Waukegan Public Library - musical

Have You Heard About... Barrage

Fran J — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 06:22:08 +0000

… a traveling band of gypsies? Treat yourself to the musical DVD Barrage, Vagabond Tales. Through music, you will learn about a group of traveling gypsies who gather in their ancestral land to decide who gets leadership of the tribe. This is a twelve-person ensemble of mostly violins and fiddles and lots of hijinks. The narrator tells the story as these extremely talented musicians play their music and dance and sing a little bit.

A little bit of country, folk, bluegrass, jazz and pop songs are preformed as the story unfolds. They make it look so easy. In the bonus features, it tells how this incredible group came together, and how they manage to combine all of this talent and the gypsy tale into something wondrous. Some of the songs include Birdland, Eleanor Rigby, Tico Tico and Sweet Georgia Brown.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Hello, Frisco, Hello

Fran J — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:27:53 +0000

… the 1943 romantic, musical comedy set in San Francisco’s Barbary Coast at the turn of the 19th century? In Hello, Frisco, Hello, a talented singing foursome is fired for being so good at a dance hall that the customers stop drinking their beer to just watch and listen to them. The story line is about what happens during their rise to fame and fortune, and the downfall that follows.

Starring the beautiful Alice Faye, the handsome John Payne, and the comedic talents of the wonderful Jack Oakie and June Havoc, this film might seem a little bit corny by today’s movie going public, but it’s pure magic for those who remember the good old days. It features the Oscar winning song “You’ll Never Know” and has a spectacular roller skating number that you just have to see. Be sure to watch the “Re-making of Alice Faye” in the special features also.

If you’ve never seen this classic, pick it up now for a good evening of pure entertainment that’s free with your library card.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)

Have You Heard About... Broadway Rhythm

Fran J — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 06:48:22 +0000

… a song called “Solid Potato Salad”? This cute song is in the movie Broadway Rhythm, sung by Aggie, Maggie and Elmira, better known as the Ross Sisters, three sisters who do an amazing contortionist act in the film. This golden oldie features George Murphy (before he became a U.S. Senator), Ginny Sims, Gloria De Haven, the always wonderful Charles Winninger, and the delightfully funny talents of Nancy Walker, Ben Blue, Kenny Bowers and Eddie ’Rochester’ Anderson. Tommy Dorsey and his band provide the music.

There’s not really a plot in this MGM World War II escapism musical. This movie is about the wonderful music, such as “All the Things You Are,” “Somebody Loves Me” – sung by the fabulous Lena Horne – “Irresistible You” and many others.

The highlight in this film is when Nancy Walker, Tommy Dorsey and Ben Blue do a fantastic musical number called “Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet.”

You won’t be disappointed if you check out this great DVD. It’s one of the classics from 1944.

Reviewed by Terry (staff)