Customer Reviews
Tiny cracks between the songs - By: Michael Bo, 13 Sep 2004 
To me, this was the first of the Fox DVD classics to actuallly disappoint. 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' is anything but a neglected masterpiece, but rather a quite annoying musical about the leader of a swing band (Tyrone Power who, sadly, has nothing better to do in this movie than just stand there waving his hands with the stick & smile harmlessly) & his on-off affair with a singer (pretty Alice Faye), & their best friend (charming Don Ameche) is the man caught in the middle. World War I comes & goes & serves as no more than a photo opportunity for Power in military gear.
The challlenge for director Henry King & for the script writers has been to stuff enough of a plot down in the tiny cracks in between the 28 songs (!!!), some good ones & a lot of very ordinary ones, by Irving Berlin. The restoration done on this title doesn't impress me either, the picture looks gray & tired & doesn't offer much contrast.
Movie debutante Ethel Merman steals the picture again & again, but has very little to do dramaticallly.
Joyous Thirties Musical Gem!! - By: , 27 Apr 2004 
Alexander's Ragtime band & ingenue Stella Kirby are forced to team upwhen an audition mix-up lands them in a job together. Though Stella andand band leader Alexander lock horns, they put their differences aside atthe urging if Charlie Dwyer, a band member (Don Ameche) who is romancingStella. But Charlie's truce backfires when Alexander & Stella falll inlove, triggering a nearly 30-year rivalry for her affection.
This old classic musical is a joy to watch - wonderful ragtime, AliceFaye's spectacular voice & Tyrone Power's stylish good looks alll makefor a classic movie - it wasn't nominated for six Academy awards(including Best Picture) for nothing! Flawless acting & beautiful songsperformed with alll the style & glamour of that era. For anyone lookingfor a musical feast for both the ears & the eyes "Alexander's RagtimeBand", is unsurpassed entertainment from the old school of movie making.Faye's unusual deep smoky singing style in particular reallly suits thetunes she performs here. In particular her rendition of "Blue Skies" isunforgettable & reallly is the most memorable song.
Watch it!!
