Rating: 
Summary: Music, Dancing, and Pre-war Feminism
Review: I discovered this toe-tapping musical by accident my freshmen year of college and I have never enjoyed another film quite so much! Made in the golden years of the MGM musical production frenzy, "Good News" is a shining star that, sadly, for years was forgotten. "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!
Rating:
Summary: Music, Dancing, and Pre-war Feminism
Review: I discovered this toe-tapping musical by accident my freshmen year of college and I have never enjoyed another film quite so much! Made in the golden years of the MGM musical production frenzy, "Good News" is a shining star that, sadly, for years was forgotten. "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!
Rating:
Summary: "Lucky In Love" With this Movie
Review: I love this movie so much I have forced everyone I know to watch it. All of them loved it too. My college roommates were all able to do the "Varsity Drag"(the show-stopping dancing finale) by the time they moved out! It's a musical set in the 1920's on a college campus. While it ends in your typical guy-gets-girl fashion, it takes you on a thrilling ride along the way. Tommy, the captian of the Tait football team needs help from the independent, talented, and of course beautiful student librarian, so that he can pass his French class and win the big game.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite musical!
Review: I love this musical, and definitely recommend it for any musical lovers!! "The Best Things in Life Are Free" and "Ladies' Man" are two of my favorite songs from this movie.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite musical!
Review: I love this musical, and definitely recommend it for any musical lovers!! "The Best Things in Life Are Free" and "Ladies' Man" are two of my favorite songs from this movie.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite musical!
Review: I love this musical, and definitely recommend it for any musical lovers!! "The Best Things in Life Are Free" and "Ladies' Man" are two of my favorite songs from this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, A Great Musical
Review: I recently discovered this movie and found out that it is one of the best musicals out there. It has easily become one of my favourites because of its youthful exuberance and great music. I have a number of movies with Peter Lawford in my collection, and in most such as Royal Wedding and Easter Parade, Peter is the backup or shares the romantic lead. Good News is different in that he has the main romantic lead and so we get to see him more often. Peter Lawford and June Allyson are a great pair and have such great romantic chemistry. This movie features the song "The Best Things in Life are Free" (you know the song that was used in phone commercials years ago? lol) and it is the love theme for the characters in the movie. June Allyson does a moving presentation of the song. Both Allyson and Lawford are just so cute in this movie. Peter Lawford portrays the football star, Tommy Marlowe, who learns French in order to impress the new student, and most recent love interest, Pat McCellan (Patricia Marshall), only to fall in love with his French tutor, Connie Lane (Allyson) along the way! Includes a couple of so-so appearances by Mel Torme. French is such an integral part of the story that the captions and English subtitles on the DVD actually include both languages. However the French subtitles are not as complete. It is unfortunate for French viewers that are hearing impaired, that the words that are spoken in French are not subtitled (only the English is translated). Anyway, it's a great film to cheer you up on a rainy afternoon!
Rating:
Summary: One of the great MGM Musicals
Review: I thoroughly love this movie. Everything about it is wonderful - the stars, the songs, the choreography and the excellent DVD extras. It's interesting to see a pre-"Blondie" Penny Singleton exuberantly dancing up a storm in the excerpts from the original film version. The film is highly entertaining and enjoyable. It's a shame it's not better known that it is.
Rating:
Summary: Great Fun!
Review: It's a great pity this is out of print. Joan McCracken, one of the supporting players, was a great broadway star (she was married to Bob Fosse. Rogers and Hammerstein like her so much, they wrote a show for her; "Me and Juliet"). She made only this one film. It's worth having and rewatching if for nothing other than her thrilling "Pass that Peace Pipe" song and dance number. I hope that the original multi-track sound stems still exist to this film since the soundtrack begs to be refurbished in stereo...the band playing in this exciting number is really HOT!
Rating:
Summary: June Allyson and Peter Lawford in love - wonderful!
Review: June Allyson and Peter Lawford are a great team!I couldn't get over thier chemistry.They were totally believable as a football player and librarian falling in love.It is sweet, enertaining and, highly likable.Joan McCracken is so adorable playing the funny sidekick.She is quirky and she made you wish she was your friend.I recommend this movie to everyone.My second fav. movie(second only to Singin In the Rain).I give it 10 out of 10!
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