Broadway Melodie 1940

The greatest thing in all the "That Entertainment" films is the "Begin the Beguine" number from Broadway Melody of 1940". After years of carrying Ginger Rogers, (and her mother), Fred Astaire finally has a partner who can really DANCE! On Ice, it was Sonja Heine. In the water, it was Esther Williams. But on the dance floor, it was Eleanor Powell, the only female dancer ever to become an above the title movie star in her own right. In Broadway Melody of 1936, there is a male dancer, (not prestigious enough to get a turn with Eleanor), who seems to have the same general look and physique of Fred Astaire, who was working for RKO at the time. I think MGM wanted to prove they could find a "Fred Astaire", too. I call this guy "Faux Fred". In Broadway Melody of 1940, Eleanor gets to dance with the real thing, and the result is marvelous.

There is no big production, even thought the set is sumptuous, with a floor that is a flawless mirror. But other than that, it's the two of them, giving it all they had. Their dancing is flawless. It's what makes them different that is really interesting. Fred Astaire danced with his whole body. Most dancers look like puppets, (see James Cagney). It's all they can do to hold their arms out at the side. But Fred used beautiful hand movements, (his hands were as long and lithe as his legs), to frame everything he did. Eleanor Powell is a master of projection. You will notice most famous movie dancers have "big mouths". It enables their smile to light up the screen. Nobody did this more than Eleanor Powell, who made love to the camera while she danced. You can see them reacting to each other during their big number. At one point, Astaire is painting a picture with his fingers and you can see Powell spotting this and getting her hands out there, too. She doesn't want all the eyes to be on Fred. Then Fred notices her huge smile and breaks into a broad grin himself, feeling, no doubt that he doesn't want to be in Eleanor's shade. It just doesn't get better than this.

When ELEANOR POWELL and FRED ASTAIRE do their glittering "Begin the Beguine" number on a polished black-mirror floor wearing white outfits and tapping their way through a jazzed up version of the song, they can do no wrong. It's clearly the highlight of the whole musical and well worth waiting for. In fact, it's more than that--it's an iconic musical moment.

The story involves a slight case of mistaken identity that has to be straightened out before Powell can see that FRED ASTAIRE is the man she loves, not GEORGE MURPHY. Poor George always had the secondary role in these things--even with all that talent. It's reminiscent of the treatment he got in FOR ME AND MY GAL with Judy Garland being won by Gene Kelly instead of Murphy.

The reason for the high rating is simply this--FRED ASTAIRE and ELEANOR POWELL are without a doubt two of the greatest talents in the musical genre and their "Begin the Beguine" is the show stopper of show stoppers. Unforgettable.

Nothing else really matters, except to mention that their "Juke Box Dance" is also a treat to watch. Powell really excelled as a solo performer but when she and Astaire do manage to do a duo together it's well worth watching.

The genial supporting cast includes FRANK MORGAN at his blustery best and the lovely FLORENCE RICE, who appeared in quite a few of MGM's "A" films before disappearing from the screen.

Well if you know anything about Fred Astaire movies, you already know that his films are never very long on plot. HOWEVER, the music and especially his dancing make up for a thin plot. This one is no exception. The plot of the movie is pretty unimaginative. But, the dancing is about as good as it gets!!! Be sure not to miss the final dance number, with Mr. Astaire and Ms. Powell dancing to "Begin the Begine". I would call it the quintessential dance routine of American film. It is a stark study in black and white. A black background, with twinkling stars, a shiny polished black floor, and the two dancing geniuses all in white. This is a MUST SEE for anyone who loves dance.

"Broadway Melody of 1940 (MGM, 1940) directed by Norman Taurog, with choreography by Bobby Connolly, is the fourth and final musical to bear the "Broadway Melody" name. While the final chapter to any film series usually turns out to be the least successful and appreciated, the last "Broadway Melody" concludes on a very high note. To me it ranks the best of all the "Broadway Melody" musicals mainly because of the fine Cole Porter score and the dancing chemistry between Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell. Let's not forget the third member of the dancing trio, George Murphy.

