Search - Good News on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Excellent For Children Movie Release: 1947 DVD Release: 09/19/2000 Format: DVD Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 33 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 8 Genres: Musical, Romance, Musical Comedy, Sports Drama

This second film version of the DeSylva/Brown/Henderson Broadway musical Good News may not be the best of the Arthur Freed-produced MGM musicals, but it's certainly one of the peppiest. The film is set at Tait college during the Roaring 20s. The wisp of a plot involves Tait football-star Peter Lawford, who will be ineligible to play in the Big Game if his grades don't improve. June Allyson is the demure Tait coed who takes on the task of tutoring Lawford, while campus vamp Patricia Marshall takes action when she believes (rightly so) that she is losing Lawford to Allyson. The film is deftly stolen by comic relief Joan McCracken, who stops the show with her energetic rendition of "Pass That Peace Pipe"--which, like the famous Lawford/Allyson duet "The French Lesson," was specially written for this 1948 version of Good News. Retained from the original score is the rousing "Varsity Drag." Mel Torme, Tom Dugan and Donald McBride are among the familiar supporting-cast faces in this bubbly Technicolor musical, which was adapted for the screen by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

June Allyson - Connie Lane
Morris Ankrum - Dean Griswold
Tom Dugan - Pooch
Connie Gilchrist - Cora the Cook
Jane Green - Mrs. Drexel

1940s College mentality and good old song and dance meet in the musical extravaganza Good News. Presented in 1.33:1 full frame, this transfer is an excellent reproduction of the original theatrical release. While a few imperfections abound (including some softness in the colors and dirt), overall this is a crisp transfer that should please fans. The soundtrack is presented in Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono in English and sounds uniformly flat and uninspired. However, since this film is over fifty years old forgiveness can be granted since the dialogue, effects and music are all free of any hiss or distortion. Also Included on this disc are English and French subtitles. A few extra features have made their way onto this DVD, including some excerpts from the original 1930 film, an entertaining deleted musical sequence, some pithy production notes, and a trailer for the film. ~ Patrick Naugle, All Movie Guide