Blu-ray Review Broadway Melody of 1940 Blu-ray Review (1 Viewer)

[Matt Hough]

When you’ve got Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell, Cole Porter, and the mammoth MGM moviemaking machine working together, the results can’t help but be something memorable, and that’s what you get in Norman Taurog’s Broadway Melody of 1940.



Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940)



Released: 09 Feb 1940
Rated: Passed
Runtime: 102 min




Director: Norman Taurog
Genre: Musical



Cast: Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell, George Murphy, Frank Morgan
Writer(s): Leon Gordon (screen play), George Oppenheimer (screen play), Jack McGowan (original story), Dore Schary (original story)



Plot: Johnny Brett and King Shaw are an unsuccessful dance team in New York. A producer discovers Brett as the new partner for Clare Bennett, but Brett, who thinks he is one of the people they lent money to gives him the name of his partner...

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[Mike Frezon]

So excited to see your review, Matt!

I am really looking forward to this!

 

[David Weicker]

Got my copy today.

What a wonderful film.

I knew there was a reason that Fred is my absolute favorite star

to quote Patrick Dennis in Auntie Mame
"Our only god was Fred Astaire. He was everything he wanted to be: smooth, suave, debonair, dapper, intelligent, adult, witty, and wise. We saw his pictures over and over, played his records until they were grey and blurred, dressed as much like him as we dared. When any crises came into our young lives, we asked ourselves "what would Fred Astaire do?" and we did likewise."

 

[Virgoan]

This gem is one of my favorite musical films. It's notable that Eleanor Powell's voice is her own. In previous films she was dubbed as studio head Louis B. Mayer preferred more cultured, operatic voices from his female singers, Powell had sung on Broadway prior to her film career, so it's nice to hear her in this film. The "Between You and Me" number is a lot of fun in the old Hollywood way - lots of slides and twirls and movements to show off the costumes. This was the only pairing of Fred and Eleanor -- a dream pairing. The score is conducted by Alfred Newman in one of his last independent assignments before taking over the music department at 20th Century-Fox. He would not return to MGM until he scored "How the West Was Won" in 1962-63.

 

[Matt Hough]

It's notable that Eleanor Powell's voice is her own. In previous films she was dubbed as studio head Louis B. Mayer preferred more cultured, operatic voices from his female singers, Powell had sung on Broadway prior to her film career, so it's nice to hear her in this film.

Absolutely. Her voice is just fine, and this proves that dubbing her with Marjorie Lane in the prior two Broadway Melody movies and in Born to Dance was completely unnecessary.

 

[Mike Frezon]

Peg and I watched this a few nights ago.

Fred was in prime form (when wasn't he?). To see the ENTIRE Begin the Beguine segment (rather than the truncated clip which appears on That's Entertainment) was such a treat. And most of the other dance routines were quite wonderful too. As is often the case with M-G-M musicals, the story itself is second-rate when compared to the individual performances contained within.

But I cannot contain myself when it comes to the Begin the Beguine tap routine by Astaire & Powell. The synchronicity is beyond compare.

I have to confess that shortly after watching this, Peg and I had yet another viewing of La La Land. It's not "fair" to watch Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone game their way through their dance routines after watching the likes of Astaire and Powell. But we came to the understanding early on that Gosling and Stone weren't "supposed" to be up to the level of the dance greats which have appeared on screen over the history of film. But enough about La La Land.

I'll be taking this disc off the shelf on a regular basis.

 

[roxy1927]

Finally got to buy this and was very impressed. Huge improvement over DVD. In fact I don't even remember it looking this good at the Regency. Costume details are much more in evidence and the inky blacks stand out. Not perfect. A bit too soft and grainy at other times. I don't believe anybody has mentioned her version of I Concentrate On You but Lena Horne's is one of the very best.
The singer in the film is all wrong for the number and the staging is not much better. A disappointing introduction to one of the great entries in the American songbook. Still the song is a pleasure to hear even in these circumstances..

 

[lark144]

Finally got to buy this and was very impressed. Huge improvement over DVD. In fact I don't even remember it looking this good at the Regency. Costume details are much more in evidence and the inky blacks stand out. Not perfect. A bit too soft and grainy at other times. I don't believe anybody has mentioned her version of I Concentrate On You but Lena Horne's is one of the very best.
The singer in the film is all wrong for the number and the staging is not much better. A disappointing introduction to one of the great entries in the American songbook. Still the song is a pleasure to hear even in these circumstances..

It looked great at the Regency. But this looks even better. One of the joys of my early film going experiences was in discovering this film. I remember enthusing to Frank Rowley, the manager and booker of the Regency, about it, and being Frank Rowley, he just smiled.

 

[roxy1927]

I've written this before and it must be said again Frank Rowley presented when he moved to I believe it was the Gramercy one of the most beautiful if not the most beautiful black and white print I've ever seen. It was of Swing Time. The images were so sharp and the shades of white silver gray and black were gorgeous. I am mystified why the Criterion is so disappointing and people complain about a hair like it got caught on the projector's lens and the projectionist didn't notice. One of my favorites and I will not buy it hoping that a better restoration comes along. I wish Mr. Rawley were still around so I could ask him about it. Though not a very expressive man, a bit impassive, but you could always talk to him.

 

[usrunnr]

"opera comic Charlotte Arren who does her satiric take on “Il Bacio” "

I've never laughed so hard. So unexpected. Every tiny little bit of it. Had to replay several times, and laughed out loud every single time. What else has she done, anybody?

 

[roxy1927]

I find the vaudeville bits in this movie very entertaining. Trixie is especially wonderful.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Musicals aren't my thing, but based on what was written in this thread, I just purchased this Blu-ray from Amazon for $13.49 plus tax.

 

[roxy1927]

I don't think this will be the one to change your mind about them. But I wish I got it for that price.

 

[Robert Crawford]

I don't think this will be the one to change your mind about them. But I wish I got it for that price.

I doubt any musical can change my mind as it's just not my favorite film genre. That said, I'm not a novice to watching them as I've watched my share of musicals in my lifetime. I appreciate the genre a lot more than I did when I was much younger which is why I have 200 of them in my disc collection.

 

[PODER]

Musicals aren't my thing, but based on what was written in this thread, I just purchased this Blu-ray from Amazon for $13.49 plus tax.

It's worth checking Amazon regularly for their WBAC offerings. I just bought both this and EACH DAWN I DAY at the low price Robert Crawford quotes. While we wait to see if anything like the "4 for $44" sales return, this may be as good a price as we can find.

 

[roxy1927]

I doubt any musical can change my mind as it's just not my favorite film genre. That said, I'm not a novice to watching them as I've watched my share of musicals in my lifetime. I appreciate the genre a lot more than I did when I was much younger which is why I have 200 of them in my disc collection.

If you get a chance to watch it please let us know your thoughts.

 

[Robert Crawford]

It's worth checking Amazon regularly for their WBAC offerings. I just bought both this and EACH DAWN I DAY at the low price Robert Crawford quotes. While we wait to see if anything like the "4 for $44" sales return, this may be as good a price as we can find.

Yup, I got Annie Get Your Gun and Baby Doll at similar pricing.