← Back to Reviews
in
Broadway Melody of 1938
MGM's Broadway Melody of 1938 is best remembered for a memorable musical number performed by Judy Garland, but the movie does have a few other things going for it.
The 1937 musical stars George Murphy and Buddy Ebsen as a pair of former vaudeville hoofers who are now into training horses and meet a pretty young dancer (Eleanor Powell) who is trying to buy a horse with the help of these guys while simultaneously being pegged by a Broadway producer (Robert Taylor) for his new musical, but his backer doesn't want an unknown as the star of the show. Our heroine moves into a theatrical boarding house run by a former vaudevillian (Sophie Tucker) who is trying get her teenage daughter (Garland) on Broadway as well.
Jack McGowan's screenplay is a little more complex than it needs to be. The whole story involving the ownership of this horse is confusing and really slows things down. Once we think we're past the horse storyline, things pick up as Murphy, Taylor, and Powell make an interesting romantic triangle and Ebsen offers perfect comic relief. Not to mention the presence of the legendary Sophie Tucker (who for those who don't know, is the inspiration behind Bette Midler's famous "Soph" character), who commands the screen whenever she's on, stopping the show with her powerhouse rendition of "Some of these Days."
This film is best remembered for Garland's performance of "(Dear Mr. Gable)You Made Me Love You", which was added to the film after Garland actually sang the song at a birthday party MGM threw for Clark Gable. But we also have some terrific dancing from Powell, Murphy, and Ebsen. The trio's opening number "Follow in My Footsteps" features superior tap skills from all three dancers and Powell and Murphy's duet to "Yours and Mine" rivals Astaire/Rogers. Murphy's dance skills are particularly surprising and almost makes one wonder why he gave up movies for the US Senate.
Roy Del Ruth's direction is energetic enough that the viewer can forgive the slow spots, but if the truth be known, the dance skills of Murphy, Ebsen, and the extraordinary Eleanor Powell, plus the vocal magic of Judy Garland are alone worth the price of admission.
MGM's Broadway Melody of 1938 is best remembered for a memorable musical number performed by Judy Garland, but the movie does have a few other things going for it.
The 1937 musical stars George Murphy and Buddy Ebsen as a pair of former vaudeville hoofers who are now into training horses and meet a pretty young dancer (Eleanor Powell) who is trying to buy a horse with the help of these guys while simultaneously being pegged by a Broadway producer (Robert Taylor) for his new musical, but his backer doesn't want an unknown as the star of the show. Our heroine moves into a theatrical boarding house run by a former vaudevillian (Sophie Tucker) who is trying get her teenage daughter (Garland) on Broadway as well.
Jack McGowan's screenplay is a little more complex than it needs to be. The whole story involving the ownership of this horse is confusing and really slows things down. Once we think we're past the horse storyline, things pick up as Murphy, Taylor, and Powell make an interesting romantic triangle and Ebsen offers perfect comic relief. Not to mention the presence of the legendary Sophie Tucker (who for those who don't know, is the inspiration behind Bette Midler's famous "Soph" character), who commands the screen whenever she's on, stopping the show with her powerhouse rendition of "Some of these Days."
This film is best remembered for Garland's performance of "(Dear Mr. Gable)You Made Me Love You", which was added to the film after Garland actually sang the song at a birthday party MGM threw for Clark Gable. But we also have some terrific dancing from Powell, Murphy, and Ebsen. The trio's opening number "Follow in My Footsteps" features superior tap skills from all three dancers and Powell and Murphy's duet to "Yours and Mine" rivals Astaire/Rogers. Murphy's dance skills are particularly surprising and almost makes one wonder why he gave up movies for the US Senate.
Roy Del Ruth's direction is energetic enough that the viewer can forgive the slow spots, but if the truth be known, the dance skills of Murphy, Ebsen, and the extraordinary Eleanor Powell, plus the vocal magic of Judy Garland are alone worth the price of admission.