Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938)

80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
46% of users liked it
(1,358 ratings)

His Aunt Sophie (Helen Westley) and his teacher Professor Heinrich (Jean Hersholt) are sure that Roger Grant (Tyrone Power) will be a famous classical violinist, but Roger's more interested in popular music. He and his friend, pianist Charlie (Don Ameche), audition at a saloon in San Francisco's… More His Aunt Sophie (Helen Westley) and his teacher Professor Heinrich (Jean Hersholt) are sure that Roger Grant (Tyrone Power) will be a famous classical violinist, but Roger's more interested in popular music. He and his friend, pianist Charlie (Don Ameche), audition at a saloon in San Francisco's Barbary Coast, using sheet music left by singer Stella Kirby (Alice Faye), which had been sent to her by a friend in New York, Irving Berlin. The number, "Alexander's Ragtime Band," proves to be a sensation, and Stella goes along with Charlie's plea to sing with the band, which soon becomes famous for its ragtime numbers. Charlie has fallen in love with Stella by the time they open at the Cliff House, but he soon realizes that she and Roger are in love. Stella is invited to New York by a famous producer, but Roger's against this, and angrily fires her, so Charlie quits, too. When Roger returns from World War I, he meets Stella, only to learn she and Charlie have been married for a year. Another year passes, and Charlie and Davey have formed a new band with Jerry Allen (Ethel Merman) as their lead singer. Charlie knows Stella still loves Roger, so he divorces her, but Roger sails for Europe with the new band. Back in New York, Roger is set for a major concert in swing at Carnegie Hall. Charlie tells Roger about the divorce, and that Stella still loves him. Unable to get a ticket, Stella listens to the concert in a cab. Explaining that he is playing it for one particular person, Roger and his band perform "Alexander's Ragtime Band" as their encore, bringing Stella into the theater, where she's reconciled with Roger. He brings her onstage to perform the number with his band. ~ Bill Warren, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: Henry King
Written By: Lamar Trotti
Genres: Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics

In Theaters: Aug 16, 1938 Wide
On DVD: Sep 7, 2004

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Irving Berlin's Alexander's Ragtime Band is a grand filmusical which stirs and thrills, a medley of more than 30 pieces, selected from some 600 which Berlin has composed.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
28 of Irving Berlin's greatest songs make this energetic, handsomely mounted production a must-see for musical fans.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Despite Tyrone Powers' stiff turn in the lead, Henry King's Depression-era musical is well-crafted, boasting 28 of Irving Berlin's greatest hits, some nicely performed by Alice Faye at her prime.
J. Alan Speer, Apollo Guide
The relentless parade of facts in the DVD commentary makes a second DVD viewing as fresh as the first, pointing out all the work that went into the film's sets and costumes.
J. Alan Speer, Apollo Guide
Easily a tune every few minutes, all reliably executed, but the film's insistence on musical comprehensiveness leaves room only for the barest of character development.
, Film4
Great fun.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

This movie has a great cast, but it was so boring I couldn't watch it all.
William D

"Alexander's Ragtime Band" was another Best Picture nominee in 1938. It was a showcase for Irving Berlin's music, which was such a sensation at the time. But it was more than that. Directed with effortless ease by Henry King and edited superbly, the film is a… More
"Alexander's Ragtime Band" was another Best Picture nominee in 1938. It was a showcase for Irving Berlin's music, which was such a sensation at the time. But it was more than that. Directed with effortless ease by Henry King and edited superbly, the film is a delight from start to finish. Its heartfelt love story is brought to life exuberantly by Alice Faye and Tyrone Power, neither of whom ever received Oscar nominations despite having been major stars for decades. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but this is my first time seeing Faye and Power. I can now confidently say that Faye deserves to be better known among cinephiles today. The fact that she didn't receive an Oscar nomination for "Alexander's Ragtime Band" strikes me as a classic case of the Academy's unfair privileging of drama over musicals and comedies. Faye here has to pull off a lot more than musical comedy. She has to convey heartbreak through many scenes in the second half of the film, and she does so in a deeply convincing way. Also noteworthy is co-star Don Ameche, who has almost as much screen time here as Power. He does a great job in the role of Power's sidekick. (Ameche, incidentally, received his one and only Oscar when he was an old man, winning Best Supporting Actor in 1985 for the film "Cocoon.") "Ragtime Band" is not much more than melodrama, however, and ultimately is rather superficial. But it delivers its message winningly and with a lot more cinematic skill and aplomb than any of the other Best Picture nominees I've seen thus far in my study of 1938. Next up on my list: "Boys Town," starring Spencer Tracy in a performance that won him the Best Actor Oscar that year, and "Pygmalion," with Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller, both of whom were nominated for Oscars that year.

Cast

            Tyrone Power as Roger Grant

            Alice Faye as Stella Kirby

            Don Ameche as Charlie Dwyer

            Ethel Merman as Jerry Allen

            Jack Haley as Davey Lane

            Jean Hersholt as Prof. Heinrich

            Helen Westley as Aunt Sophie

            John Carradine as Cabdriver

            Paul Hurst as Bill

            Wally Vernon as Himself

            Ruth Terry as Ruby

            Douglas Fowley as Snapper

            Chick Chandler as Louie

            Eddie Collins as Corporal Collins

            Joseph Crehan as Stage Manager

            Robert Gleckler as Dirty Eddie

            Dixie Dunbar as Dancer

            Joe King as Charles Dillingman

            Charles Coleman as Head Waiter

            Stanley Andrews as Colonel

            Charles Williams as Agent

            Jane Jones as Singin trio

            Otto H. Fries as Singing trio

            Grady Sutton as Babe

            Selmar Jackson as Radio Station Manager

            Tyler Brooke as Assistant Stage Manager

            Donald Douglas as Singer

            Sam Ash as Critic

            A.S. Byron
            
            Lon Chaney Jr as Photographer

            Ralph Dunn as Captain

            James Flavin as Captain

            Edward Keane as Major

            The King's Men as Quartet

            Robert Lowery as Reporter

            Paul McVey as Stage Manager

            Arthur Rankin as Stage Manager

            Cully Richards as Musician

            Edwin Stanley as Critic

            Charles Tannen as Secretary

            Eleanor Wesselhoeft as Martha

            Cecil Weston as Woman

            Jack Pennick as Sergeant

            Kay Griffith as Autograph Seeker

            Harold Goodwin as M.P.
See full cast