 |
This is a great pair of Bing Crosby musicals on one DVD. In Rhythm on the Range (1936), Bing and partner Bob Burns are two cowpokes who rely on Bing's crooning to win a rodeo competition. Then they meet up with Francis Farmer and Martha Raye in her screen debut, and cowboy-themed comedy ensues. Crosby sings one of his best western songs, "I'm an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande)." The better film on the disc, and one of my favorite Crosby pictures, is Rhythm on the River (1940), costarring Mary Martin, Basil Rathbone, and Oscar Levant. Bing plays a shiftless composer who is secretly writing music for talentless Broadway big shot Rathbone. Meanwhile, Martin is hired to ghostwrite the lyrics. When Crosby and Martin meet and fall in love, they discover that they are both working for the same man and decide to combine forces and try songwriting on their own. However, buyers complain that every song they write is good but sounds like Rathbone's signature style and is thus unusable. When Bing and Mary write a true hit, "Only Forever," which garnered an Academy Award nomination in real life, Rathbone gets his hands on it and intends to play it on the radio after placating the writers with a sob story. Levant reveals Rathbone's excuse is a falsehood, and Bing rushes to stop the rat. Hilariously, the radio announcer, played by Bing's actual radio announcer Ken Carpenter, is running out of material for his advertisements while Rathbone and Crosby argue and must extoll invented new uses for the dull product. Will Bing and Mary get the credit they deserve? Or will Rathbone get his way? The best musical number in the film comes when Bing and his musician friends go to a pawn shop to get their instruments out of hock and perform "Rhythm on the River." There are top-notch songs throughout the movie, including "That's For Me," "What Would Shakespeare Have Said?" "When the Moon Comes Over Madison Square," and "Only Forever." Everyone in the film is humorous, and Crosby's running "my uncle's got a place in Tarrytown, Nobody's Inn" gag is funny. This was the first screen appearance for John Scott Trotter, playing himself; he was the orchestra leader on Bing's weekly radio program. Crosby's former Rhythm Boys cohort Harry Barris also appears in the film as the bass sax player. I enjoy watching Rhythm on the River over and over. It is one of Bing's best pictures, making this is a very worthwhile DVD to buy for your collection.Read full review
Great old movies not blockbusters but entertaining. Great music corny plot but relaxing to watch. Family safe without gratuitous violence common in todays films.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
great old movie!!!!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Both rarely seen Bing Crosby musicals that have been out of circulation in years. Nice to see them again,.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
A cute and entertaining movie
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
