The Broadway Melody of 1929 (1929)

a little pre-hayes code fun!

O.K. first a general comment:
Can someone please explain to me why so many people refer to this film as "dated" to put it down...
It was made in 1929... Thank you to the reviewer who pointed this out!
If you want something more up to date, go rent "The Terminator" (!)
Back in 1929 things were rather... 1929s'ish... (errrrrrr... duh...)
That said, actually one reason the film is so relevant today is because of just how ahead of its time it was...
Basically it was the first all talkie musical... it also had a colorized sequence (now lost), and was quite racy...
Sure... it lacks the smooth Lush technical perfectionism of the G-Rated MGM musical greats that would follow...
and has some strange quirks, some almost B-movie 50's sexploitationish... though there is no nudity, the film has almost constant "beneath the surface" as well as overt tease. This coupled with the film's Jazz Age POV and occasional zaniness make it... o.k. dated but in a funny way...
All this said, the two leading gals (Bessie Love and Anita Page) in the film are HOT (not glamorous... hot...)
Times were different then... the leading men are a bit fat... and the girls "petite" bordering on boyish, yet still... as I said, hot...
I also find the film interesting because the ladies have the lead... not the men... and the leading men are far from ravishing and suave (something that would become the standard in musicals to come!)
And, the cinematography is quite edgy for the the times (its a nicely cut film, doesn't drag.)
Another nice thing is that most the actors use American (NY/Broadway-esque) dialect... as opposed to "proper" (<-- be sure to roll the "r" poshly) Queen's English.

other points:
As many have pointed out though, there is the strange use of title cards as segues, and while some people point out certain dated elements of the acting, the presence of seasoned veteran vaudevillians and stage actors and the film's effort to find its place in the post silent movie era also make it great to watch.

So to conclude: Yeah, this isn't your typical Academy award winning film... plot is definitely not so heavy... its sort of a light comedy with a few heavy moments, and song and dance routines now and then. Fans of the later musicals will be disappointed by the relatively lackluster choreography that would become trademarks of the later MGM musicals, however, Broadway fans might appreciate the film's realism. Another interesting thing about the film is that the actors at times seem to mouth the other actor's lines (!)(!)(!) (Is this just my imagination???)

All in all, a fun film... not timeless, more of historical significance, but still great to watch.

Incidentally, if you liked the recent musical "The Drowsy Chaperone" you might get a kick out of this... but as this film is definite "Jazz Age", its really the era right after Chaperone, when Victorian mores had already unfolded. August 23, 2008

The first actual movie musical

Even though it was advertised as "All Talking! All Singing! All Dancing!", this movie, named the Best Picture of 1929, contains certain elements that point out that sound was still unfamiliar territory to most filmmakers. For example, this movie is still using title cards to announce the chapters. Also, the actors are still using silent film acting techniques as though nobody can hear them. For example, in one scene, characters indicate their drunkenness by hiccuping and wildly staggering about. This unpolished musical was undoubtedly recognized more for combining drama with the musical revue than for its overall production value. The inclusion of a major production number, "The Wedding of the Painted Doll," originally a Technicolor number that is now lost, may also have impressed the Academy.

The story is basically just a backdrop for the real attraction - the singing and dancing. The vaudeville sister act of Hank (Harriet) and Queenie Mahoney come to Broadway where their friend, Eddie Kerns, needs them for his number in a show. Eddie has had a long distance romance with Hank for some time, but when he meets the now grown-up Queenie, he falls in love with her. However, she is also being courted by Jock Warriner, a wealthy playboy. Queenie uses her relationship with Jock as a shield against getting involved with Eddie so as not to hurt her sister. When Hank sees what Eddie and Queenie mean to each other, she steps out of the way so the pair can be together. Unremarkable end to unremarkable story, although Bessie Love's acting as Hank is quite good for an early talkie. Unlike later movie musicals where it is expected that the players will burst into song at any time, this movie seems self-conscious about it all. The very few songs and dances that are performed are - with only one exception - performed within the context of the Broadway show that is being performed. Also note the brief appearance of two character actors early in their careers - William Demarest and James Gleason.

