Product Details

• Actors: Danny Kaye, Virginia Mayo, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong
• Directors: Howard Hawks
• Writers: Billy Wilder, Harry Tugend, Thomas Monroe
• Producers: Samuel Goldwyn
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Hbo Home Video
• VHS Release Date: April 1, 1992
• Run Time: 113 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302478375
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,431 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

There's little question that a remake of a successful film, even if inferior to the original (witness Sabrina), can be well received by an audience. It's unfortunate that this highly entertaining film is often dismissed in the wake of its equally excellent and successful predecessor (Ball of Fire, starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck). Both films are directed by legend Howard Hawks, whose stamp on each film is evident but also gives each its own flavor and tone. A Song Is Born is unique in that it was remade, not in the usual 20-plus years after the original, but a mere 7 years later.

A Song Is Born must be considered a stand-alone film--both Danny Kaye and frequent costar Virginia Mayo deliver topnotch musical-comedic-dramatic performances. The story centers on a group of anachronistic music academics who become involved with a nightclub singer (Mayo), who they hope will teach them about contemporary music, but who also happens to be the moll of a well-known gangster (another Kaye-Mayo costar, Steve Cochran).

This time around, Hawks makes full use of Technicolor (Ball was in black and white), and the richness of the film is a nice complement to the fun story and the great soundtrack. For the music fan--especially given the swing revival--there's plenty of eye candy, including Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Charlie Barnett, and Mel Powell. --N.F. Mendoza

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TERRIFIC FUN., December 4, 2002

By	"scotsladdie" (GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Immensely enjoyable. Kaye plays Professor Hobart Frisbee, one of seven monastic intellectuals who reside at the American division of the Totten Foundation. Frisbee meets a pair of hip window washers who tell him all about jazz, jive and boogie woogie. Beautiful Virginia Mayo is Honey Swanson, a singer hiding out from her gangster boyfriend Steve Cochran (she's also trying to keep away from the DA who wants to testify against Cochran) In the original, Barbara Stanwyck played a stripper, who taught the boys the ropes about English slang circa 1941. Here, the plot is basically the same, but the Professor wants to learn all about Popular American music, 1948 style. Some purists will not like this version as much as the original, but the Technicolor is gorgeous, and so is Virginia Mayo! Her rendition of DADDY-O is sexy and hot. The film will be a huge treat for fans of the Big Band Era. Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton and Charlie Barnet are all cleverly showcased and their music is awesome! Swing music was rapidly dying out by 1948, but numbers such as STEALIN' APPLES, FLYING HOME, I'M GETTIN' SENTIMENTAL OVER YOU & MUSKRAT RAMBLE are timeless perennial favourites for fans to relish. A direct remake of BALL OF FIRE with Barbara Stanwyck and Gary Cooper, this movie was also made almost entirely by the same technicians, oddly enough.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible World Class, All Star Film, December 6, 2001

By	James Hayes (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This musical remake of "Ball of Fire" is great to watch and listen to. I do not know anywhere else that so many world class musicians have gotten together to not only perform, but act as well. Kaye and Mayo are incredible, giving better performances than Cooper and Stanwyck in the original. The direction and editting is crisp and clean. Subtle site gags are sprinkled thru out. The detail is marvelous and a homage to the American music of the day. When I saw this movie Danny Kaye became one of my favorite actors. If and when this comes out on DVD I will be getting it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing movie! Great music! Danny and Virginia ... Wow!!, January 22, 1999

By A Customer

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. It has all of the best ingredients... romance, good guys, bad guys, a tiny bit of watered-down violence, and AMAZING music! The jazz legend cameos alone are worth twice the cost of the video!