Good News (1947)

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Movie
Original title Good news
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1947
length 93 minutes
Rod
Director Charles Walters
script Betty Comden
Adolph Green
production Arthur Freed
music Conrad Salinger
camera Charles Schoenbaum
cut Albert Akst
occupation
June Allyson and Peter Lawford in one scene

Good News is a 1947 American color film musical directed by Charles Walters, starring June Allyson and Peter Lawford . The film is based on the stage musical of the same name (1927) by Lew Brown, Laurence Schwab, Frank Mandel, Buddy G. DeSylva and Ray Henderson. This Hollywood color film version is already the second film adaptation, the first was made in 1930.

action

The story takes place in 1927 at the fictional Tait College, where sports life revolves entirely around American football . The handsome football star Tommy Marlowe is swarmed by all college girls. The other boys and teammates envy Marlowe for his blow with women, but he makes his very simple trick clear to them: The trick is to act towards the adoring girls as if you are not interested in them at all. When a new student arrives one day, Marlowe is really challenged for the first time: Because Pat McClellan is not at all impressed by him and first of all shrinks the assumed handsome man back to normal size. Tommy annoys Pat's disinterest, and since she is very interested in the French language, Tommy wants to learn French too. The university librarian Connie Lane seems to be ideally suited for this, because she speaks this language very well and can help Tommy with this matter with tutoring.

Over time, Tommy is more and more charmed by Connie's charm, and he gradually begins to fall in love with the rather well-behaved girl. But Connie, who comes from a humble background, is not that easy to conquer. While Tommy begins to forget Pat, he has found a new admirer in Babe Doolittle. This young woman is even willing to ditch the football crack beef for the sake of Tommy for her old flame. Connie slowly begins to reciprocate Tommy's feelings, but thinks that Tommy's not really interested in her. Finally he asks the librarian if she would like to accompany him to the upcoming prom. When Pat, who thinks Tommy would make a good match financially, finally seems to jump on his college boy charm, Tommy pretends that his interest in Connie is only a play. But then he changes his mind again, and the tricky Connie, who tells Pat that Tommy is not wealthy, and he finally becomes a couple. Pat consoles herself with beef, and Babe finds a new friend in Bobby Turner. At the end, everyone involved plunges into a lively musical number and performs the "varsity drag".

Production notes

Good News was written between late March and early May 1947 and premiered on December 4, 1947 in New York City. The mass start was Boxing Day of the same year. The film was not shown in Germany.

The composers / lyricists Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane and Roger Edens each received an Oscar nomination for their film song "Pass That Peace Pipe" in 1948 .

Roger Edens was the production manager. Cedric Gibbons and Edward C. Carfagno were responsible for the film construction, Edwin B. Willis for the equipment. Helen Rose designed the costumes for the women, Arlington Valles those for the men. Douglas Shearer took care of the sound recordings.

The film cost $ 1,715,000 and grossed $ 2,956,000.

Music track

The following music tracks were played:

  • "Good News"
    • Music by Ray Henderson
    • Text by Lew Brown and Buddy DeSylva
    • Singing by Joan McCracken and choir
  • "Tait Song"
    • Music by Ray Henderson
    • Text by Lew Brown and Buddy G. DeSylva
    • Singing by Joan McCracken and choir
  • "Be a Ladies' Man"
    • Music by Ray Henderson
    • Text by Lew Brown and Buddy G. DeSylva
    • Singed by Peter Lawford, Ray McDonald, Mel Tormé and Lon Tindal
  • "Lucky in Love"
    • Music by Ray Henderson
    • Text by Lew Brown and Buddy G. DeSylva
    • Singed by Patricia Marshall, Joan McCracken, Mel Tormé, June Allyson and Peter Lawford
  • "The French Lesson"
    • Text by Roger Edens, Betty Comden and Adolph Green
    • Singed by June Allyson and Peter Lawford
  • "The Best Things in Life Are Free"
    • Music by Ray Henderson
    • Text by Lew Brown and Buddy G. DeSylva
    • Singing by June Allyson and Mel Tormé
  • "Pass That Peace Pipe"
    • Text by Roger Edens, Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane
    • Singing by Joan McCracken, Ray McDonald and choir
  • "Just Imagine"
    • Music by Ray Henderson
    • Text by Lew Brown and Buddy G. DeSylva
    • Singing by June Allyson
  • "Varsity Drag"
    • Music by Ray Henderson
    • Text by Lew Brown and Buddy G. DeSylva
    • Singing by June Allyson, Peter Lawford and choir
  • Another song, "An Easier Way", sung by June Allyson and Patricia Marshall, was cut from the theatrical version in 1947, but survived and was released as bonus material on the DVD version.

Reviews

Bosley Crowther wrote in the New York Times : “... there is magnificence for every age of optics, comfort for every temperature. Glitter and lovebirds and touch-downs ... Not that "Good News" is a musical that collects all the prizes on its own or that excels in its own genre, apart from a few nostalgic song sequences from the Broadway predecessor from a few years ago Years. It's just another college musical ... "

The Movie & Video Guide found that Good News was a "witty remake".

Halliwell's Film Guide also stated that the film was a "bright, humorous remake".

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Good News in The New York Times, December 5, 1947
  2. ^ Leonard Maltin : Movie & Video Guide, 1996 edition, p. 511
  3. ^ Leslie Halliwell : Halliwell's Film Guide, Seventh Edition, New York 1989, p. 416

Web links