Broadway Melody of 1936
Encyclopedia
Broadway Melody of 1936 is a musical released by MGM in 1935. It was a follow up of sorts to the successful The Broadway Melody
, which had been released in 1929, although, beyond the title and some music, there is no story connection with the earlier film.
The film was written by Harry W. Conn, Moss Hart
, Jack McGowan and Sid Silvers
. It was directed by Roy Del Ruth and starred Jack Benny
, Eleanor Powell
, and Robert Taylor
. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture
.
In an interview promoting That's Entertainment! III, Ann Miller
claimed that MGM was on the verge of bankruptcy at the time Broadway Melody of 1936 was made, and it (along with subsequent Powell films) became so popular the company became profitable again.
) tries to convince her high school sweetheart Broadway
producer Robert Gordon (Robert Taylor
) to give her chance to star in his new musical, but he is too busy with the rich widow (June Knight
) backing his show. Irene tries to show Gordon that she has the talent to succeed, but he will not hire her. Things become complicated when she begins impersonating a French dancer, not realizing that the dancer is the invention of a gossip columnist
(Jack Benny
).
This was Powell's first leading role, and her first film for MGM. She would appear in the next two entries in the Broadway Melody series: Broadway Melody of 1938
and Broadway Melody of 1940
. (Neither of these films were related to each other in terms of storyline.) This also marked Ebsen's film debut. Though she was dubbed in this film by Marjorie Lane, Eleanor recorded "You Are My Lucky Star" with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Victor 25158).
The Broadway Melody
The Broadway Melody is a 1929 American musical film and the first sound film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. It was one of the first musicals to feature a Technicolor sequence, which sparked the trend of color being used in a flurry of musicals that would hit the screens in 1929-1930...
, which had been released in 1929, although, beyond the title and some music, there is no story connection with the earlier film.
The film was written by Harry W. Conn, Moss Hart
Moss Hart
Moss Hart was an American playwright and theatre director, best known for his interpretations of musical theater on Broadway.-Early years:...
, Jack McGowan and Sid Silvers
Sid Silvers
Sid Silvers was an American actor, comedian, lyricist, and writer.Silvers began his career in vaudeville in the early 1920s as a comedy partner of Phil Baker. As part of their act, Silvers would heckle Baker from the audience...
. It was directed by Roy Del Ruth and starred Jack Benny
Jack Benny
Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
, Eleanor Powell
Eleanor Powell
Eleanor Torrey Powell was an American film actress and dancer of the 1930s and 1940s, known for her exuberant solo tap dancing.-Early life:...
, and Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor (actor)
Robert Taylor was an American film and television actor.-Early life:Born Spangler Arlington Brugh in Filley, Nebraska, he was the son of Ruth Adaline and Spangler Andrew Brugh, who was a farmer turned doctor...
. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture
Academy Award for Best Picture
The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to artists working in the motion picture industry. The Best Picture category is the only category in which every member of the Academy is eligible not only...
.
In an interview promoting That's Entertainment! III, Ann Miller
Ann Miller
Johnnie Lucille Collier, better known as Ann Miller was an American singer, dancer and actress.-Early life:...
claimed that MGM was on the verge of bankruptcy at the time Broadway Melody of 1936 was made, and it (along with subsequent Powell films) became so popular the company became profitable again.
Plot
Irene Foster (Eleanor PowellEleanor Powell
Eleanor Torrey Powell was an American film actress and dancer of the 1930s and 1940s, known for her exuberant solo tap dancing.-Early life:...
) tries to convince her high school sweetheart Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
producer Robert Gordon (Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor (actor)
Robert Taylor was an American film and television actor.-Early life:Born Spangler Arlington Brugh in Filley, Nebraska, he was the son of Ruth Adaline and Spangler Andrew Brugh, who was a farmer turned doctor...
) to give her chance to star in his new musical, but he is too busy with the rich widow (June Knight
June Knight
June Knight was an American Broadway and film actress.Aged 19, she appeared in the last Ziegfeld Follies show, Hot-Cha!...
