Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)

Disturbing yet enthralling

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

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 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.

Roger Grant, a classically trained violinist, is leading a small band in turn of the century San Francisco with little success. One fateful night, Stella Kirby, brings sheet music of Irving Berlin's new song, Alexander's Ragtime Band. Stella sings while Roger plays the song, and all three are a hit, despite the friction between Roger (who now is the Alexander from the song) and Stella. Obviously there is hints of romance between the two, but fellow band member Charlie Dwyer completes the love triangle, and is the one who captures Stella's hand in marriage. Roger/Alexander and his band tour the country and entertain the troops overseas in World War I, and returns to the US a sensation, while the marriage between Stella and Charlie falls apart because the two realize they are not the ones meant for each other. Stella tries to rekindle the romance with Roger, but singer Jerry Allen has fallen for the band leader, despite being somewhat indifferent towards her. Roger, Charlie, and the rest of the band perform a concert reuniting everyone, while Stella feels on the outside thinking she has no part in Roger's life. The film's story line is predictable, full of holes, and mushy and the performances are enjoyable at best, but the film carries such an energy thanks to Berlin's music, as well as the singing from both Faye and Merman (who does stand out in this early role). The musical numbers are quite different from the ones preceding it, which does keep the movie fresh. Rating, 7.