MovieChat Forums > Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938) Discussion > various little oddities

various little oddities

posted 13 years ago by Rheli
2 replies | jump to latest

(no serious spoiler here I think)

Anybody else catch the weird thing that happened in the San Francisco restaurant (Salvini's) scene? The waiter tries to put Tyrone Power's hat on the peg, but it falls off and he quickly puts it back on again. Doubt that was planned, but he did it and they left that take in.

At times the abruptness of the editing was pretty modern. We've just seen Power and Faye break up and suddenly it's World War I and the guys are in the army without any explanation. Wonder how that plays for the young generation who probably have no idea of that war.

Merman, whose character replaces Faye's, was in real life actually 7 years older.

Do viewers ever realize that the story is supposed to be loosely depicting the life of Irving Berlin. Seems doubtful. Though the Carnegie Hall appearance seems more like Benny Goodman's story.

It was amusing to see the Jean Hersholt character's turnabout. Such a typical, superficial, status-seeking character. Same old music, but now that it's in Carnegie Hall he approves.

Quite a good performance by John Carradine as the taxi driver in a small role.

[–] WhoDo-YouDo 12 years ago

Yes, and also odd (but we also often see this in other films, as "Stage Door") how a Broadway sensation can easily fall from grace as an overnight has-been and through no fault of her own, but just instantly.

Very true also about John Carradine's fine appearance as the Speakeasy Doorman/ Taxi Driver, as he delivers a compelling performance to launch "Alexander's Ragtime Band's" denoument.

[–] thbryn 10 years ago

~ Power,Ameche, Faye had worked togehter the previous year... In old Chicago.

~ I think I saw a member of the John Ford stock Co. in the military sequence (how did John Pennick get in there).

~ The scene where Power asks Merman to marry him--in Eur-- and she pretty much says ' I know you don't love me but I'm ok with being your girlfriend no questions asked' --implied sex-- was pretty daring for the time.

~ I honestly thought that "Blue skies" debut was in the film "Blue skies." My error. Easter Parade,
I thought debuted in Holiday Inn and more prominently featured in the film EP.

~ Prohibition was a big part of this picture but was subtle and I question if a contemporary audience would even understand what was going on in those after hours clubs?
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