Alexander's Ragtime Band

(1938)

Drama / Musical

Directed by Henry King

Cast: Tyrone Power, Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Ethel Merman, Jack Haley, Jean Hersholt. Helen Westley, John Carradine, Paul Hurst, Wally Vernon, Ruth Terry, Douglas Fowley, Chick Chandler and Eddie Collins

A film released by Twentieth Century Fox, taking place during the year of 1915 in San Francisco.  The title of the film comes from the 1911 Irving Berlin song “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”. The story surrounds a society boy, Roger Grant, who ,instead of pursuing 'serious music', decides to follow his heart and pursue Ragtime, which deeply upsets his family.

The film also focuses on the history of Jazz music during the first years of the 20th century and how Swing became an art form during the 1930's. The story stretches more than twenty years, including the time “Heat Wave” came out. Many real occurrences in the history of Jazz are fitted to the story of the film. Among these stories is how U.S. soldiers during World War I made Jazz music a popular genre everywhere they went.

Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin