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Editorial Reviews
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Based on the Broadway play and 1930s musical, Good News is an enthusiastic, good-hearted romp through late-'20s college life. Broadway actress Joan McCracken as Connie's roommate Babe Doolittle exudes energy as she leads nearly all the musical numbers, particularly shining in "Good News" and "Pass the Peace Pipe." A young Mel Tormé sings a lovely reprise of "The Best Things in Life Are Free," and one of the signature songs, "The Varsity Drag," is led by Allyson and Lawford showcasing their dancing and singing talents (Lawford is a better hoofer than vocalist). Though the movie seems mainly constructed around the musical numbers, the writing is sharp and the cast members seems to be enjoying themselves. Director Charles Walters went on to direct Easter Parade and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and screenwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green would make their mark with, among others, On the Town and Singin' in the Rain. --Dana Van Nest
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Customer Reviews
"Good News" is the story of a senior at Tait college who works as the school librarian (June Allison). Having worked hard throughout her years at Tait, she has been largely ignored by the superficial fraternity boys. This changes when Tommy Marlow (Peter Lawford), captain of Tait's beloved football team, asks her for French lessons. The story is a little predictable, but if you watch a musical for a suspenseful plot, I think you are going to be continually disappointed.
The music numbers in this 1947 production are lively and brillantly written. You will find yourself humming such songs as "Lucky in Love" long after the show. Mel Torme plays a small role in the movie and treats us to a reprise of the ballad "The Best Things in Life are Free".
True to MGM's style the music is accentuated by stunning choreography. "Pass the Peace Pipe" and the "Varsity Drag", the show-stopping finale, are wonderful examples of this. Some may find, however, the pre-war treatment of Native American traditions in "Pass the Peacepipe" to be inappropriate in today's politically correct society. I personally found it to be a wonderful reminder of how far we have come in that arena.
What I love best about this musical is the strength given to June Allison's character in a time when women weren't given much credit for more than their pretty face and homemaking skills. In this movie, she is a smart, working woman, who, instead of wallowing in the fact she has no beau, betters herself. The sorority house relies on her for plumbing repair as well as smoothing over cat fights. Despite the wonderful music and dance numbers, this is what makes "Good News" really worth while. (How refreshing to see the smart girl get the boy! Especially the handsome Peter Lawford!)
What a treat this movie has been re-released!
On DVD, the Technicolor picture is vibrant, sharp, and steady. The monophonic sound is fairly strong considering the age of the film; overall the presentation is top notch. The extras include two staggeringly campy musical excerpts from the 1930 version, featuring a pre-"Blondie" Penny Singleton scrunching up her face and pounding out the lumbering dance steps to horse-y versions of the title song and "The Varsity Drag". Very funny and a great complement to the exuberance of the 1947 version.
First the movie, itself: Betty Comden and Adolph Green are in top form here only about four years before their work on, arguably, the finest movie musical ever made SINGIN' IN THE RAIN. The dialogue here is funny, sharp, clever and altogether very happily silly. The song they added to the Broadway score, "The French Lesson" for stars Peter Lawford and June Allyson is one of the true highlights in this pretty to look at, MGM college caper. It's the all-too familiar story of the football hero who must pass a course (yes, it's French!)and to do so, he must be tutored by the co-ed he dumped for her much more glamourous rival. Guess what? He passes the course, Tate College wins the big football game, the rival gets the rich boyfriend she deserves and Lawford gets Allyson.
In the supporting cast beautiful Patricia Marshall is charmingly funny as the snooty sorority girl who has no trouble attracting men and Joan McCracken as the tomboyish 'Babe' who dances up a storm in one of the movie's best numbers, "Pass That Peacepipe" which is, probably, in today's climate, far from politically correct. Also in the cast is a dusky-voiced, very young singer you may have heard of named Mel Torme.
As for the DVD Extras, the most interesting is a song number for Allyson, Marshall and the sorority girls which was cut from the finished picture called "An Easier Way" which could be a variation on Comden and Green's "100 Easy Ways" from WONDERFUL TOWN. Even better are two song and dance numbers from the 1930 movie version of GOOD NEWS with a singer/dancer/comedienne named Penny Singleton who is absolutely priceless.
It goes without saying that the color, settings and costume designs for this movie are tops. After all, the movie was made by MGM. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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