) backing his show. Irene tries to show Gordon that she has the talent to succeed, but he will not hire her. Things become complicated when she begins impersonating a French dancer, not realizing that the dancer is the invention of a gossip columnist
Gossip columnist
A gossip columnist is someone who writes a gossip column in a newspaper or magazine, especially a gossip magazine. Gossip columns are material written in a light, informal style, which relates the gossip columnist's opinions about the personal lives or conduct of celebrities from show business ,...
(Jack Benny
Jack Benny
Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
).
Cast
- Jack BennyJack BennyJack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
as Bert Keeler - Eleanor PowellEleanor PowellEleanor Torrey Powell was an American film actress and dancer of the 1930s and 1940s, known for her exuberant solo tap dancing.-Early life:...
as Irene Foster - Robert TaylorRobert Taylor (actor)Robert Taylor was an American film and television actor.-Early life:Born Spangler Arlington Brugh in Filley, Nebraska, he was the son of Ruth Adaline and Spangler Andrew Brugh, who was a farmer turned doctor...
as Robert Gordon - Una MerkelUna MerkelUna Merkel was an American Tony Award-winning stage and film actress.-Life and career:Una Merkel was born in Covington, Kentucky, and grew up in Philadelphia and New York City. She bore a resemblance to actress Lillian Gish and began her career as a stand-in for Gish, most notably in the 1928...
as Kitty Corbett - Sid SilversSid SilversSid Silvers was an American actor, comedian, lyricist, and writer.Silvers began his career in vaudeville in the early 1920s as a comedy partner of Phil Baker. As part of their act, Silvers would heckle Baker from the audience...
as Snoop Blue - Buddy EbsenBuddy EbsenBuddy Ebsen was an American character actor and dancer. A performer for seven decades, he had starring roles as Jed Clampett in the long-running television series The Beverly Hillbillies and as the title character in the 1970s detective series Barnaby Jones, and played Barnaby Jones in the movie...
as Ted Burke - June KnightJune KnightJune Knight was an American Broadway and film actress.Aged 19, she appeared in the last Ziegfeld Follies show, Hot-Cha!...
as Lillian Brent - Vilma EbsenVilma EbsenVilma Ebsen was an American musical theatre and film actress best known for dancing in Broadway shows and MGM musicals in the 1930s with her more famous brother, Buddy Ebsen....
as Sally Burke - Nick Long Jr. as Basil Newcombe
- Robert Wildhack as Hornblow
- Paul HarveyPaul Harvey (actor)Paul Harvey was an American actor who appeared in at least 177 films.-Selected filmography:*They Shall Have Music *Behind the News *Moonlight Masquerade *Spellbound...
as Scully - Frances LangfordFrances LangfordJulia Frances Langford was an American singer and entertainer who was popular during the Golden Age of Radio and also made film appearances over two decades.-Birth:...
as Herself - Harry StockwellHarry StockwellHarry Stockwell was an American actor and singer. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, United States.Stockwell made his film debut in the 1935 film, Strike Up the Band. However, his claim to fame came in 1935, when he provided the voice of "The Prince" in Walt Disney's animated classic, Snow...
as Himself
This was Powell's first leading role, and her first film for MGM. She would appear in the next two entries in the Broadway Melody series: Broadway Melody of 1938
Broadway Melody of 1938
Broadway Melody of 1938 is a 1937 musical film, produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by Roy Del Ruth. The film is essentially a backstage musical revue, featuring high-budget sets and cinematography in the MGM musical tradition...
and Broadway Melody of 1940
Broadway Melody of 1940
Broadway Melody of 1940 is a 1940 MGM movie musical starring Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell and George Murphy. It was directed by Norman Taurog and features music by Cole Porter, including "Begin the Beguine"....
. (Neither of these films were related to each other in terms of storyline.) This also marked Ebsen's film debut. Though she was dubbed in this film by Marjorie Lane, Eleanor recorded "You Are My Lucky Star" with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Victor 25158).
Pop culture references
- Irene apes Katharine HepburnKatharine HepburnKatharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
in Morning Glory - Ted wears a Mickey MouseMickey MouseMickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
sweater - Ted references Shirley TempleShirley TempleShirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
and Gandhi - The song "Sing Before Breakfast" references Shredded wheatShredded WheatShredded wheat is a breakfast cereal made from whole wheat. As of January 2010, it was available in three sizes: bite sized , miniature , and full size, which may be broken into small pieces before milk is added .Both sizes are available in a...
