Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)

Director:

Henry King

Writers:

Irving Berlin (story)
Kathryn Scola (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 August 1938 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

An American Cavalcade!

Plot:

This send-up of ragtime song and dance begins in 1915 San Francisco when society boy Roger Grant decides to pursue popular rather than serious music.

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Paris France | Audition | Singer | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 5 nominations

Cast

Tyrone Power	...	Roger Grant ak Alexander
Alice Faye	...	Stella Kirby
Don Ameche	...	Charlie Dwyer
Ethel Merman	...	Jerry Allen
Jack Haley	...	Davey Lane
Jean Hersholt	...	Professor Heinrich
Helen Westley	...	Aunt Sophie
John Carradine	...	Speakeasy Doorman / Taxi Driver
Paul Hurst	...	Bill Mulligan
Wally Vernon	...	Wally Vernon
Ruth Terry	...	Ruby
Douglas Fowley	...	Snapper
Chick Chandler	...	Louie
Eddie Collins	...	Corporal Collins
Joseph Crehan	...	Stage Manager

Also Known As:

Irving Berlin's Alexander's Ragtime Band (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

106 min | Argentina:109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA High Fidelity Recording)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | USA:Approved (PCA #4098) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Canada:G (video rating) | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Grady Sutton (Babe), James Gordon (Equity President) and Joan Castle (Equity Secretary) were in studio records/casting call lists for those roles, but they did not appear in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Wally Vernon comes forward to do his specialty number, he passes Alexander twice, glancing at him both times.

Quotes:

Stella Kirby: You haven't left me with a word to say.
Charlie Dwyer: That's good. People talk too much anyway.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults (1997) (TV)

Soundtrack:

I Can Always Find a Little Sunshine in the Y.M.C.A.

Test of Time

Half a century ago, when I was 10, I wanted to dance my way home after seeing this film at the old Princess Theater in Urbana, Illinois, the theater where Roger Ebert said he fell in love with movies. In August, 1999, I rediscovered the film on a rented video cassette. Two days ago I bought the video. Irving Berlin wrote so many great songs that they carry the narrative of star-crossed lovers in the years before and after World War I as well.