Rhythm Serenade

A schoolteacher who misses her chance to join up as a WReN still 'does her bit' by other means, finding romance on the way.

National treasure Vera Lynn (still with us as I write this, 101 years old!) was well on her way to becoming 'the forces sweetheart' when she made this film. Made in the wake of 'we'll meet again', this film isn't quite as good or quite as memorable, but it is pretty fair on the whole, although Jimmy Jewel's efforts seem terribly laboured and dated now.

The film does have a fairly leaden propaganda slant; no wonder, since the war had been going for four long years by the time it was made and although the tide had turned on some fronts, folks at home and overseas were feeling it. During the middle of 1943 the artic convoys had been suspended, and the battle of the atlantic wasn't altogether going Britain's way either; the wolf packs had a second 'happy time' and in March 1943 shipping losses were about as high as at any point during WWII. D-day was still a hope for the year after and although the allies had just landed in Italy, it was slow going.

On the home front the factories had to be kept at full swing; in this film there are glimpses of the factory wall decorations, which appear to be cartoons of Stalin, giving a thumbs up to the factory workers. Our friend and ally then, little did anyone know that he was one of the biggest mass murderers in history and he would shortly be opposed to all the wartime allies in the forthcoming cold war.

Not a brilliant film, this, but not a terrible one either, especially considering the times in which it was made. It is interesting that one of the messages is to give folk the benefit of the doubt; plenty had already paid a heavy price and not all were treated as they should have been.

Six out of ten from me, almost a seven but not quite.

Vera Lynn was a wonderful singer with a beautiful voice, with some great songs under her belt, her most famous being "We'll Meet Again". 'Rhythm Serenade' is the second of her five films, but is not one of her best, a lesser one perhaps. It's watchable if not standing up to repeat viewings.

Once again, as with 'We'll Meet Again' (her film debut, which was much superior), is not the most visually or technically accomplished film, and the story structurally and sometimes momentum wise isn't the best, pretty thin and drags in places. It's also even more heavy-handed than 'We'll Meet Again', the propaganda and patriotic elements being laid on too thick. Peter Murray Hill has an odd character and struggles to do much with it, while Jimmy Jewell and Ben Warris provide some pretty unfunny comic relief.

'Rhythm Serenade' is however well worth watching for Lynn, who is very charming and likable. She also sings beautifully. Betty Jardine comes off best in support.

The music is lovely, if not among Lynn's best songs, and makes good use of Lynn's timeless voice. The script is sometimes fun, sweet and charming and some of the pacing is sprightly enough, the film assuredly directed.

So summing up, decent and watchable but not one of Lynn's best. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Vera Lynn plays a teacher who wants to join the WRNS but is prevented from doing so because she is running a nursery for munitions workers.The manager of the factory puts her in a reserved occupation list and as a result she is unable to join the WRNS.She has a romance with a rather odd character played by Peter Murray Hill.She sings a few unmemorable songs.There is a show featured and we see the act of Jewell and Warris who play her brothers.I have to say that on the basis of viewing them one can only say how easily pleased were people in those days.However this film must be one of the strangest that came out of world war 2 since the propaganda angle is constantly plugged so that the film is very unsatisfactory as entertainment.

The title and the presence in the cast of Jewel & Warris and Jimmy Clitheroe (who I only recognised from his voice) led me to expect another backstage story like Vera Lynn's previous film, 'We'll Meet Again'. But it actually proves a slicker, much more satisfying affair. Vera's makeup and wardrobe are considerably less harsh here than in either the film that preceded it or the film that succeeded it, with the result that she's far more recognisable as the postwar Dame Vera we all know and love. She looks and sounds wonderful near the end performing 'With All My Heart' and 'I Love To Sing'; although I would have liked to have seen more of her in the WRNS uniform in which she earlier sings 'Bye and Bye'.

She has been venerated for decades and when you see this film you'll know why. I gave it a 9er and it would have been a tender if not for the fact that it is blatant war propaganda - - but then that is what it's all about, winning. If anybody does not think propaganda wins war...must be sitting in History 101. Vera's acting is top notch here and she is so plucky, probably ehay you would call a strong women, but still aware of fixing up the cottage, dotting over the young boys and looking after her man. Impeccably dressed all I can say is I don't miss the cheap knock-off from GAP and I do wonder who really won the war. I love British life in the 30s - 40s and they made some great films on a fraction of the bloated Hollywood budgets. And the acting is sensible with good music Hall renditions. And Vera singing short sweet songs in-between. The sets are great, even the period cars. Boys were boys and even men could admit they did not understand women without the handcuffs coming out. The directing is great and you feel like you're in the room with the actors, not tons of close-up shots that go on forever. Sometimes I wonder if American producers phoned Louie B. MAYER to raid Judy Garland's drugstore. Watching Picnic I really feel sorry for 50s American the actors. So forced. You had to be "edgy"...at any cost. No wonder Vera lived so long. There was a bloody war, but: "I love to sing".