This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

This is How Movies Should Be Made

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

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.

For 1938, this was a dream cast! First and foremost is Alice Faye, I'm not sure what there was about Faye. She had a deep throaty voice, and not really a classic one. But, she could put over certain songs, and "Alexander's Ragtime Band" was one of them. On the other hand, she doesn't put over "Now It Can be Told", a key song when Ameche realizes Power has fallen in love with Faye. Then there's Tyrone Power at his young, most handsome best as "Alexander". And the trio is complete with the wonderful Don Ameche, sans mustache for much of the film. In supporting roles are Ethel Merman, the great Jack Haley, and the beloved Jean Hersholt.And what makes the film complete is the music of Irving Berlin, including the title song, "Heat Wave", "Some Sunny Day", "Blue Skies", "Easter Parade", "A Pretty Girl Is Like a Melody", and others. Added in are some pretty nifty old-time vaudeville-type numbers.There are some nice historical touches, as well. For example, San Francisco's old Cliff House.The plot is generally good, if somewhat predictable. Faye and Alexander meet up quite by accident when both are trying to get their start in a low class beer hall. Love develops, but then the leads break up and Alexander goes into the Army (I found this segment a little less interesting than the rest of the film, although it does provide Jack Haley with a good number, as well as a good production number; but I suppose Hollywood was gearing up for our entry in WWII, so looking back to WWI was a fine technique to do so). Of course, a slightly wounded Alexander returns after the war, but meanwhile Faye has married Ameche and is a hit on Broadway. Alexander teams up with a restrained Ethel Merman and is playing in Greenwich Village. But Ameche and Faye end their marriage amiably, Merman delivers a swell version of "Blue Skies", followed by a less impressive version by Faye. That leads to a sort of musical montage of Berlin numbers where Faye and Merman seem to be rivals; I'm not quite sure this segment works really well, but it certainly highlights Berlin's songs. And then there's the concert at Carnegie Hall which adds even more of Berlin's songs, including a wonderful version of "Heat Wave" by Merman. And then a great ending with the reprise of Faye singing "Alexander's Ragtime Band".If you have the DVD version, among the special features are three numbers deleted from the film -- a nice version of "Some Sunny Day" by Don Ameche, "In My Harem" by Jack Haley (very entertaining), and "Marching Along With Time" with Ethel Merman. The quality of these clips is not quite a perfect as the film, but certainly very watchable, although it's not quite so clear why these numbers were cut.Generally speaking, 20th Century Fox didn't produce musicals that were of the caliber being made by MGM, but sometimes the stories at 20th were actually better. This is one such case.Not a perfect film, but highly entertaining and highly recommended.

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.

What a wonderful musical for Tyrone Power, age 24, to appear in 1938.When fate brings Miss Kirby to the band, the 3 become instant pals. The 3 being Don Ameche, Power and the wonderful Alice Faye. Faye gives by far her best performance in pictures. At the beginning, she shows depth in playing a loud mouth common person in the way of Stella Dallas. She matures beautifully as the film develops.Fate also intervenes when Stella Kirby is offered a role on Broadway, but she must leave the band. Power is bitter, but it's just in time for World War 1 and he goes into the army. Upon his discharge, he learns that Charlie (Ameche) has married Stella.While the marriage doesn't last, Power has made a name for himself with the band and Stella discovers that he has a new love interest in his life- Ethel Merman. While Merman has the voice, she is not exactly the other woman type in films. She sings her songs in timely fashion but she doesn't belt them out as she would do years later.How Alexander (Power) and Stella come back to each other is the rest of the movie. Done with lovely musical fanfare, "Alexander's Ragtime Band" must rate as one of the best musicals that Hollywood ever turned out.