DVD Review: The Alice Faye Collection

Features four films--1937's "On the Avenue," with Faye and her co-stars, Dick Powell and Madelaine Carroll, fueled by Irving Berlin's masterful songs (Faye is near her best when she sings "This Year's Kisses"); 1940's "Lillian Russell," with Faye backed by Don Ameche and Henry Fonda; 1941's "That Night in Rio," with Carmen Miranda easily stealing the show from Faye; and 1943's "The Gang's All Here," which was directed by Busby Berkeley and is considered his best movie.

Miranda also makes an appearance here to sing the iconic "The Lady in the Tutti-Frutti Hat" (and to play the banana xylophone) but Faye won't be outdone this time. Berkeley gives her the huge set piece "Polka-Dot Polka," as well as "No Love, No Nothing."

Faye sings it as if she means it, and that sells it. It's this wonderful, bizarre film that makes the collection so desirable.

Grade: A-