Rhapsody in Blue

Some customer reviews have done this long-overdue and gloriously welcome DVD a gross injustice by posting warnings that it is supposedly an inferior bootleg, pirated DVD or supposedly a foreign-produced DVD with annoying Japanese subtitles. Don't believe it..That's total baloney -- perhaps caused by Amazon inadvertently posting customer reviews that related to earlier, bootleg copies during the agonizingly long 15-year wait for this truly great musical to be legitimately re-released by Warner Brothers on a high-quality DVD. Those totally outdated reviews should be removed from the Amazon Website.On the contrary this is the genuine article direct from the major Hollywood studio that made the film in 1945-- labelled as a "remastered" DVD re-released in 2012 by Warner Brothers as part of their "Warner Brothers Archive" series. True, it's not Blu-Ray, but it is a high-quality DVD transfer.I held off buying this priceless gem of a movie for two years because of those reviews that erroneously warned people not to buy a supposedly bootleg copy. Those erroneous reviews caused me to lose two years of sheer pleasure, after waiting so long.It even includes what appears to be the original ten-minute "overture," -- a lush, symphonic medley of Gershwin's greatest melodies which was shown on a black screen before the curtain rose, but only in the first-run "movie palaces" at the end of World War Two when the film was first released. Those who saw it 70 years ago in small neighborhood theaters and second-run theaters probably never heard the overture, which beautifully sets the scene and the mood for the film.. The overture treatment was reserved for just a few of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters like "Gone With the Wind." So it's probably no coincidence that the man given credit for the film's orchestrations was none other than Max Steiner, the legendary Hollywood film composer who won enormous acclaim for his memorable score for "Gone With the Wind." The sparkling sound quality on this overture sounds like an original track that may have been stereo-enhanced for DVD release. The sound on the rest of the film, including the music, is quite good,considering the film's 70-year age. The picture quality apparently is not digitally restored, but it was "remastered" and therefore is surprisingly good.Gershwin experts may quibble.with some of the dramatic liberties the screenplay takes with Gershwin's life, as most biopics do. But it's still a really great story. And those who think Hollywood has forgotten how to do really great movie endings will get goosebumps from the great closing scene where a supposed broadcast of one of Gershwin's great symphony compositions is interrupted by the conductor to announce to radio listeners around the world that Gershwin has just died from a brain tumor. When the orchestra resumes playing, the camera -- in one of "Old Hollywood's" best special effects endings -- gradually rises above the stadium and soars above the clouds as the symphony orchestra continues playing to signify that "now he belongs to the ages." I guarantee a lump in the throat. They just don't make 'em like that anymore.One of the best reasons to view this film is to see historic performances by some of the greatest artists associated with Gershwin's music -- the actual people themselves -- including Gershwin's champion and close friend, pianist Oscar Levant (who helped to popularize "Rhapsody in Blue").......legendary bandleader Paul Whiteman (the man whose jazz orchestra first introduced "Rhapsody in Blue"....George White, the producer of "George White's Scandals," a series of long-running Broadway "reviews" in the 1920s and 1930s.........the legendary Ann Brown (the African-American singer who originated the role of Bess in "Porgy and Bess" and who first sang that role on Broadway)....Hazel Scott, the famous jazz pianist of the 1930s and 1940s....and the legendary Al Jolson (who gave Gershwin his first big break by singing Gershwin's alltime biggest pop hit, the minstrel song "Swanee"....in blackface, no less. The blackface may offend some viewers -- but the film would not have been historically accurate without it.The film is in black-and-white, which probably adds greatly to the mood and the feel of verisimilitude, since it deals largely with a time in the 1920s and early 1930s before Technicolor became popular.The film is a roller-coaster ride through dozens of great Gershwin compositions as it follows his career from early jazz and Broadway show tunes to classical music. It just may be the single best film Hollywood ever made about the life of a composer. This film is one to cherish in your home video archive. Grab it quick -- lest it go out of print again for another 15 years..

This review is for the Warner Archive 2025 blu ray release of Rhapsody in Blue.Musical biographical films, referred to as biopics, are a regular staple of the movie going experience. One of the first was Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) from Warner Brothers about the life of George M. Cohan. Many others have followed; among them, films covering the lives of songwriters (Paul Dresser, Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, Sigmund Romberg, John Philip Sousa), later bandleaders (Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa), country and western singers (Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, June Carter) and rock stars (Elvis Presley, Freddy Mercury, Elton John, Bob Dylan).In 1943, Warners began production on Rhapsody in Blue about the life of composer and songwriter George Gershwin. He wrote many classic songs and serious works, the most famous of which lends its name to the title of the film. Gershwin lived a short life, tragically cut short at the age of 38 of a brain tumor in 1937.The most glaring aspect of the film is that it is not an accurate account of the life of George Gershwin. The characters played by leading ladies Joan Leslie and Alexis Smith had no real life basis. The placement of various songs is chronologically incorrect. George’s lyricist brother, Ira, is depicted but two other Gershwin siblings are not to be found. It should be noted, however, that most musical biopics seldom present a factual narrative.Of course, it’s the music that counts, and here the film excels. Many of Gershwin’s works are heard, albeit in snippets but beautifully arranged and orchestrated by Ray Heindorf. Gershwin’s friend, Oscar Levant supplies the keyboard work and plays himself. Judging by his lines and his real life reputation for witty quips, one is inclined to believe that Levant possibly wrote his own dialogue. Other famous show biz luminaries play themselves: Paul Whiteman, Al Jolson, George White, Anne Brown and Hazel Scott.The film went into production in 1943 but was delayed in favor of more WWII themed films. It premiered as a roadshow engagement in June 1945. A shortened version went into general release in September. That version been generally available over the decades on home video platforms: VHS, laserdisc, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and DVD-R. This blu ray edition warrants special attention because it is the complete roadshow version and has been given a 4K restoration. The film looks and sounds great.It would have been nice to have had more bonus features. The trailer is included along with a song index. An audio commentary is certainly warranted here and it would have been great if they’d brought in Gershwin expert Michael Feinstein. Feinstein did write an excellent essay for the laserdisc release in 1991 when the film was owned by MGM/UA. A reproduction of that essay is in the photo section here.Overall the film is very entertaining and the music makes this blu ray edition worth owning. As such, it comes highly recommended.

Enjoyable movie!