World Famous Comics: Valentine Davies The Benny Goodman Story
Valentine Davies The Benny Goodman Story
Starring: Steve Allen, Donna Reed, Berta Gersten, Barry Truex, Herbert Anderson Directed By: Valentine Davies Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: G (General Audience) Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC Label: Universal Studios Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: March 04, 2003 Running Time: 117 minutes Theatrical Release Date: 1955-12
Product Description: The jazz clarinetist and bandleaders story includes his boyhood his sweetheart and his swing-era frame. Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 03/04/2003 Starring: Teddy Wilson Wilton Graff Run time: 116 minutes Rating: G Director: Valentine Davies
Amazon.com: It lacks the tragic ending of The Glenn Miller Story, a smash hit released a year earlier, but this enjoyable musical biopic does a nice job of blending Benny Goodman's sweet swinging clarinet with a healthy dose of Hollywood hokum. The emphasis is on Goodman's struggle to get "hot music" into the mainstream, and his shy wooing of a socialite (Donna Reed). With Steve Allen cast as the bespectacled Goodman, there's a comic undertone to the bandleader's somewhat geeky demeanor, and Allen (a musician himself) is believable fronting the orchestra. Real-life swing figures, including Goodman Quartet players Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson, and Lionel Hampton, lend verisimilitude. The climax comes with Goodman's legendary 1938 jazz concert at Carnegie Hall, a turning point in American popular music--and the sight of a mild-mannered man in a tuxedo leading his band through the glorious frenzy of "Sing, Sing, Sing" remains a delight. --Robert Horton
Old but good Well made movie, and probably close to reality than The Glenn Miller Story. Steve Alen looks more like Glenn Miller than he does to Benny Goodman, and he plays Goodman in a rather understated way, at times almost dead, but he was no actor. He was a comedian. Some of the acting in this movie is quite mediocre, and so is the script. But it is a movie for Big Bands buffs, the music is wonderful and so is the depiction of the period. Despite its shortcomings, the movie is quite enjoyable.
Great Times, Great Music and Great Value I am no critic, BUT thought that the story line was OK (no hard times shown- other than death of Benny's father) MUSIC - FANTASTIC - Having some of the GREATS involved - OUT STANDING! Those who enjoy the music of the BIG BANDS should enjoy it. "DON'T BE THAT WAY!"
Benny Goodman When I picture Benny Goodman I picture the image as portrayed by Steve Allen. The music is, of course, B.G's. I also have "The Benny Goodman Story," which is made from actual clips from his life. Hollywood has really only changed the story slightly to make it more compact and a better movie. If you want a picture of the shy introvert who lived for his music, this is probably the better of the two. If you want the music to be more technically perfect, this is for you. But if you want to feel the driving beat that made up the swing era and to see musicians totally engrossed in their music, then get "The Benny Goodman Story." I am proud to own both of them and to watch whichever one most fits my mood at the time.
fine biopic despite a problem here and there The Benny Goodman Story tells the story of Benny Goodman's rise to great fame with his endless touring and a historic concert at Carnegie Hall. Yes, the film is highly fictionalized; but I must agree with many reviewers who comment that the picture is worth seeing for the music alone! The acting is mediocre; Steve Allen plays Benny Goodman in such an understated way that I felt his acting was actually rather flat. He makes Goodman come off as somewhat callous--although I think Goodman wasn't so likable in real life. Donna Reed does a much better job at playing Benny's girlfriend Alice Hammond. The plot moves along at a good pace and the music will hold your attention.
The action starts when we are introduced to a very young, ten year old Benny Goodman played very well by David Kasday. We see Benny getting his first music lessons; and after six years Benny is able to play just about anything. He slowly but surely gets his start but isn't ever comfortable in New York (where Alice lives, just by coincidence) because he and his band had a flop or two early on there.
The movie then progresses to show Benny Goodman form his band; and their eventual climb up the ladder is wonderful to watch. I especially liked the scene at the theater where people stop dancing and just crowd around the stage because they are so much in awe of Benny and his band.
Of course, the famous Benny Goodman concert at Carnegie Hall ends this film in order to show the viewers that Benny was on top--a happy ending made all the happier because we also know that Benny will finally marry his sweetheart Alice Hammond.
There are numerous celebrities in this film; look for Sammy Davis, Sr. to play Fletcher Henderson, who wrote some arrangement for Benny and his band earlier on in their careers; and we also get great performances by Lionel Hampton, Martha Tilton, and Gene Krupa, and Harry James among others. In addition, when Steve Allen plays the clarinet in this film we are actually listening to Benny Goodman himself playing his own clarinet offstage. Great! We hear them play terrific numbers including "Let's Dance, "Stompin' At The Savoy," "One O'Clock Jump," "Moonglow," "Sing Sing Sing (With A Swing)."
The DVD comes without any bonuses or extras; that's a disappointment. Another disappointment is that the costumes are distinctly 1950s looking--and this movie takes place mostly in the 1930s. The cars used are from the right era; but I was quite surprised to see costumes from the `50s.
Overall, this may not be the greatest biopic ever made; but the music, Donna Reed and the celebrity appearances make this more than worth the while. You should see this film if you are a Benny Goodman fan--and people who enjoy swing music will love this!
Compatibility This DVD is set for region 1, my new Philips DVD player is set for region 2 (Europe , UK ) only. That restriction wasnt mentioned in the DVD offer.
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