Soundtrack
- "Broadway Rhythm" (1935)
- Music by Nacio Herb BrownNacio Herb BrownNacio Herb Brown was an American writer of popular songs, movie scores, and Broadway theatre music in the 1920s through the early 1950s.-Biography:...
- Lyrics by Arthur FreedArthur FreedArthur Freed was born Arthur Grossman in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a Jewish American lyricist and a Hollywood film producer.- Biography :Freed began his career as a song-plugger and pianist in Chicago...
- Performed by Frances LangfordFrances LangfordJulia Frances Langford was an American singer and entertainer who was popular during the Golden Age of Radio and also made film appearances over two decades.-Birth:...
- Performed by Buddy EbsenBuddy EbsenBuddy Ebsen was an American character actor and dancer. A performer for seven decades, he had starring roles as Jed Clampett in the long-running television series The Beverly Hillbillies and as the title character in the 1970s detective series Barnaby Jones, and played Barnaby Jones in the movie...
, Vilma EbsenVilma EbsenVilma Ebsen was an American musical theatre and film actress best known for dancing in Broadway shows and MGM musicals in the 1930s with her more famous brother, Buddy Ebsen....
, June KnightJune KnightJune Knight was an American Broadway and film actress.Aged 19, she appeared in the last Ziegfeld Follies show, Hot-Cha!...
, Nick Long Jr., and Eleanor PowellEleanor PowellEleanor Torrey Powell was an American film actress and dancer of the 1930s and 1940s, known for her exuberant solo tap dancing.-Early life:...
- Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- "You Are My Lucky Star" (1935)
- Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- Lyrics by Arthur Freed; Played during the opening credits
- Performed by Frances Langford and chorus
- Performed by Eleanor Powell (dubbed by Marjorie LaneMarjorie LaneMarjorie Lane was an American singer and Broadway performer of the 1920s and 1930s. Beginning her career in the 1910s on Broadway, her performances included roles in 1913's the Honeymoon Express and 1928's Billie...
) and chorus - Performed by Roger EdensRoger EdensRoger Edens was a Hollywood composer, arranger and associate producer, and is considered one of the major creative figures in Arthur Freed's musical film production unit at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during the "golden era of Hollywood".-Early career and work with Judy Garland:Edens was born in...
and Eleanor Powell - Performed by Robert Taylor and chorus
- "Broadway Melody" (1929)
- Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- Lyrics by Arthur Freed
- Performed by Harry StockwellHarry StockwellHarry Stockwell was an American actor and singer. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, United States.Stockwell made his film debut in the 1935 film, Strike Up the Band. However, his claim to fame came in 1935, when he provided the voice of "The Prince" in Walt Disney's animated classic, Snow...
- "I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'" (1935)
- Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- Lyrics by Arthur Freed
- Sung by June Knight, Robert Taylor and chorus
- Performed by June Knight, Nick Long Jr., and chorus
- Performed by Frances LangfordFrances LangfordJulia Frances Langford was an American singer and entertainer who was popular during the Golden Age of Radio and also made film appearances over two decades.-Birth:...
- "Sing Before Breakfast" (1935)
- Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- Lyrics by Arthur Freed
- Performed by Buddy Ebsen, Vilma Ebsen, and Eleanor Powell (dubbed by Marjorie LaneMarjorie LaneMarjorie Lane was an American singer and Broadway performer of the 1920s and 1930s. Beginning her career in the 1910s on Broadway, her performances included roles in 1913's the Honeymoon Express and 1928's Billie...
)
- "All I Do Is Dream Of You" (FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
version) (1934)- Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- Lyrics by Arthur Freed
- "On a Sunday Afternoon" (1935)
- Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- Lyrics by Arthur Freed
- Performed by Buddy Ebsen and Vilma Ebsen
- "The Old Folks at Home (Swanee River)" (1851)
- Written by Stephen FosterStephen FosterStephen Collins Foster , known as the "father of American music", was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century...
- Performed by Roger EdensRoger EdensRoger Edens was a Hollywood composer, arranger and associate producer, and is considered one of the major creative figures in Arthur Freed's musical film production unit at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during the "golden era of Hollywood".-Early career and work with Judy Garland:Edens was born in...
- Written by Stephen Foster