Eleanor Powell is amazing. If you know all subjects Fred and Ginger, you need to rent an Eleanor Powell film. She's the best female tap dancer I've ever seen, and I have no idea why she isn't the most famous. She's pretty, a good actress, has a nice singing voice, and is a phenomenal dancer who makes it look easy. In Broadway Melody of 1938, she recreates the Fred and Ginger gazebo dance with George Murphy, but she takes the number out into the rain and ends with a big splash-literally. Once you've seen her dance, you can't help but ask, "Ginger who?"
In this 1930s musical chalk-full of songs and dances from the all-star cast: Eleanor Powell, George Murphy, Buddy Epsom, Sophie Tucker, and Judy Garland, there's a very thin plot, a misunderstanding, and a love triangle. However, I don't think anyone rents a Broadway Melody movie for the storyline.
Sophie Tucker, former Broadway sensation, tries to jumpstart her daughter's career and says poignantly, "I've had my day." "I remember," Robert Taylor smiles at her. She gives a very touching monologue about her experience onstage, and then gives the screen a treat by reprising her staple "Some of These Days," which eventually became the title of her autobiography. Sophie Tucker's daughter is the rising star Judy Garland, who sings the memorable song "You Made Me Love You" to a photograph of Clark Gable.
Still, there's a lot of wasted screen time in this movie, interspersed among the good parts. Robert Wildhack literally talks five minutes about different types of sneezes, Billy Gilbert speaks in broken English and acts like a buffoon, and not every song will have you humming a reprise when the credits roll. You can rent it, though, or any of the other Broadway Melody movies, if you want to see some good dancing.
In this 1930s musical chalk-full of songs and dances from the all-star cast: Eleanor Powell, George Murphy, Buddy Epsom, Sophie Tucker, and Judy Garland, there's a very thin plot, a misunderstanding, and a love triangle. However, I don't think anyone rents a Broadway Melody movie for the storyline.
Sophie Tucker, former Broadway sensation, tries to jumpstart her daughter's career and says poignantly, "I've had my day." "I remember," Robert Taylor smiles at her. She gives a very touching monologue about her experience onstage, and then gives the screen a treat by reprising her staple "Some of These Days," which eventually became the title of her autobiography. Sophie Tucker's daughter is the rising star Judy Garland, who sings the memorable song "You Made Me Love You" to a photograph of Clark Gable.
Still, there's a lot of wasted screen time in this movie, interspersed among the good parts. Robert Wildhack literally talks five minutes about different types of sneezes, Billy Gilbert speaks in broken English and acts like a buffoon, and not every song will have you humming a reprise when the credits roll. You can rent it, though, or any of the other Broadway Melody movies, if you want to see some good dancing.