The Worst Film Ever

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

No, this isn't a good movie, despite a lot of talent in front of the camera. The script is uninteresting, and manages to turn some very likable actors, like Billie Burke and Reginald Owen, into unlikable characters. As others have remarked, there is no memorable music here, which is fatal for a musical.What I did get a kick out of, however, was a parody of the quartet from the last act of Verdi's Rigoletto. Four of the leads are on a bus, and Alan Jones, the tenor, starts off, in his best operatic style. As the others, especially Garland, enter in, however, they do jazz variations on the different parts. If you know the quartet, it's really very clever.What I found interesting about it is that it assumes that much of the audience would know the original piece. And, in 1938, they might well have, from the radio, where that sort of immediately likable classical music was common. Today a similar parody wouldn't work, because few would know the original.

Not an awful film, but also not a great one. While Judy Garland doesn't disappoint, generally as an overall whole 'Everybody Sings' is one of her weaker films along with 'Presenting Lily Mars' and 'Little Nellie Kelly'.Judy is certainly the best thing about it. It was always going to be interesting seeing her before her iconic performance in 'The Wizard of Oz', and while it is not one of her best performance she is endearingly winsome, playful and heartfelt and sings an absolute dream. Not all the cast work, but Reginalds Owen and Gardiner are fun and despite having less than subtle characters they avoid being too hammy. Fanny Brice is mostly amusingly zany, and Lynne Carver is lovely.The songs aren't amazing and most don't stand the test of time, but they are still very pleasant, with enough fun and emotion, and well performed. They are mostly energetically and gracefully staged, again not outstanding but little of it is overblown and it's hardly static or indifferent either. 'Everybody Sings' looks good in crisp black and white, handsome enough without being lavish.As said though, not all the cast work. While Allan Jones sounds lovely, he comes over as a very wooden actor, while Billie Burke flutters shrilly to a very annoying degree. While the song and dance numbers are above average on the whole, "Swing Lo, Sweet Chariot" is not for the faint hearted (there are definitely worse examples of black-face and one is very much aware that they were popular then, but that doesn't mean people should like them) and the finale is over-cooked.Some of the script is witty and charming, others are excessively corny and sentimental, with some of the humour that works well in other media not working well on film (especially the "Baby Snooks" routine). The story is thin and old as the hills, with some parts that feel contrived and parts in the second half that drag.In summary, average film as an overall whole but Judy is great and the film is worth a one-time watch for her. 5/10 Bethany Cox

"Everybody Sing" is a delightful 1938 film filled with music but, as these things go, not much plot. That's okay. Judy plays Judy Bellaire, whose mother (Billie Burke) is a busy actress, and her father (Reginald Owen) is a producer. When Judy gets kicked out of school for turning her classical music into jazz, no one will listen to the reason she's home - they're all too busy. Mom is in rehearsal with her leading man (Reginald Owen), her sister Sylvia (Lynne Carter) is taking a voice lesson, and her father is frantically running around. Judy's only pals in the house are the chef, Ricky Saboni (Allan Jones), who is in love with Sylvia, and the maid (Fanny Brice), an ex-Russian performer.Eventually Judy, though underage, gets into a show put on by Ricky, who sings at night in a club. The singing is glorious, Judy singing "Swing Mr. Mendolssohn," "Down to Melody Farm," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," and "Ever Since the World Began." Brice does a specialty number, and Jones, in his beautiful tenor, sings "The Show Must Go On," "Cosi-Cosa," and "First Thing in the Morning." Pre-Wizard of Oz, and pretty Judy sings with an incredible maturity of tone.Fun, upbeat movie.

That's right. This movie is for die-hard Judy Garland fans only. Still there is a fascination with it seeing Judy and Billy Burke.What's nice is seeing an age where there were no cell phones and everyone seems to have been polite. Of course, the very poor must have been hidden somewhere in this economic structure...This is a movie which has glimmers of Judy's later (or was it earlier?) successes.It is interesting to watch her career take off.this is line 1 this is line 2 this is line 3 this is line 4 this is line 5 this is line 6 this is line 7 this is line 8 this is line 9 this is line 10