMovieReviews · 10/10 · 9 June 2015]

Tyrone Power, Alice Faye and Don Ameche star in this movie musical, which was nominated for six Oscars at the time, including Best Picture, winning one for Best Music Score. Tyrone has been studying and playing classical music, so when mother hears of him taking up this old ragtime music, she doesn't speak to him. But Tyrone as Roger has had an inner longing for this type of expression. He and his band, which includes Don Ameche, tries to find a job at a restaurant that has floor shows. Of course, Alice Faye is there, trying to get her music heard, played and sold. When they need something to play for an audition, her music is swiped by their bartender friend. They start to play and she fumes. "My music." So, she chimes in, with "Come on and hear, Come on and hear Alexander's ragtime band...." She is a sensation. Or are they? They get the job, but as a package deal, not separately. Neither Alice nor Ty are happy about it, as they fight like a rooster and hen. And, Don Ameche took to her right away. Get the picture! The movie itself is very well made and makes for entertaining melodramatic escapism. While this is certainly more than just a musical, with its three-dimensional characters, the songs are superlative. There were a lot of great songwriters in the early 20th century, like the Gershwins, Mercer, and others. And, they all had their own style. But no one could write 'em like Irving Berlin. "Alexander's Ragtime Band" is one example of how thrilling his songs were. If you've never seen this film, you must see it. It has gotten somewhat overshadowed by "Singin' in the Rain" and other more well-known major movie musicals, but this is an essential to musicals and is time well-spent with good actors.