Search - Good News on DVD

Music, Dancing, and Pre-war Feminism

Sarah Buck | Ann Arbor, MI | 06/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!"

All singing, all dancing, all fun !

Sarah Buck | 10/14/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of my all-time favorites! It's about college life during the roaring 20's. 23-skidoo! Wonderful songs, from the beautifully romantic to the showstopping big band blowout dance numbers. Lots of high energy! The cinematography is great ( technicolor ) from the big football game to glamorous close-ups of Ms. Allyson and Mr. Lawford. Background note: In the "French Lesson" song, Ms. Allyson teaches Mr. Lawford how to speak French, but in real life, it was Mr. Lawford who taught Ms. Allyson the French words she needed to sing for the movie. Fun, eh?. A great musical for all ages!"

Fast, breezy entertainment!

tomovieboy | Thousand Oaks, CA USA | 10/02/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This version of "Good News" (there was a 1930 adaptation) takes the wonderful musical score (plus some interpolated standards), and folds it into a terrifically innocent, fast, and joyful plot about 1920s college kids, the big football game, and the brainy student (June allyson) who tutors, then falls in love with, the gridiron hero (Peter Lawford). There were greater musicals produced by MGM in the '40s and '50s than this one, but even the best of those ("The Band Wagon", "Singin' in the Rain") are hard pressed to match the sheer energy and sparkle of this "minor" MGM tuner. Everything about "Good News" works effortlessly, and the fun is amped up considerably by the straight-ahead kinetics of the numbers. From the title song (done on the front steps of the fictional Tait College), through the jazzy specialty "pass That Peace Pipe", on to the genuinely exciting finale to "The Varisty Drag", the arrangements have snap and drive, and the choreography is equal to the scoring in impact.On DVD, the Technicolor picture is vibrant, sharp, and steady. The monophonic sound is fairly strong considering the age of the film; overall the presentation is top notch. The extras include two staggeringly campy musical excerpts from the 1930 version, featuring a pre-"Blondie" Penny Singleton scrunching up her face and pounding out the lumbering dance steps to horse-y versions of the title song and "The Varsity Drag". Very funny and a great complement to the exuberance of the 1947 version."

"Lucky In Love" With this Movie

Ellie | Colorado | 01/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."