Rose of Washington Square (1939)

Set in the colorful Prohibition era this "genuinely captivating" (Los Angeles Times) musical stars Alice Faye as a rising Ziegfeld star who is faithful to her crooked scheming husband (Tyrone Power) even after his showdown with the law. Co-star Al Jolson performs many of his legendary songs.Behind the Scenes "Rose of Washington Square" is one of Alice Faye's most popular screen roles and marks her final teaming with Tyrone Power. The film also features some of her most memorable songs including "My Man."System Requirements:Running Time: 86 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: MUSICALS/MUSICALS UPC: 024543536963 Manufacturer No: 2253696 Product Description

Highly Enjoyable Musical

Rose of Washington Square is set in the twenties although it doesn't blatantly say so in the beginning of the film. However, the music is jazz, the law is prohibition, and the zenith of a career is being a Ziegfeld star. The film starts out with Ted (Al Jolson) and Rose (Alice Faye) who work together in vaudeville struggling to make it. On a whim, Rose leaves the group and meets Bart (Tyrone Power), a charismatic man involved in shady business. She devotes herself to him no matter what happens, and he takes it for granted as he self-destructs. Ted is in love with Rose, but he loves her so much that he will do anything for her, including help her with her romance with Bart.

Alice Faye is amazing in this film, beautiful and talented. Her voice is smooth and professional and her dancing is natural and entertaining. Tyrone Power is great in his role; he brings arrogance, charm, and youth to the screen. Al Jolson is always a delight to see. His acting scenes are very good, but it is sad to say that in his old age, his performing dwindled. His dancing seemed almost pathetic and uninspired, but his singing was on the mark everytime.

Because the VHS featured deleted songs, I can only assume that this DVD will too. It will be sold both separately and as part of the second Alice Faye collection. May 17, 2008

ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THIS MOVIE !!!!!!

Its simple..its not on DVD!!!! This was last released 10 years ago isn't it about time the DVD version came out? The studios put so much time , energy and effort in making these musicals and we arent being allowed to view them in the best possible way!!! Get With it Fox! Murdoch spend some of those billions and re-master these old films so they can be enjoyed the way they were meant to be enjoyed!!! July 19, 2007

Highly Enjoyable Musical

Rose of Washington Square is set in the twenties although it doesn't blatantly say so in the beginning of the film. However, the music is jazz, the law is prohibition, and the zenith of a career is being a Ziegfeld star. The film starts out with Ted (Al Jolson) and Rose (Alice Faye) who work together in vaudeville struggling to make it. On a whim, Rose leaves the group and meets Bart (Tyrone Power), a charismatic man involved in shady business. She devotes herself to him no matter what happens, and he takes it for granted as he self-destructs. Ted is in love with Rose, but he loves her so much that he will do anything for her, including help her with her romance with Bart.

Alice Faye is amazing in this film, beautiful and talented. Her voice is smooth and professional and her dancing is natural and entertaining. Tyrone Power is great in his role; he brings arrogance, charm, and youth to the screen. Al Jolson is always a delight to see. His acting scenes are very good, but it is sad to say that in his old age, his performing dwindled. His dancing seemed almost pathetic and uninspired, but his singing was on the mark everytime.

The VHS opens with several deleted musical sequences including "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" which was used to score several scenes in the film. Al Jolson sings his own classics like "Mammy" and "Toot Toot Tootsie" while Faye re-enacts Fanny Brice's touching "My Man" and energizes the long "Rose of Washington Square" number. March 8, 2006

Slashed but enjoyable

When you view this film, you may find it very choppy like I did. The "Hidden Hollywood" series have revealed that a lot of the film was cut from the released prints. At least 3 musical numbers disappeared completely, including Alice Faye's memorable "I'll See You in My Dreams", of which 2 versions exist with and without a chorus. Stills also reveal dramatic scenes missing. Apparantly, film was shot by another director, Roy del Ruth, then reshot by Gregory Ratoff but the truth about this is yet to surface. The direction lacks imagination.

What remains is not bad, just frustrating and lacking continuity. The plot is in fact the story of Fanny Brice, the subject of "Funny Girl". Faye plays a vaudeville performer who reaches the big time in the Zeigfield Follies. Along the way, she falls for small time crook, Tyrone Power, who ends the film with a prison sentence but Faye sobbing that she will wait for him. Brice sued the studio for plagiarism and the studio settled out of court.

Alice Faye sings memorably as usual, although some of her numbers are interrrupted with disruptive dialogue. She also displays a brittle quality to her acting which was new to the audience. She sings Fanny Brice's signature tune "My Man" with passionate warmth and comparison to Barbra Streisand's version in "Funny Girl" demonstrates just what a fine singer Faye was. Tyrone Power is perfectly cast as the charming heel, a not dissimilar role to his one "In Old Chicago" which he did so well. Al Jolson is electrifying and even likeable (now that was unexpected) as Faye's vaudeville buddy. He gives the dialogue a real charge.

Let's hope that those dedicated people at UCLA can provide us with a restored version using the original script and issue it with the released version on DVD as Fox has with "In Old Chicago". A much better film may be lurking hidden away.

September 13, 2005

A PLEASANT DIVERSION.

Atmospherically, this movie will hold the interest of those who are curious for a nostalgic look at popular music. When Al Jolson sings such songs as MAMMY & CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME, the film magically comes alive. Playing the long-suffering Rose Sargent, Alice Faye is memorable singing - in her rich velvety voice - renditions of I'M JUST WILD ABOUT HARRY, THE VAMP & the title tune. Bearing the usual prefatory denial of any factual basis, the film tells the story of the loyal Ziegfeld star who married a thief and confidence man, stuck by him through thick and thin, and poured out her heart and faith into the song MY MAN - which she sobbed out each night from the Ziegfeld stage. Nunnally Johnson, who wrote the script, didn't succeed in giving the movie much appreciable dramatic power: Faye's heartbreak never seems to go much deeper than her Max Factor make-up! Tyrone Power's interpretation of Bart Clinton is quite superficial as well. The best performance is given by Al Jolson, who essential plays himself; his performance is full of warmth and vitality, and the picture is at its best when he holds the spotlight. July 12, 2002

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