Product Description

Musical comedy about two college girls in love with the same guy, but for different reasons.
Genre: Musicals
Rating: NR
Release Date: 19-SEP-2000
Media Type: DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19522 in DVD
• Brand: ALLYSON,JANE
• Released on: 2000-09-19
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 93 minutes

Amazon.com
Tait College football captain Tommy Marlowe (Peter Lawford) is used to getting any girl he wants. When new coed Pat McClellan (Patricia Marshall) arrives on campus sporting racy fashions and pseudo-French phrases, he decides he wants her. But Pat only has eyes for men with millions, so Tommy enlists sweet Connie Lane (June Allyson), Pat's sorority sister who is working her way through Tait as an assistant librarian, to help him learn French. Tommy falls for down-to-Earth Connie, who falls for him right back, but his ego gets in the way when Pat does a turnabout and decides she does want him after all.

Based on the Broadway play and 1930s musical, Good News is an enthusiastic, good-hearted romp through late-'20s college life. Broadway actress Joan McCracken as Connie's roommate Babe Doolittle exudes energy as she leads nearly all the musical numbers, particularly shining in "Good News" and "Pass the Peace Pipe." A young Mel Tormé sings a lovely reprise of "The Best Things in Life Are Free," and one of the signature songs, "The Varsity Drag," is led by Allyson and Lawford showcasing their dancing and singing talents (Lawford is a better hoofer than vocalist). Though the movie seems mainly constructed around the musical numbers, the writing is sharp and the cast members seems to be enjoying themselves. Director Charles Walters went on to direct Easter Parade and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and screenwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green would make their mark with, among others, On the Town and Singin' in the Rain. --Dana Van Nest

Additional features
Special features on the DVD include biographies of Allyson and Lawford, the theatrical trailer, the deleted musical number "An Easier Way" sung by Allyson, and musical excerpts from the 1930 version of Good News, featuring a young Penny Singleton, who would later become famous for the title role in the Blondie movies.

Customer Reviews

Music, Dancing, and Pre-war Feminism
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!

BEST MUSICAL OF ALL-TIME
I am only 26, but I have always loved a good movie musical. "Good News" isn't a good musical, it is an outstanding musical! June Allyson and Peter Lawford weren't the best singers and dancers, but they sang the beautiful "Best Things In Life Are Free" and danced "The Varsity Drag" like they were Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

The supporting cast was great including the late Mel Torme singing "Lucky In Love",and Joan McCracken and Ray McDonald dancing my favorite number "Pass The Peace Pipe". Both McCracken and McDonald died young in the 1950s. One reviewer wrote that this was Joan's only movie, but it wasn't.

Also in the movie is the famous "French Lesson" number when June Allyson is supposed to teach Peter Lawford french. In reality, Lawford spoke the language fluently, while Allyson had to learn it! Whether a big fan of musicals like me or an occasional viewer, do not pass up this musical. It'll be good news in your video pleasure!

all singing, all dancing, all fun !
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!