Product: Rhythm On The Range/Rhythm On The River - Double Feature (1936)
Rating: 5.0
A Double Dose of Bing
For fans of Bing, there is a lot to like here. The first film, "Rhythm on the Range," is a pleasant but forgettable film that will pass the time easily enough. Martha Raye is a hoot as the gal trying to rope a man out west and Bing is young and charming. There are a few funny gags and a chance to see Frances Farmer before things went so wrong for her. While it is probably only a three star film, the second film on this disc is the reason to buy it.Bing really shines in "Rhythm on the River" and since it is only available by itself on vhs, you might want to pick this one up just to get the bonus of another film if you are a big fan of Crosby's easy charm.Bing is in top form in this charming comedy musical based on a story by Billy Wilder and Jacques Threy. Director Victor Schertzinger wrote one of the songs himself and keeps a light and breezy tone to one of Bing's most underrated films.Bob Summers (Bing) is an affable writer of tunes just trying to earn enogh money for a boat to sail around in and Basil Rathbone is composer Oliver Courtney, taking the credit for them. What Bob doesn't know is not only does Oscar have his melodies ghostwritten, but the lyrics as well! Mary Martin is a young poet from Tulsa named Cherry Lane, letting Oscar take the credit for her beautful words in order to pay the rent.Nether Cherry or Bob are aware of this arrangement and it isn't until the two meet at his uncle's boarding house and fall in love that they figure it out and decide to strike out on their own. But Bing's melodies sound too much like the ones made famous by Oliver, of course, and when Cherry has a shot as a singer, he goes crawling back to Oliver to buy the dress she'll need for her big chance at Club Monaco.But Cherry loves Bob more than music and when she discovers how he got the money, the whole thing may be off. Rathbone has fun hamming it up as Oliver and Oscar Levant nearly steals the film as Oliver's right hand. One scene has Levant reading his own book and calling it irritating! There is even an inside joke about Jack Benny's radio sponsor!This one is a lot of fun and has an easygoing charm that matches Bing's personality. He and Mary Martin are very good together. Set during the Christmas season, the film has a nice feel to it. From Bob's old ferry boat named Arabella to his uncle's place in Terrytown, called Nobody's Inn, everthing is just right. There are some genuinely funny scenes and some great songs like "That's For Me" and "Only Forever" which make this one you'll watch time and again.Pictures like Rythm on the River will remind you why it was actually Bing that was the big draw when he and Bob Hope were teamed up for those Road pictures. This film is a big bag of delightful charm and a great one for a Saturday morning.If you are looking to pick up "Rhythm on the River" on dvd rather than vhs, then this is the way to go. You'll even get the bonus of "Rhythm on the Range" as icing on the cake. A good pick.