Rhapsody in Blue (1945)

Simply Perfect

Must See Movie...

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

The film is overly long, due to the length of the musical pieces, and the film is tedious. Does not compare with better biopics, such as Yankee Doodle Dandy and that one with Bob Hope as Eddie Foy. Those had humor. And the Jolson Story and Jolson Sings Again, though also fictitious, are far better.But it is a piece of history and has some real people in it, such as the GREAT AL JOLSON and I don't know who that funny dancing man is in the scene showing the first "Scandals" (maybe it is Shep Houghton, whose IMDb bio lists many appearances where he sadly wasn't even credited. He seems extremely talented and is still alive, apparently!) Hazel Scott, who appears in the film as a black singer in Paris, is not exactly playing herself, per se, since she is too young to have been a Gershwin contemporary, is SOOOOOO excellent, though. I remember her on other TV shows of the 1960s and I guess must have seen her on "Julia" as well. But she was a question on a TV game show I saw--I think it was that show "Cash Cab" so there is a trivia question for you. She ought to have a biopic of her own.I am sick of people insulting Al Jolson! Shut up idiots! He helped make the success of many songwriters and artists, such as Gershwin and Irving Berlin. So it is OK that this song Blue Monday Blues is done with white actors in brown (blackface) makeup? and bad for Jolson to be in "burnt cork"? Get over this PC Police attitude! Jolson ends up losing his place in history because the PC police moan and groan and make themselves into sanctimonious critics of Jolson. THEY have no talent of their own. I am insulted for Jolson that in a recent documentary of Jewish Broadway musicians they cut down Jolson by referring to this scene in this film as a "now shameful" episode of entertainment history, yadda yadda how bad it is to be in blackface, ignoring Irving Berlin's past in minstrel shows. Al Jolson was excellent and not a bigot (see an interview Johnny Carson had with Eubie Blake, defending Jolson). He deserves his place in history.

George Gershwin's music speaks for itself. No movie can ever completely capture the essence of Mr. Gershwin's career, but this movie represents a wonderful attempt. The real star of this movie, besides the music itself, is Oscar Levant. His performance is stunning; he carries the movie. The final scene is exquisite. Accolades are also in order for Joan Leslie. What a great actress and she proves it in this movie. This movie is about genius and creativity that brought joy to people. Who hasn't ever heard a Gershwin song? This movie is even more impressive in that it avoids becoming overly melodramatic and up scores not his untimely death but his incredible achievements. Under a less skillful director, this movie could have easily devolved into a tearjerker, but instead stays on course, tells, the story and in the process allows the audience to appreciate what Mr. Gershwin meant, not only to his family and friends, but to all of us. This movie is a fitting tribute to the life and achievements of a musical genius. Hollywood deserves praise for having made this movie and of putting together a production that does credit not only to George Gershwin's memory but to the importance of music to society.

Rhapsody in Blue (1945) played to me like a B movie. The acting was okay, the cast wasn't stellar, the crispness of the black and white photography wasn't there, the sound was a bit distorted. If TCM can't get this movie up to speed, then I would imagine buying a copy would be a disaster. All that aside, it was a fascinating story of George Gershwin. This a man whose music I've loved for decades, but I never took the time to learn anything about him or his brother Ira personally. This movie definitely gets that job done. It is billed as a fictionalized account and a very clean and tidy film it is, but I still got the essence of Gershwin's passion for his music, for getting every detail right, and for trying so hard to get all of the genius out of his head and onto the paper.I purposefully did not read about Gershwin on IMDb or elsewhere while watching this film. I wanted to be surprised by his life and accomplishments and I was. I finally took the time tonight to get some songs off iTunes that he had written. I was surprised at how many I already had. "Summertime" is one of my favorites of all time, and I love the Ella Fitzgerald version best. Alan Alda's father is the star. I'm not inspired to seek out more of his movies, but when a movie inspires me to download some classic tunes, then it's worth knowing what kind of man wrote them and getting a look at the genius behind this great music.

Yes, George Gershwin wrote some wonderful music and yes, Warner Bros. does use a lot of his music almost continuously throughout the background--but this has to be a musical bio even more fabricated than NIGHT AND DAY, which purported to be the bio of Cole Porter.All the standard Hollywood clichés are there--the girl friend (JOAN LESLIE--who never really existed) upset because another woman (who else, but ALEXIS SMITH) has stolen her true love's affection. There's even a melodramatic scene where Alexis nobly gives up her love for Gershwin because she knows she's only "the other woman" in his life.Then there's the best friend, played by Oscar LEVANT, who did indeed know George Gershwin well, the devoted brother Ira Gershwin, and the loving parents, including teary-eyed mother ROSEMARY DeCAMP.But while the plot is standard formula bio stuff, the kind that Warner Bros. did throughout the '40s, not much can be said for the performances which are also pretty standard, including ROBERT ALDA as Gershwin. (He's Alan's dad, you know.) Highlights are Gershwin's works performed before concert audiences, including "Rhapsody in Blue" and "Porgy and Bess". There's even a familiar face popping up now and then before stardom came--for example, MARK STEVENS (who is uncredited in the billing) as a singer.Just as NIGHT AND DAY was a complete fabrication, so is RHAPSODY IN BLUE. Music lovers will find plenty to listen to, but don't expect to learn more about Gershwin's real life as a composer.This is one case where the B&W photography looks drab. The studio should have gone all out for color--at least then the film would have been worth watching as well as listening to.