Broadway Melody of 1940 | Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell | Last of the Great Black & White Musicals

Broadway Melody of 1940 | Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell | SHE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST DANCERS OF ALL-TIME!!!

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	Broadway Melody of 1940 Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell Warner Home Video, 2003 average customer review:based on 43 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

No Description Available.
Genre: Musicals
Rating: NR
Release Date: 22-APR-2003
Media Type: DVD

Last of the Great Black & White Musicals

Like many of the musicals of the thirties and forties, the story is a little tough to get through. But the swing dance number of Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine" is something, the likes of which, we'll never see again.

SHE WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST DANCERS OF ALL-TIME!!!

I do not often post reviews or respond to reviews as I am doing here, but after reading R. L. Pulliam's remarks about Eleanor Powell, I feel the need to do so because I wouldn't want anyone who may be just discovering Ms. Powell's talents to get the wrong idea about her dancing because of R. L. Pulliam's remarks.

While I do believe that R. L. Pulliam is entitled to his opinion when it comes to Powell's dancing style, at the same time, I must take exception to the remarks that Powell didn't have "creative flair for invention" and that Powell "danced pretty much the same way in each film".

Nothing can be further from the truth!!!

Perhaps R. L. Pulliam has not actually SEEN many of her other films. Perhaps he is only judging Powell by the very short excerpts which were shown in the "That's Entertainment" films (most of her numbers in these were extremely cut-to-the-bone and do not provide even a small glimpse of what she was capable of).

She did ALL of her own choreography and much of it was quite inventive! In "Lady Be Good" she did a very creative number with a cute little dog! In "Ship Ahoy" she did a very inventive number teaming herself with the great drummer Buddy Rich! In that same film she also did a number where she tapped out a message in Morse code. Extremely creative! In "I Dood It" she did a very inventive western rope dance! In "Honolulu" she did an excellent impersonation of the great Bill Robinson, dancing his famous stairway-dance routine, step-for-step (one need only compare this to Robinson's own version which can be found on a VHS called "Jazz Band Ball"). When Ms. Powell was still in her teens she worked often with Mr. Robinson at private parties in New York, where he taught her his famous dance

I would also like to point out that this film was not the first time that Powell worked with George Murphy! They had first appeared together in the film "Broadway Melody of 1938", so perhaps Murphy was not so intimidated by Powell after all. Oh, by-the-way, in that film, Powell choreographed a very creative number for Murphy and herself where they danced in the rain, and almost 15 years BEFORE the great Gene Kelly did it!!! Anyone who watches this number today will no doubt see how this routine influenced Mr. Kelly's later and more famous number. However, in Powell's version, she and Murphy actually end up by falling into a large puddle!!!

I will end with a quote from Mr.Astaire, who In his autobiography 'Steps in Time', remarked about Powell: "She 'put 'em down like a man', no ricky-ticky-sissy stuff with Ellie. She really knocked out a tap dance in a class by herself."

The only thing which I will add to Mr. Astaire's remarks is that while Powell did "put 'em down like a man", she remained extremely feminine while doing it.

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Wow!

Two of the greatest dancers of the era, Fred Astaire and Elanor Powell, in a show full of great music and a pretty good story, what could be wrong with that. NOTHING.

Nice copy, good sound and picture quality, if you like the old musicals and don't have this on now is your chance.
Heck even George Murphy is good in it.

Astaire,Powell and Murphy-it doesn't get much better than this!

