Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Good News Blu-ray Movie Review

...for people who love sanitized movies.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III January 26, 2021

A watered-down remake of a 1930 pre-code musical (both of which were based on a popular 1927 Broadway show), Charles Walters' directorial debut Good News is 93 minutes of dated but charming teenage rah-rah romance that, more than seven decades after its release, has aged like a fine milk. Positives are here: the musical numbers are catchy, the choreography is mostly excellent, its screenplay was the first from the hugely influential team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green, it's in beautiful Technicolor, and the cast obviously had a great time with this one... but the end result feels so disposable that it mostly skates by on time capsule appeal nowadays. Still, if you prefer original recipe Archie to extra-crispy Riverdale or have ever said "the cat's pajamas" unironically, I've got Good News for you.

The story couldn't be simpler: we're smack dab in the middle of fictional Tait College circa 1927, where football is king, the rich students are very rich, and everyone loves to sing and dance. Our man in action is one Tommy Marlowe (Peter Lawford), captain of the team and ruler of the ladies... except for lovely Pat McClellan (Patricia Marshall), who speaks enough awful French to rebuff him in her second language. Desperate for her affection, Tommy seeks the help of cute assistant librarian Connie Lane (June Allyson), who's more fluent in the language. Meanwhile, Connie's nosy roommate Babe Doolittle (Joan McCracken) has her own relationship woes with jealous linebacker "Beef" (Loren Tindall), and she hopes to finally leave the big lug for his scrawny but likeable teammate Bobby Turner (Ray McDonald).

OK, so maybe it's not so simple. Love is a tangled web at Tait College, but everything goes down a little smoother thanks to Good News' ultra-light touch, which is bolstered by a barrage of lively song-and-dance numbers performed by everyone from one or two characters to... well, everyone, as in the entire school, all at once. The film's unyielding bravado is at least infectiously compelling even if Good News doesn't offer much more than that: it barely cracks the 90-minute mark and almost half of that is music breaks, with a sizeable chunk of its remaining time devoted to gossipy, surface-level dialogue littered with era-specific slang that only 90s kids will understand. (1890s, that is.) But it's all in good fun, ends on a high note, and mostly survives the dated speedbumps that threaten it at every turn, making Good News at least good enough for a once-over even if you're not completely sold on the synopsis. Those more reluctant to accept "backyard musicals" from this particular era, however, might be in for a pretty rough ride.

The real good news for fans is Warner Archive's terrific new Blu-ray, which is highlighted by one of the label's very best 1080p transfers to date. It's jaw-droppingly good, enough so that its dated dialogue -- which is quickly approaching the century mark -- stands in stark contrast with the visuals, some of which look like they were filmed yesterday. Add in lossless audio and a few DVD-era bonus features and you've got a great package for a sorta-good movie.

Good News Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Fans of Good News are in for a real treat with Warner Archive Collection's sparkling new 1080p transfer which, like their equally stunning recent release of The Pajama Game, is sourced from a recent 4K scan of original negatives. The result is an entirely bold, stable, and filmic image that's jaw-droppingly good at times, right from the opening song-and-dance number (briefly seen in the first clip linked below) that's so richly represented that it looks like recently-shot footage. Depth, image detail, and color saturation are second-to-none during most of the film, which shows off its Technicolor-infused clothing, makeup, and background details whether we're within school walls our outside during a sunny day for football. Film grain is very evident here and, as usual, not a trace of excessive noise reduction or compression artifacts can be found anywhere, leaving behind a very satisfying image that will delight purists. Even if you're not a videophile, it's simply impressive work that I wish was bestowed upon all catalogue releases. A five-star presentation all the way and, like The Pajama Game, a very early front-runner for one of the year's best-looking Blu-rays.

As usual, Warner Archive has uploaded a few YouTube clips showing off the outstanding new restoration; these include the full three-minute opening sequence and a short library conversation between Connie and Tommy.

Good News Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix is also impressive, staying true to the film's one-channel roots with a split mono track that features clear dialogue, rowdy musical numbers, and plenty of background details that bring the Tait college campus to life. It's an extremely clean and mostly dynamic mix that appears largely free of source defects, while the only moments of questionable sync apply to the obviously-not-recorded-live song breaks. Otherwise, an immaculate presentation with only trace amounts of hiss and background noise, which again makes Good News feel younger than it really is. This is simply top-notch work that's almost as full-sounding as a true stereo presentation.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles have been included during the main feature and select extras; they're formatted nicely, although a few of the song lyrics -- especially during the opening title track -- seemed a little questionable.

Good News Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Good News arrives on Blu-ray in a keepcase with poster-themed cover art and no inserts. Its recycled extras were last available on Warner Archive's own 2011 DVD and their parent company's "snapper" DVD from a decade earlier.

• Song Selection - Instant access to any of the film's primary song breaks including the main title, "Good News", "Be a Ladies' Man", "Lucky in Love" (Parts 1-3), "The French Lesson", "The Best Things in Life are Free", "Pass That Peace Pipe", "Just Imagine", "The Best Things in Life are Free" (Reprise and En Francais), "He's a Ladies' Man", "The Varsity Drag" (Vocal and Dance), and "The French Lesson" (Finale / Reprise).

  All 16 selections include optional English (SDH) subtitles for sing-along fans.

• Deleted Musical Number: "An Easier Way" (4:56) - This unused song, performed by June Allyson and Patricia Marshall, was written by Roger Edens with lyrics by screenwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green.

• Excerpts From the Original 1930 MGM Version - These black-and-white clips from the early "talkie" musical of the same name -- which was likewise based on the 1927 Broadway show -- include "Varsity Drag" (5:34) and "Good News" (4:44); interestingly enough, both were the only songs featured in all three productions.

• MGM Radio Promo with June Allyson (4:43) - This vintage broadcast is very rehearsed but good fun.

• Theatrical Trailer (2:44) - An appropriately cheerful promo piece that's also available here.

Good News Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Charles Walters' popular musical Good News is a wholesome remake of a black-and-white, pre-Code production that skates by on its lively atmosphere, great Technicolor palette, and catchy musical numbers. While it's extremely dated and was clearly made as disposable, of-the-moment entertainment, the film's redeeming qualities at least make it worth a once-over for newcomers and die-hard musical lovers. Warner Archive's Blu-ray nudges it gently into "keeper" territory, serving up a flawless 1080p transfer, great lossless audio, and a small collection of DVD-era bonus features that make this a surprisingly well-rounded package. Recommended, but more so to established fans.