Alexander's Ragtime Band! (1938) (80th Anniversary!)

Alexander's Ragtime Band! (1938) - 20th Century FOX

Director: Henry King

Lyrics & Music: Irving Berlin

Starring:

Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Ethel Merman, & Jack Haley

This 1938 classic 20th Century FOX musical is named after the famous Irving Berlin tune; "Alexander's Ragtime Band" (song released in 1911). Through-out this entire film it is adorned with an all classic soundtrack from Irving Berlin. A movie that chronicles a man and his band featuring ragtime music. The bandleader being Alexander (Tyrone Power) who infuriates his wealthy family in going in his music journey. Along for this ride in the ragtime band is; Charlie Dwyer (Don Ameche) whom is best friends with Alexander and Davey Lane (Jack Haley). This starry eyed group of fellows find themselves working any and everywhere to get their music heard and to build a name. During one of these evenings they run across a brash singer; Stella Kirby (Alice Faye). Stella is rough around the edges and likes it that way. Alex along with his best friend Davey hear the beautiful voice of Stella and decide the best plan is to bring her voice as the lead vocalist that they do not have.

After some pushing Stella agrees to join their band and see where things go. They both see that one needs the other. Alexander before their premier show goes into the dressing room of Stella and talks to her about toning her looks down to be taken seriously. Stella detests the idea of changing herself but begrudgingly decides to try it his way. The evening goes over as a huge success for them all. The band playing the new music of ragtime and quickly are booked at bigger venues with notoriety. Success always seems to come with a price which in this film shows as the pressure mounting on being bigger and better than their last gig and writing tunes equally memorable. Personalities within the band clash and the passion between Stella and Alexander goes on the rocks. This band ushers in the sound of swing in the early 20th Century. Stella goes her own way by becoming a soloist singer traveling on her own. The band eventually finds another bright light in a singer named; Jerry Allen (Ethel Merman). Her bright personality and voice wakes the depressed and directionless Alexander and Davey. Do the hearts of Alexander and Stella come together again or perhaps does love come in the name of Jerry? This is for a musical film buff a "must see" motion picture that showcases so many stars and lends each to several lovely musical numbers. The musical numbers in my book are solid and are worth seeing.

Great songs that are featured within this classic film are; Alexander's Ragtime Band, Everybody's Doin' It Now, Now It Can Be Told , This Is the Life , When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam' , For Your Country and My Country , Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning, Say It with Music , A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody, Blue Skies, Pack Up Your Sins and Go to the Devil , What'll I Do, Cheek to Cheek, Easter Parade, and Heat Wave among others. 

Black Widow (1954) film noir with Rogers, Tierney, Heflin & Raft helming this ship!

Starring: Ginger Rogers, Van Heflin, Gene Tierney, George Raft, Peggy Ann Garner, & Reginald Gardiner

Directed By: Nunnaly Johnson

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Costumes: Travilla 

 This is a terrific "Film Noir" done by Fox that takes pieces from other gems such as; "All About Eve" and combines them into a dark gem. This time rather than having a lead actor and actress we have an ensemble motion picture where questions what a young woman who is eager to have a

successful life truly go do such dark lengths to get it.....I truly love seeing Ginger Rogers light up the screen in the very few times in this film giving us rather than romance, dance, nor comedy we see her in a very dramatic role. I love the entire cast (honestly the least of my favorite of the actors is Peggy Ann Garner). I just did not like her more wooden approach to her role opposed to the veterans around her.

If you are a film buff whom has either enjoyed the genre of Film Noir or is looking to be immersed into it than look no further than this is one to have on your list! Gene Tierney is lovely in this film much more reserved and sits down all too often rather than being more up and active. This is one of Gene Tierney's last starring roles of her career and for a fan like myself it is difficult to watch and know that in the back of my mind. Van Heflin and George Raft work so well together as friends and the icy relationship of Ginger Rogers character with Van Heflin is my personal favorite where one can see that they truly are both very verbal and strong willed, never to back down!

Plot:

The period is 1954 and the setting is New York City and to be more exact Manhattan. We see that Peter Denver (Heflin) is seeing his wife Iris Denver (Tierney) to the airport to see her ailing mother. Peter promises to Iris that he will attend the lavish party of Carlotta "Lottie" Marin's (Rogers) and her husband Brian Mullen (Gardiner) before going home to rest. One can only see by Peter's response that he truly does not enjoy Lottie's company and would rather be at home reading. The importance of his attendance is due to Peter being a famous Broadway Producer whom is working on the current theatrical production in which Lottie stars in. The best face forward is the game that Peter needs to play for the evening and decides to do so.

The lovely home that Lottie lives in is filled with numerous amounts of people. Peter walks in and meets on the balcony a very lonely girl named Nancy "Nanny" Ordway (Garner). This young lady speaks quickly to Peter asking him to please say something to her. The rationale is that her mother told her that if a lady attended a party and within 30 minutes did not have a gentleman speak with her she might as well be over...a very harsh thing for a mother to say to her daughter! Peter is more than please to talk to Nancy and they exchange pleasantries. Peter is astonished that this young lady knows who he is as a famed Broadway Producer and invites Nancy out for dinner. Peter upfront states that as Nancy knows he is married and that this is for simply dinner out and nothing more. They both agree and start to exit the part until Lottie looking define stops Peter in his tracks. Lottie is shocked that her friend is leaving so soon and with this young lady. Peter assures Lottie that it is for a simple dinner where he then will be home in time to speak with his wife and tell her about Nancy so there would be no need of Lottie to do it. Then with judgement looked upon them from Lottie and some choice words from the actress to Nancy they both leave. 

Both Peter and Nancy have a good evening out and Iris is in fact told. We then see later that Nancy

starts to see Peter more and more with dropping hints about being interested in him. Nancy with her conversation with Peter since they visit after their first dinner out finds out that Iris had an affair though ended years ago. This then also allows Nancy to use choice words of for her favor that Peter truly does not pick-up on. After roughly three weeks of both Peter and Nancy talking there is a set-up agreed upon. The agreement is that Nancy is a writer and needs a place of solitude to write which enters in Peter's home which she can utilize until Iris arrives home. Nancy goes to the apartment during the day to solely write where Peter is at work.

The whole situation starts to unfurl where someone is found dead within Peters apartment leaving at first one person identified as the prime suspect. As in any good film noir their are twists and turns that one can not simply make a quick whim of guilt, you never know whose the true killer until much later in the film! Such fantastic costumes made by the famed Travilla and once again Fox Films does an excellent job with this release. Let me know what you think of this Film Noir gen!

Sketch by Travilla for an outfit worn in the film by Ginger Rogers

Original poster released in Brussels.

The Foxes of Harrow (1947) O'Hara & Harrison, in love?

 

 

The Foxes of Harrow (20th Century FOX)

Directed By: John M. Stahl

Starring: Rex Harrison, Maureen O'Hara, Gene Lockhart, & Patricia Medina

The House of Harrow in 1795 - A child is born to the daughter in which brings shame to the House of Harrow. The decision of the father is to give the child as soon as he is born to a friend whom will be paid handsomely yearly to bring the baby boy up. The mother gives the family that is taking him a beautiful necklace in which when the baby gets older would know his heritage in Ireland.

Then we move several years on a steamboat on the great Mississippi in 1827. Odalie 'Lilli' D'Arceneaux (O'Hara) is a fine young lady who is passenger on the steamboat and we also meet Stephen Fox (Harrison) who was the young baby and part of the great/wealthy House of Harrow. Lilli is nervous that the boat is on the side near a sandbar and finds out that the man she thought was a gentleman is an actual card shark and is wanted hence why the ship itself pulled to the side. Stephen is taken off the boat and is left on a small island by himself in the middle of the Mississippi River. He simply stands there with a cigar in his mouth and walks back and forth. Stephen hears someone

coming down which lets him know he is stuck on s sandbar. The next freight boat, the Captain Mike Farrell (Victor McLaglen) who is told that Stephen was stuck on the sandbar due to being thrown off by his horse (likely story). Stephen to survive and gives him a gold box which ensures himself to make it off the boat. Captain Farrell is kind to give Stephen his gold box back as they part ways in New Orleans.

He meets up with Andre LeBlanc (Richard Haydn) who needs his help and turns out to have a mansion within the city. Andre is the perfect friend for the hard up financially Stephen. Both men find they are of like minds and get along very well. Two very lovely and wealthy sisters Aurore (Vanessa Brown)  & Lilli D'Arceneaux stop by in carriage and Stephen has his eyes on Lilli. There is a grand masquerade ball for only the best of families being invited. Stephen makes sure that he tags along with Andre and meets up with the lovely Lilli. They dance in the beautifully decorated mansion. Lilli is French and speaks about her costume and family. The masks come off and Lilli remembers the smooth talking man from the steamboat and is very unhappy to be in his company. Stephen walks over with Lilli and introduces himself to her father and states of his interest. Stephen nicknamed "Fox" tells her father Viscount Henri D'Arceneaux  (Gene Lockhart) that he is a gambler and is staying with his friend Andre. What a grand entrance to the most established in New

Orleans. Mr. Fox (Stephen) donates, one thousand dollars to the charity of the ball and only requests a dance where Lilli wants no part but her curiosity is peaked.

On a big gamble Fox wins an entire property of a plantation that has a huge amount of acreage. Fox proves to be an honest man that now has great wealth and power. Lilli comes to Fox's plantation which is called "Harrow" after the estate of his family's in Ireland. Lilli along with her sister and father are very happy to see what Fox has done with himself and the new life he is leading. A lavish party with all the trimmings is set for all to enjoy at the new home.

Years later they have a baby and enters a lady named Desiree (Medina) who is having an affair with Fox. What come of Fox and Lilli...you will have to watch to find out!