The last of the Broadway Melody's to be filmed,this 1940 edition ended the franchise in grand style.On hand to propel the proceedings along were George Murphy MGM's talented contract singer/actor/dancer,the top female tap dancer of her time Eleanor Powell and of course the legend himself Mr.Fred Astaire.Assisting most ably also were the talents of Lynne Carver,Ian Hunter,Florence Rice and especially Astaire's old friend and superb talent from the stage and screen Frank Morgan.Frank appeared with Fred and his sister Adele in Adele's last stage show back in 1931 in "The Band Wagon".Modern audiences of course will know Frank better as the Wizard of Oz(1939).
The story involves a couple of song and dance men Brett and Shaw(Astaire and Murphy) eking out a living doing escort service for new brides and a dancing act for the floor show,hoping for their big break.One day a rich businessman Mr.Casey(Morgan)happens to catch the act and offers Brett a job in a show he's backing.But unbeknownst to Casey,Brett pretends he is Shaw thinking Casey is another bill collector.This mix up causes Brett to lose out on a chance to get a leading role with the lady who is starring in a big production(and whom he adores)Clare Bennett(Powell).Shaw reluctantly takes the solo job but Brett backs his pal all the way.Shaw is at first over excited about his new position;the night life and publicity and he gets feelings for Clare.However the feelings aren't reciprocated and Shaw gets a little disillusioned and starts missing rehearsals and slacking off.Mr Casey eventually finds Brett and both have a heart to heart about the mix up that has occurred and what can be done to rectify it.Brett is adamant that things remain status quo and Casey reluctantly agrees but promises to get him working at the next available opportunity.He doesn't have to wait long as the big premiere arrives and Shaw is drunk.Brett fills in for him in the first act which allows time for Shaw to get sober and go on to finish the show.By this time Clare has figured out what Brett has been doing all along for Shaw and confronts Shaw about it.Shaw finally gets it too and deliberately acts drunk so his pal can finally get the job,the job he should have had to begin with.The film fades out with the three of them on stage for the finale.
This film has so many great moments in it it is hard to know where to begin or if I can do justice to them.For one,the three main stars all get time together and solo to shine and they take full advantage of it.Murphy was one talented individual and no slouch when it came to hoofing.He may not have quite been in the same league with Astaire or Powell but he was way beyond competent when it came to keeping up to these great costars.MGM couldn't have picked a better man for the job.Then there is Eleanor.What can one say about this fantastic talent? Hoofer extraordinaire,she was the most technically proficient dancer that Astaire ever had the pleasure of working beside and it shows in spades.The two of them are just a double dynamo of energy flying out in every direction.Usually Astaire or Powell in previous efforts exhibited this energy by themselves but putting them together produced a moment like no other,before or since.Powell was not only a tap dancing whirlwind,she could also go onto ballet points and was so supple she could do a back bend to the floor like it was the easiest thing in the world.Besides all that Powell had that girl next door quality with a very pleasing and disarming smile which of course made for great box office.Of course Astaire was a stickler for rehearsing,rehearsing and more rehearsing and this film was no different,but the results achieved on screen cannot be disputed.They both made it look so easy because their hard work paid off.The secret to any success in any profession.And speaking of Fred Astaire,what can one say about the master himself?Watching the two together you see that neither Powell nor Fred is attempting to outdo or blend with one another but instead they retain their own personas while complimenting each other.Astaire I think still has that little something over Powell,whether it is his flowing hand gestures,body flow or his gentle smile.And watch Fred dance solo in the "I've got my Eyes on You" number.Typically Fred would throw in something,more often than not,that would add a little "wow" factor to his routines;as if just his dancing alone wouldn't be sufficient.Here as he dances on an "empty" stage(Powell is off watching in the wings)he comes near an awning.He throws a small round powder puff of Clare's onto the awning mid song,it rolls up and comes back down and lands into Fred's hand as he twirls into position to catch it;and right on the beat.It is absolutely stunning but typical of the master.
Technically this film has been transferred well.The snap case cover of the DVD says it is a new digital transfer.Well,it may be new for 2003 but the film could do with a little more work as it does exhibit its age quite a bit at times;with dirt and scratching.The film though is quite crisp and the contrast is more than adequate.Extras on this disc include a featurette,the trailer,some production notes and the Our Gang one reeler short "The Big Premiere".
All in all this film is a definite must have for all fans of Powell and Astaire or any lover of good musicals.The film has it all,great dancing and singing from its three mains(Eleanor actually sings herself),a wonderful supporting cast,great musical numbers by Cole Porter and a decent and flowing plot to hang everything onto.It is a another of the "They don't make them like this anymore" films;and believe me they don't come along like this very often.Oh yes I should mention,there are also a couple of eccentric acts thrown into the mix like the previous Broadway Melodies such as an over the top singer and pianist and an acrobatic lady who juggles a ball,with Astaire as her reluctant helper.
Think Powell-Astaire....nothing could be finer!

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Classic Tap With Astaire and Powell

Fred Astaire's first post-Ginger effort was this entertaining MGM musical - pairing the dance legend with the incomparable Eleanor Powell. "Broadway Melody of 1940" will be remembered for Astaire and Powell's exhilarating tap duet in Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine" and their equally impressive "Jukebox Dance." Great chemistry between the two stars, yet it was their only film together. Likable support from George Murphy and MGM's production polish help override a weak script.

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