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Visitors Review

Kalaman 2013-05-22 13:31:47

Alice Faye and John Payne shine in a gloriously tuneful Fox musical shot in breathtaking Technicolor

Of all Alice Faye's 20th Century-Fox musicals, "Hello Frisco, Hello" isprobably my favorite. It is certainly the one that deserves to becalled enchanting. The only other memorable Faye musicals that come tomind are "On the Avenue"(1937), "Alexander's Ragtime Band"(1938), "ThatNight in Rio"(1941) and "Wake Up and Live"(1937). "Hello Frisco" is afeast for the eyes and ears, breathtakingly photographed inTechnicolor. The colors, the period costumes, and director BruceHumberstone's nostalgic evocation of San Francisco's Barbary Coast atthe turn of the century - are sublime. It also abounds in onegloriously tuneful song or dance number after another. There are lotsto choose from including "Strike Up the Band," "Has Anybody Here SeenKelly?" and "Ragtime Country Joe", but Faye's memorable rendition of"You'll Never Know" is the best of them all. IT works as a perfectcombination of Faye's sweet vulnerability and honesty. Faye's co-starJohn Payne is equally marvellous as Johnny Cornell. Contrary to aprevious reviewer's remarks about Payne's stiffness, I didn't find himreally that stiff. A bit stoic, maybe, but his Johnny Cornell is inperfect harmony with Faye's sweet Trudy Evans. And I can't imagineanyone else playing that role or doing a better job. In all, a Glorious delight.

dwpollar 2013-05-22 08:40:08

Toe-tapping, hit playing musical...

1st watched 11/24/2001 - 7 out of 10(Dir-H. Bruce Humberstone):Toe-tapping, hit playing musical that doesn't have a plot line muchdifferent than many of this dancing/singing genre but it is played out sowell by the stars involved that it keeps you interested. The songs haveromance, humor, and hit quality chorus's that made me want to have themusicitself(if it's available). This is supposed to have been the most popularwar-time film and I can understand why although because a lot of peopleweren't going to the movies back then it's been relatively forgotten. I'mglad I was able to see this and it made me hunger for more of this type.Watch it if you can find it, it won't disappoint you.

2013-05-16 04:48:37

Faye knocks 'em for six on the Barbary Coast

Hollywood legend Alice Faye was at the peak of her career when she made this costume musical drama. She is knockout in all her numbers, particularly so in the title song, and "Doin' the Grizzly Bear."In this one, she is reunited with one of her favourite co-stars, the darkly-handsome John Payne, and the comedy relief comes from old timer Jack Oakie, and June Havoc, who was the character Baby June in the musical "Gypsy" - the sister of the famed Gypsy Rose Lee, who walked out on Mama Rose while a teenager to find fame in Hollywood! A tuneful musical, beautifully photographed in Technicolor. Miss Faye never looked lovelier.

2013-05-15 08:11:55

The video was a hit!

This review is from: Hello Frisco Hello [VHS] (VHS Tape) I purchased Hello Frisco Hello for my mother. She is just learning about the internet so I showed her how easy it is to purchase items on Amazon.

Ishallwearpurple 2013-05-10 22:49:16

What a pleasure! Maltin is wrong----

I don't know what is wrong with Leonard Maltin, giving this 2 stars andcalling it a big comedown for the stars.This is one of my favorite musicals starring Alice Faye and she has neverbeen so beautifully filmed in technicolor. Her costumes, hair styles andhats, are gorgeous as is the way she is made up.Jack Oakie and June Havoc are joyous in their comic musical numbers. JohnPayne plays his ambitious, clueless, social climbing saloon keeper wellenough. The opening number "Hello, Frisco, Hello" going right on into"You'll Never Know" is beautifully staged. Forever after this song wasintroduced in this film, it was Alice Fayes signature song and thousands ofWWII couples danced and dreamed to it. Lynn Bari is also gorgeous as therich femme fatale from Nob Hill that comes between Payne and Faye. But thestory is secondary to the songs and stars. A real pleasure that I keep in my permanent collections of films of theGolden Era. 8/10

2013-05-10 05:54:04

Nostalgic Musical from Mid-WWII

This review is from: Hello Frisco Hello (DVD) The important elements in this musical: costumes, spectacular staging, some of the greatest singing and dancing talents in movies in 1943 (Alice Faye is a standout). A few of the songs, "You'll Never Know" in particular, are memorable. A somewhat sappy love story, but the fun is in the production and the energy of the performers. Indulge yourself in a show that was nostalgic in the year it was made.Hello Frisco Hello

2013-05-03 15:22:51

Excellent

This review is from: Hello Frisco Hello (DVD) Bought this DVD for an elderly friend who does not own a computer. She had been trying for some years to purchase this item, then I ordered it through Amazon and now she has her copy.Many Thanks.

