Kritzerland is proud to present a world premiere release of the classic Twentieth Century Fox musical:
THE GANG’S ALL HERE
Featuring The King of Swing, Benny Goodman and his Orchestra Songs by Leo Robin and Harry Warren Musical Direction by Alfred Newman
“It’s colossal, it’s stupendous, and one of the artiest productions ever made… It is a Technicolor dream that takes on nightmarish proportions or the aspects of a Dali drawing in motion.”
So said the New York Daily News and it kind of sums up Twentieth Century Fox’s 1943 Technicolor extravaganza, The Gang’s All Here, in a nutshell. Directed by Busby Berkeley at his most outrageous, the film starred Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda, James Ellison, Phil Baker, Benny Goodman and his Orchestra, and such stalwart character actors as Eugene Pallette, Charlotte Greenwood, and Dave Willock. The film is loaded with great musical numbers, and has there ever been a number like “The Lady in the Tutti Fruitti Hat,” with all those chorines holding huge bananas, especially considering the era in which the film was made? The film was very popular – the war was on and audiences wanted and needed respite from it and The Gang’s All Here really delivered the Technicolor escapism they craved.
The Gang’s All Here had a screenplay by Walter Bullock (Springtime in the Rockies, Greenwich Village) but it really was just an excuse to have a whole lot of great musical numbers, many of which were written by the great Harry Warren and Leo Robin. Add to that the King of Swing, Benny Goodman and his Orchestra, and numbers like “You Discover You’re in New York,” “Minnie’s in the Money,” “No Love, No Nothin’,” “A Journey to a Star” “Paducah,” the wacky final number, “The Polka Dot Polka” and others, and you have a big, bountiful cake with mounds of delectable frosting. As surreal as the whole concoction is, it is a wildly entertaining ride every step of the way.
Over the years, the film has attained camp classic status, but it’s more than just camp – it’s a crazy Technicolor fever dream filled with Berkeley’s mad genius and wonderful performances and music. To say they don’t make ‘em like this anymore would be the understatement of all time.
For this first ever legitimate CD release of The Gang’s All Here, we present all the music recorded for the film, as well as a few unused cues, all culled from materials in the Fox vaults and restored by Mike Matessino.
The Gang’s All Here is limited to 1000 copies only and is priced at $19.98, plus shipping.
ATTENTION INDIEGOGO CONTRIBUTORS: FOR THIS RELEASE – IF YOU WANT TO OPT-OUT OF RECEIVING IT YOU WILL NEED TO SEND US AN E-MAIL OPTING OUT PRIOR TO THE DATE IT SHIPS – SEND TO kritzerland@gmail.com. IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE IT, YOU DON”T NEED TO DO ANYTHING. IF YOU ARE NOT AN INDIEGOGO CONTRIBUTOR, ORDER AS YOU NORMALLY WOULD. THANK YOU.
CDs will ship by the second week of January, but we’ve actually been averaging three to five weeks early in terms of shipping ahead of the official ship date. We hope to have this out the door before Christmas. To place an order, see the cover, or hear audio samples, just visit www.kritzerland.com.
Linda Darnell was originally scheduled to play "Vivian Potter," which would have been her first dancing role in motion pictures. During dance rehearsals, however, Darnell sprained her ankle, and after her recovery, eloped with cinematographer Peverell Marley, who had photographed her in Fox's STAR DUST (1940). Darnell asked Twentieth Century-Fox for an indefinite leave of absence and was replaced in the role by Sheila Ryan.
Thanks! For some reason I really like soundtracks from the 40s (including musicals). Maybe the reason is that apart from these Kritzerland, I own very little music recorded in the 40s, and it gives quite a nice representation of that era.
"A Journey to a Star Would not be very far as long as I'm alone with you Romantic as we are, a journey to a star Could start before the dawn breaks through"
"You’re right beside my heart We’re just about a kiss apart And we could make a dream come true A moment of your love would have the feeling of A journey to a star with you"
I'm surprised with the musical elements this still needs to be opted out. But hopefully if it is as popular as you say it should sell quite well to fans of the film.
The opt-outs are the same who always opt out of this kind of title - no surprises there. This one seems to be doing fine - but I got the the Benny Goodman people and the big band people and the musicals people. And this film is hugely popular.
Wow! It's great to see this title available on CD after all these years. I love how Berkeley stage-managed that spectacular opening sequence, and of course Newman's work is always a delight.
It's a great movie and a GREAT score - but as the old song goes you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. These kinds of albums just aren't in many people's wheelhouses. I love them because I love swing, I love the era, I love the performers, and I love Alfred Newman, who was a major part of these films. But hey, I can't listen to most of the crap that passes for film music today, so I get it, believe me.
It's a great movie and a GREAT score - but as the old song goes you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. These kinds of albums just aren't in many people's wheelhouses. I love them because I love swing, I love the era, I love the performers, and I love Alfred Newman, who was a major part of these films. But hey, I can't listen to most of the crap that passes for film music today, so I get it, believe me.
A fantastic, fun, informative release, thanks so much! I'm sorry but I DON'T get it. As far as I am concerned, this IS a golden age release, and all of the golden age whiners (at least the 2 or 3 here who are mainly on autowhine), should be thanking you and supporting this release with a purchase.
It's a great movie and a GREAT score - but as the old song goes you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. These kinds of albums just aren't in many people's wheelhouses. I love them because I love swing, I love the era, I love the performers, and I love Alfred Newman, who was a major part of these films. But hey, I can't listen to most of the crap that passes for film music today, so I get it, believe me.
A fantastic, fun, informative release, thanks so much! I'm sorry but I DON'T get it. As far as I am concerned, this IS a golden age release, and all of the golden age whiners (at least the 2 or 3 here who are mainly on autowhine), should be thanking you and supporting this release with a purchase.
NK
I agree. Can't be more Golden Age than this, and yes, all that and David Raksin, too.
What about 20CF golden age scores from non-musicals, Bruce ? Are they not worth releasing on the Kritzerland label ? Is it too risky ?
Gee, Cody, I don't know - why don't you go visit www.kritzerland.com and check out what we've released from Fox and then you can tell me what you think. In terms of musical films, we have released exactly Centennial Summer, Stormy Weather (one of the greatest CD releases in Kritzerland history), Sun Valley Serenade/Orchestra Wives, and now The Gang's All Here, all of which, BTW, have score cues. That's four. Now add up all the other Fox score releases from the Golden Age (we don't have to count the great Silver Age releases right now) and tell me that number.
Then ask me how many copies of the most recent Victor Young album we've sold. Then add up the number of Golden Age scores released by ALL other labels this year and tell me that number.
It's a fun game and I'm sure you'll have fun doing it - why, you can play your Victor Young release as you're doing it - excellent accompaniment. As to risk, releasing anything that doesn't appeal to most of today's collectors (i.e. Goldsmith, Williams, and anything from the 1980s to now) is a risk and no one takes more of those risks than we do these days. We have not pandered to the 80s forward, which is more than you can say for most. So, showing a little support here is a good thing, and I'm always grateful for the people who do.
And I celebrate the chance to do anything from the Golden Age, whether it be a musical film, a comedy, or drama, or whatever. I think our history is filled with such releases. I think if you add up the number of scores from the 1990s to now, you wouldn't find over ten, maybe not even five.
Well, 'The Gang's All Here' already purchased! I hope to have the bananas before Christmas! Bruce, please, this year we will still have some more release, another classic or 'Gang' was the last of 2016??
