Tin Pan Alley

"Tin Pan Alley" is a serviceable if slightly undernourished musical extravaganza starring Alice Faye, John Payne, Betty Grable, Jackie Oakie. I thought it would turn out to be as memorable and enchanting as Faye's greatest musicals like "That Night in Rio" or "Hello Frisco Hello" also co-starring John Payne, but it is nowhere near them. There is a sense that something is missing; the idea is there but somehow it doesn't quite coalesce, even despite the luminous presence of Faye. Nevertheless, it has one of the most spectacular dance and musical numbers ever staged: "The Sheik of Araby" - featuring Faye, Grable, and the Nicholas Brothers who also appeared in Grable's previous hit wonder, "Down Argentine Way". The dance number has a spark and excitement most of the movie lacks.

This is a delightful film with some of the best stars from the 40's. Alice Faye has been a personal favorite of mine for years and her beautiful contralto singing voice is only one reason. She is also charming and beautiful, and it's no wonder she was 20th Century Fox's top blonde star for many years (until Betty Grable, who is, of course, also in this film). Alice and Betty make believable sisters and perform some knockout numbers together (especially "The Sheik of Araby", which also boasts the talents of the marvelous Nicholas Brothers). Alice is paired romantically in the film with John Payne (a frequent costar), and their chemistry makes you understand why Fox paired them often in film. The songs are delightful and the movie captures the image of Tin Pan Alley that may not have existed in reality, but isn't the image on film more romantic and lovely to look at? The only quibble I have: why, oh why wasn't this filmed in Technicolor?

Alice Faye was my favorite singer actress and made so many good films when I was in High School. Tin Pan Alley was especially entertaining and had our favorite Ethel Merman. As always she was the great belter; remember her in Alexander's Ragtime Band with Tyrone Power and Don Ameche. Both Power and Ameche played in several of Alice's films; and then there were Jack Oakie and June Havoc; what an amusing pair they were! The films I liked best were Tin Pan Alley 1940; The Gang's All Here and Hello Frisco Hello both 1943; and State Fair remake with Pat Boone and Bobby Darin (1960s?) In 1985 Alice Faye was at the Arlington Theater promoting health care products, and I had the privilege of talking to her. She was a great lady and very nice!

... in that it seemed so big and grand in my memory, but is actually quite small and underwhelming when revisited.

It had been years since I saw Tin Pan Alley, definitely over a decade. It was on the Fox Movie Channel back when that channel used to play classic Fox titles around the clock, but now relegates older films to twelve hours a day, and usually it is about the same twenty titles all of the time and pre 1960 titles? Forget about it.

So when it popped up available to see I decided to jump on it, and the production as a whole left me disappointed. It pretty much amounts to this - In 1915 pretty chanteuse (Alice Faye) meets two struggling song writers/publishers. They catapult to success based on a title they buy off of a performer in a restaurant, then success goes to the head of the publisher Faye loves (John Payne). Complications ensue, but none you won't see coming from a mile away. And the musical numbers are too bland and too long.

But it does have its charms. Alice Faye is great as the wholesome girl next door with the wonderful voice. Jack Oakie doesn't look or sound like somebody who would be a net positive in a musical, but he works great as long as he has somebody to bounce one liners off of, and John Payne fits the bill for that duty. Then there is Elisha Cook Jr of the noirs as a geeky gifted composer. If that doesn't sound weird then I assume you could see Hoagy Carmichael playing a psychopathic killer?

Finally there is the one really good song in this film - "You Say The Sweetest Things" by Gordon and Warren performed by Alice Faye. Fortunately, Fox knew this was the best song because it becomes a kind of background score as the plot unwinds. With a second billed Betty Grable who hardly has a line and a great cameo appearance by the Nicholas Brothers, this is probably worth your time.

From the first time I saw Tin Pan Alley I played it over and over, because I enjoyed the music so much and the stars were in top form. While I rarely seek out the actors in films made to-day, I tune into any old film featuring Alice Faye, John Payne, Betty Grable or Jack Oakie, hoping to find something just as engaging. The unabashed sentimentality of the music and simple straight forward humour make it a refreshing change from to-day's tasteless films. While Alice Faye tackles the love songs with John Payne, as a consumate professional, I am always sure he is using a lot of self control not break into laughter, and that they had a lot of fun making the movie.