2013-05-02 23:18:18

It's Okay

This review is from: Hello Frisco Hello (DVD) A good love story with performers of there day. Enjoy the western theme of Old San Francisco. Costumes and Music was fun and entertaining

2013-04-11 09:14:38

From San Francisco with Love...

I love this film! It's a mythical and musical romp through San Francisco (as seen by 1943 Hollywood.) It's survived the test of time and changing sensibilities remarkably well unlike other movies of the era...just lots of toe-tapping music and campy stage settings of SF landmarks.

planktonrules 2013-04-11 03:15:47

Better than average music though the story is awfully familiar

This was an engaging musical, though I must admit that this is probablymy least familiar genre. While I like the occasional musical, theyaren't something I rush to see.John Payne and Alice Faye star in this Fox film. They are partnersalong with Jack Oakie and June Havoc and they hit the big time thanksto their musical talents as well as Payne's amazing business sense. Itseems to everyone except Payne that Faye is in love with him, but thebig dope never recognizes her for her decency and charm. Instead, hehas the eyes for selfish Lynn Bari--mostly because she is rich andwell-heeled and a place in society is what Payne wants most. However,the marriage is a bust and Bari does nothing except bleed Payne's bankaccounts. Now destitute, poor long-suffering Faye returns to help himback on his feet as the movie fades.The story of a man too blind to see love and too proud to ask for helpis familiar and I've seen it a few times already--so the plot wasawfully familiar and predictable. However, despite this, it wasentertaining and my wife, who hates old musicals, actually sat throughthe film and enjoyed it. Also, the choice of songs is excellent--withmany old hits. Not among the very best musicals, but still very good.And, unlike me, if you love the genre, then this is a must-see film.

2013-03-19 17:19:01

...if you like vaudeville...

...if you like vaudeville, then you will like "Hello, Frisco, Hello". The stars are old hands at breathing life into music and situations like this, and they are terrific. If 'Fox Musicals' are something you enjoy...this is it...the plot is worn smooth as the rocks on the bottom of a rushing river...and the performers are even smoother than that...they know exactly how to engage you in the silliness at hand. Try it... I bet you'll like it!

swkap 2013-03-19 05:18:04

Does it matter if the score is anachronistic?

It doesn't matter a great deal since "Hello, Frisco, Hello" doesn'tpurport to be historically accurate, but I found it odd that a numberof the film's songs are anachronisms. A few, particularly "You'll NeverKnow," were written for the movie, but the others are a melange ofsongs from the past, except a past that came after the film's setting,which is, roughly speaking, San Francisco in the middle of thenineteenth century. Yet Alice Faye sings "Ragtime Cowboy Joe", whichwasn't written until 1912. Of course, the same thing happens in othermovies. Many of the songs in "Singin' in the Rain" were written in thesound era but show up in the film during the silent era. But I can't behard on the movie which introduced the beautiful "You'll Never Know"and allows its star to sing it more than once.

2013-03-18 08:27:57

Still one of my favorite Musicals

This review is from: Hello Frisco Hello (DVD) Loved it then. Love it now. FOUR great stars. Great songs- color.. aw, just watch it if you like "those" old Alice Faye, John Payne Musicals. Then JACK OAKIE & JUNE HAVOC ... WHAT more could you possibly want?

2013-03-17 14:04:32

Good music and colour, terrific production values, great print

"Hello Frisco Hello" has finally made it to DVD and Fox have done a great job. This was one of Alice Faye's most famous musicals, rich in familiar plot cliches but magnificently produced with spectacular colour, endless songs, great costumes and sets and Alice Faye's signature tune, "You'll Never Know", which is spellbinding and still a showstopper today.Faye, John Payne, Jack Oakie and June Havoc, the talented sister of Gypsy Rose Lee, play small time entertainers who make the big time through Payne's entrepreneurial skills. Faye wears her heart on her sleeve, Payne does his standard macho turn and Jack Oakie and June Havoc add much needed vitality.The DVD contains a restored print and the technicolour has never looked better. There are some excellent extras too. A featurette on Faye and her legacy has been included and her daughter Alice, Hugh Hefner, a huge Faye fan, and Miles Kreuger, that invaluable musical historian, among others appear. The featurette not only highlights Faye's underrated legacy as a pop singer but compares the film to an earlier Faye film, "King of Burlesque", noting how the same screenplay could be subtly shifted from Depression urgency to war time sentiment. It is odd that the featurette notes the contribution of Jack Oakie to both films but neglects to mention June Havoc, a fine performer in her own right. All the usual marketing bits are included such as the theatrical trailer and on set stills. Last of all, there is a audio only track which dove tails the studio recording of the music into the film without the soundtrack. Accordingly, we can hear the songs without interrruption - a delightful feature. All in all, this is a good DVD, best value if purchased as part of the "Alice Faye Collection Volume 2".