The plot is simple: Johnny Brett (Fred Astaire) and King Shaw (George Murphy) are a dance team in New York's Dawnland Ballroom. When Bob Casey (Frank Morgan), a well-known musical show author, present at one of their performances, sees the men doing a dance number, he decides he wants to feature one of them, Johnny, in an upcoming show starring professional dancer, Clare Bennett (Eleanor Powell), however, Johnny mistakes Casey as a process server on the trail of King's dress suit, so he identifies himself as his partner, causing King Shaw to get the job instead. Johnny, who is is secretly in love with Clare, regrets his missed opportunity in dancing opposite her when he realizes what he has done, but being a true person looking out for his friend, Johnny is glad for King's show biz break. However, when success goes to Shaw's head instead of his feet, it's up to Johnny to set him straight.

Aside from Frank Morgan's bumbling confusion and female troubles which add to the comedy, there are other amusing scenes in the story, mostly involving acrobat(s), one in particular doing her juggling with plates and balls which involves Astaire. Also in the cast are Ian Hunter as Bert Matthews, the show's producer; Florence Rice, Lynne Carver and Ann Morriss in smaller roles. The well composed Cole Porter score includes: "Don't Monkey With Broadway" (sung and danced by Fred Astaire and George Murphy); "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep" (Sung and danced by Eleanor Powell with sailors); "Between You and Me" (sung by Murphy, danced by Murphy and Powell); "I've Got My Eyes on You" (sung and danced by Astaire); "Juke Box Dance" (performed by Astaire and Powell); "I Concentrate on You" (sung by Douglas MacPhail, danced by Astaire and Powell); "Begin the Beguine" (sung by Carmen D'Antonio; danced by Astaire and Powell; reprise by The Music Maids); and "I Got My Eyes on You" (sung by chorus; danced by Astaire, Powell and Murphy).

Broadway MELODY OF 1940 became Fred Astaire's first MGM musical since his minor debut in DANCING LADY (1933). After ten musicals at RKO Radio, nine with Ginger Rogers during the 1933-39 period, Astaire was now ready for the big time at MGM, starting off here with lavish sets, glittering black and white photography and shining dance floors, adding to the Astaire style of movie making. Had this Broadway MELODY edition been choreographed by Busby Berkeley, who had recently recruited to MGM from Warner Brothers, the "Begin the Beguine" number would have found Astaire and Powell sharing the grand finale spotlight with close to 100 dancers. Fortunately it wasn't, leaving Astaire and Powell to have the grand finale, lasting about ten minutes, practically all to themselves. Who else but Astaire could have the focus on him and his dancing partner for that length of time and make it so watchable and memorable. The number that precedes that, "I Concentrate on You" in which Astaire and Powell play masked dancers, is also well staged but underrated.

Even for those not familiar with musicals involving creative dancing and a fine score, this movie is sure one to see. As Frank Sinatra once said while narrating over one of the musical numbers of THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT (1974), "You'll never see the likes of this again." It's a shame to say that musicals such as this are now extinct, but fortunately, this, along with the other Broadway Melodies, can be seen and appreciated on cable's Turner Classic Movies or as a video rental or purchase. "Who do you love?" (***1/2)

Even though the story was corny, I loved this movie. It was dancing at its greatest. I have always known that Fred Astaire was the best but only recently did I discover Eleanor Powell, even though she was a star when I was a kid but kids don't enjoy musicals. Powell is the greatest and the best partner Astaire ever had. It is too bad they didn't make more movies together.

This is a movie I would recommend to anyone. It is one I can watch over and over again because the dancing is so fantastic. Even my grandchildren enjoyed this one. I would have given it a 10 but for the story but then every Astaire movie is a fantasy in dance but Powell makes this one a super fantasy.