Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)

Director:

Henry King

Writers:

Kathryn Scola (screen play) and
Lamar Trotti (screen play) ...
(more)

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 | Radio Broadcasting | Semi Autobiographical | Music Rehearsal | San Francisco California

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 5 nominations

Cast

Tyrone Power	...	Alexander - Roger Grant
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	...	Taxi Driver
Paul Hurst	...	Bill
Wally Vernon	...	Wally Vernon
Ruth Terry	...	Ruby
Douglas Fowley	...	Snapper
Chick Chandler	...	Louie
Eddie Collins	...	Corporal Collins
Joseph Crehan	...	Stage Manager
Robert Gleckler	...	Eddie
Dixie Dunbar	...	Specialty
Joe King	...	Charles Dillingham
Charles Coleman	...	Head Waiter
Stanley Andrews	...	Colonel
Charles Williams	...	Agent
Jane Jones	...	Trio Member
Otto Fries	...	Trio Member
Mel Kalish	...	Trio Member
Selmer Jackson	...	Manager Radio Station (as Selmar Jackson)
Donald Douglas	...	Singer (scenes deleted)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carol Adams	...	Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
Sam Ash	...	Critic in Audience at Army Show (uncredited)
Lynne Berkeley	...	Autograph Seeker (uncredited)
Tyler Brooke	...	Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)
A.S. 'Pop' Byron	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Joe Cunningham	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Ken Darby	...	Army Quartet Member (uncredited)
Dorothy Dearing	...	Girl at Recital (uncredited)
Jon Dodson	...	Army Quartet Member (uncredited)
Ralph Dunn	...	Army Captain (uncredited)
Helen Ericson	...	Girl at Recital (uncredited)
James Flavin	...	Army Captain (uncredited)
Dick French	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Jack George	...	Violinist at Recital (uncredited)
Harold Goodwin	...	Military Policeman at Army Show (uncredited)
Kay Griffith	...	Autograph Seeker (uncredited)
Eddie Hall	...	Man on Train (uncredited)
Rondo Hatton	...	Undetermined Minor Role (uncredited)
Edward Keane	...	Army Major (uncredited)
The King's Men	...	Singing Army Quartet - Y.M.C.A. (uncredited)
Bud Linn	...	Army Quartet Member (uncredited)
Robert Lowery	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Paul McVey	...	Stage Manager (uncredited)
Alberto Morin	...	Restaurant Proprietor (uncredited)
James C. Morton	...	Bartender at Scarbie's (uncredited)
Edward Mundy	...	The Barker (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor	...	Officer in Army Show Audience (uncredited)
Elizabeth Palmer	...	Girl at Recital (uncredited)
Jack Pennick	...	Drill Sergeant (uncredited)
Alexander Pollard	...	Captain of Waiters (uncredited)
Arthur Rankin	...	Assistant Stage Manager (uncredited)
Cully Richards	...	Musician (uncredited)
Rad Robinson	...	Army Quartet Member (uncredited)
Fred Santley	...	Songwriter (uncredited)
Edwin Stanley	...	Critic in Army Show Audience (uncredited)
Charles Tannen	...	Dillingham's Secretary (uncredited)
Stanley Taylor	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Harry Tyler	...	Cafe Proprietor (uncredited)
Eleanor Wesselhoeft	...	Martha - Aunt Sophie's Maid (uncredited)
Cecil Weston	...	Woman in Audience at Army Show (uncredited)
Ron Wilson	...	Song Plugger (uncredited)
Marjorie Woodworth	...	Baton Specialty (uncredited)

Directed by
Henry King

Writing credits
Kathryn Scola		(screen play) and
Lamar Trotti		(screen play)
Richard Sherman		(adaptation)
Irving Berlin		story (uncredited)
Sheridan Gibney		contributing writer (uncredited)
Darryl F. Zanuck		contributing writer (uncredited)

Produced by
Harry Joe Brown	....	associate producer

Cinematography by
J. Peverell Marley		(photography) (as Peverell Marley)

Film Editing by
Barbara McLean		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Bernard Herzbrun
Boris Leven

Set Decoration by
Thomas Little		(set decorations)

Costume Design by
Gwen Wakeling		(costumes)

Production Management
Darryl F. Zanuck	....	in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert D. Webb	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Henry Weinberger	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Roger Heman Sr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)
Arthur von Kirbach	....	sound (as Arthur Von Kirbach)

Camera and Electrical Department
Al Wark	....	grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sam Benson	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited)

Music Department
Irving Berlin	....	lyrics and music by
Alfred Newman	....	musical director
Fletcher Henderson	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Alfred Newman	....	conductor (uncredited)
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Walter Scharf	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Paul Van Loan	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Seymour Felix	....	dances staged by
Charles E. McCarthy	....	press representative (uncredited)
Frances C. Richardson	....	head of research library (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century-Fox)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1938) (USA) (theatrical) (as 20th Century Fox)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1947) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• 20th Century Fox (1938) (France) (theatrical) (as Les Productions Fox-Europa)
• Epoca (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Fox Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)

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:

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

Filming Locations:

Stage 2, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

A British Movietone Newsreel survives of the London premiere at the Regal Cinema, believed to be some time in Fall 1938. Leslie Mitchell describes the events, and Irving Berlin is present. Mitchell asks Berlin what is his favorite song that he wrote, and Berlin responds: "Well, what do you think!" indicating the title of this film. Also present is George Sanders, Clive Brook, Bobby Howes, Mary Maguire, Margaret Lockwood and Flora Robson.

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

Stella's Sailor freind:So, did you ever learn long division?
Stella Kirby:I never even learned short division!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "M*A*S*H: Baby, It's Cold Outside (#7.9)" (1978)

Soundtrack:

Reveille

classic entertainment

The last time I saw this movie was probably the late '60s, when I watched it on television with a group of friends. I just saw it again on DVD, and it's as much fun as I remember it. In 108 minutes, I wouldn't be surprised if 90 minutes was music, and what music! One Irving Berlin song after another, sung by either Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Ethel Merman, or Jack Haley. A young Merman, with a sexy figure, really pops in this film with her exciting belt voice.

A thinnish plot surrounds the songs. It's the story of a classical musician (Tyrone Power) who forms a swing band and, because of the song "Alexander's Ragtime Band" takes the name Alexander for himself and the Ragtime Band for his group. The movie takes us loving, losing, and playing music through World War I and into the swing era, though there's not a gray hair to be found among our heroes.

Ameche and Power were friends before either one of them was signed by 20th Century Fox, and with Faye, they made "In Old Chicago" together plus this film - and both Faye/Ameche and Faye/Power made other films together as well. The three work very well as an ensemble. Faye is especially lovely in this. She sings in a commanding contralto, wears some great fashions, and is appropriately feisty, low-class, or classy as the part demands.

As lovely as she was, though, she's no competition for the most gorgeous one in the movie, Tyrone Power. He's pretty darn breathtaking in that tuxedo of his. He could have conducted me anywhere.

Monumentally entertaining music and plenty of eye candy - highly recommended.