2013-03-14 22:02:56

Hello Frisco Hello

This review is from: Hello Frisco Hello (DVD) Hello Frisco Hello is an absolutely STUNNING Film/DVD starring alice Faye and John Payne. The Colour/Photography/Acts and AMAZING voice of Alice Faye combine to make this one of her very best Movies - only a year after she had given birth to her daughter. They really don`t come a lot better than this and to think it was made in 1943 - AMAZING.There is NO DOUBT that Alice Faye ranks right up there with Doris Day as one of the VERY BEST all round performer/actor/singers America has ever produced.Paul D.

GManfred 2013-03-14 03:24:50

Handsome, Routine Musical

Something went wrong between the drawing board and the sound stage infilming "Hello,Frisco,Hello". It's a big, splashy, colorful musical inthe best Fox tradition but somehow it falls flat. Maybe it's thestoryline, which is formulaic and ordinary and done many times before -boy meets girl, boy meets another girl, boy gets dumped and makes roundtrip to first girl. It also does itself no favors by portraying leadingman John Payne as a status-seeking heel.It does have several things going for it, especially Alice Faye andenergetic song and dance man/character actor Jack Oakie. And theAcademy Award winning Harry Warren/Mack Gordon song, "You'll NeverKnow", which is worth the price of admission alone (This song wasrecorded at the height of a Musicians Union strike in 1943, and sung 'acappella' by Dick Haymes and the Pied Pipers).Not to belabor a point, but this picture would have been better off asa film short with just the "You'll Never Know" number on it. It'sreally the only reason to watch it as it breaks no new ground. True,there are 29 songs listed in the credits but most are forgettable andnone can approach "You'll Never Know". It is the main reason for myrating of 6.

2013-03-02 18:07:29

Perfect picture quality

This review is from: Hello Frisco Hello (DVD) I have never seen this movie before and Alice Faye is in the german speaking part UNKNOW. I bought because I had been curious about John Payne.Well... the movie starts with a Info: "this dvd was produced with the best available material" (or similar word). I was scared the movie would be in a terrible conditiion. But SURPRISING: THE MOVIE IS ON DVD IN VERY VERY GOOD CONDITION!!! in wonderful Technicolor (no scratches er tropouts etc.) and of course in FULLSCREEN 4:3 (1,37:1).The Sound is also in very good condition. Very nice the DVD contains some bonus features and english, spanish subtitles.

2013-03-02 04:45:02

Enjoy it for the Vaudville it Offers

After the first 30-40 minutes of "Hello Frisco, Hello" I was very impressed with the quality of the singing, dancing, and on-stage humor. This was going to be another one of those diamonds in the rough, I thought. It developed into another costumed love story and lost its' magic until it regained it belatedly at the end. Yet the first third or forth of the movie really ought to be seen by those who loved the old Vaudville song and dance acts of the past. Alice Faye is her usual melodious self this is probably one of her best movies. However, for me, Jack Oakie steals the show. His humor was something I expected but I never knew he was so light on his feet. He is quite a dancer and the dancing was the equal of the singing. I watched "Hello Frisco, Hello" because it won and Oscar (for Best Song) and I noticed it was also nominated for Best Color. The Best Song Oscar is probably the worst reason to watch a movie (I can't see myself watching "8 Miles", for example) but I like the excuse that it gives me to see a number of old musicals I would have otherwies missed. I'm glad I had the opportunity to watch the beginning of "Hello Frisco, Hello", it made it worth sitting through to the end.

2013-02-13 14:16:25

One Of Faye's Best

Not just for her signature performance of "You'll Never Know," but for the overall good spirits atmosphere as contributed by supporting stars Jack Oakie and June Havoc. The "Grizzly Bear" number has a particularly beguiling Faye in ragtime era splendor. A warmly melodious musical.

2013-02-12 22:41:01

Faye Wows Them in San Francisco

"It's fifty cent hack ride down to the bottom of Nob Hill but it takes a million dollars to get back up."Such are the memorable words of John Payne, musical performer and production impressario, in "Hello, Frisco Hello." Payne's musical review with romantic interest Alice Faye along with Jack Oakie and June Havoc achieves success along San Francisco's Barbary Coast. The ambitious Payne, however, has much more in mind. He wants to become a major player in the ritzy Nob Hill scene. Faye has the common sense to know that Payne is getting in over his head, but is powerless to stop him when he meets society matron Lynn Bari. She has a social name and standing but is currently broke while Payne believes she is his key to cracking the big time so they unite.Alice Faye impresses moviegoers because of her inner sincerity as well as her unswerving loyalty. When Payne ultimately strikes out with Bari, who tells him bluntly, "I never said I loved you," Alice, after a successful performing run in London, sneaks money to drunken visionary Laird Cregar, who had previously panhandled Payne, convincing him that the money is no more than a loan, and that he will eventually strike it rich by finding gold. Payne, immensely prideful, accordingly believes that his own gold earnings are bankrolling his shows, not the fiercely loyal Alice. Eventually Cregar reveals the truth by accident when he has had too much to drink...