In spite of its obvious shortcomings, this film is one of my favorite early talkies. I love it not because of how it plays in the 21st century. Instead, I love it knowing that it really is the first true movie musical and knowing how it was made in the fall of 1928 when sound technology was so primitive. The cameras were rolled around on wheels - rolling coffins they called them - to give the film some of the fluid visual motion that was lost when sound came in because the noise of the camera had to be insulated. Also, since there was no such thing as a mobile microphone at that point, the microphone was manually hauled just off camera by someone in their stocking feet. These are only a few of the anecdotes dealing with how this film was made and the on-the-spot innovations that had to be made.

The extras are Warner Brothers shorts that pertain to the talkies and musicals of the late 20s and early 30s. "The Dogway Melody" is a 16 minute-long spoof of the original The Broadway Melody with a cast entirely of dogs. You have to see this to believe it. It is funny in an "Our Gang" kind of way. There are also Metro Movietone Reviews consisting of five shorts less than 20 minutes each of some singing and dancing and comedy bits taken directly from the stage. "Van & Schenk" is a 5 minute short with Gus Van and Joe Schenk singing "Chinese Firecracker" and "Way Down South" with piano accompaniment sounding like they are singing through a megaphone. "Broadway Trailer Gallery" contains trailers for the four sequels to Broadway Melody. These films were Broadway Melody of 1936, 1938, 1940, and 1944. December 25, 2007

The Broadway Melody

I thouroughly loved this one! I wouls only add to the other reviewers words by saying I've always loved the song "Broadway Melody", both the music and gleefully,carefree happy time flavor of those 1929 lyrics. Thought I'd never be able to listen enough times to this song to satisfy me,BUT,this movie justabout does the trick. I shall be keeping this gem among my treasures and to think I was able to purchase a $680,000.00 movie which grossed 4 million bucks, for only [$$$] here at Amazon. This movie has delicious nostalgia. and if you really try, you can almostget a tangible scent of the places theaters and ambience of the ornate beautiful movie palaces all so new at that time. A time piece and keep-sake of a happier and more carefree "era,dear-ah." (Credit Ruth Donelley from her book)

If you've got a love for old movies you just may love this.(vo-dody-oh-do!) June 6, 2003

A Trip Back to a Happier Day

This wonderful movie was made in both silent and talkie versions in 1928, and released the following year.Bessie Love and the beautiful Anita Page star as two sisters trying to make it big on the NY stage, and both in love with the same man. Charles King,(1889-1944), a fairly well-known hoofer and song man of the era, plays Eddie. He does well in this movie, but it has been recorded elsewhere that he had great problems remembering his lines. Miss Page, 18 at the time, gives a stellar performance as a typical Jazz Age baby, but yet very naive and innocent.There is much of Miss Page in real life as she was here in this movie. She is still alive and making movies today, at 96. Love is great as the scared-of-nothing older sister. The unbilled costume designer gives the ultimate fey performance everytime he appears. Jed Prouty is good as the stuttering Uncle Jed. Unfortunately, a lot of the men are very heavily and overly made up. The music is great, except for overkill of "You Were Meant for Me"(originally written for Anita Page by Nacio Herb Brown) and "Broadway Melody." 20's wisecrack remarks abound, especially well delivered by Mary Doran, who plays Flo. A great, great movie to be seen again and again. Because it is from 1929 is one of its charms. It is never outdated. March 26, 2003

The Sounds of Broadway!

Claimed by some as "The worst film to ever win best picture" I couldn't disagree more. "The Broadway Melody" carried a lot of importance with it in the world of cinema. It was the first complete "talkie". Flooded with music and dance.
"The Broadway Melody" tells the story of the Mahoney sisters, Queenis (Anita Page) and Hank (Bessie Love) who go to New York with the idea in their head they'll make it on Broadway with the help of Hank's boyfriend, Eddie Kearns (Charles King). But, as the film goes on we find outt hat both sisters are in love in Eddie, and Eddie feels the same way towards them, and everybody better get their feelings straight before and after the curtain closes on broadway!
I have to admit, even though slammed by many people as dull, too old-fashion, too cliche, and just plain boring, I enjoyed the film and for more reasons then it's techinical achievements. The film has a charm to it that has been forever lost in today's Hollywood. I would only recommend that serious movie lovers watch this film, other people will have no appreciation for it. This not the worst film to ever win the best picture award. And even if it didn't win the award I would still enjoy this film.
The only reason I'm giving this film 4 stars instead of 5 is that the dance numbers seem flat. There is no pizazz to it. Watch other musicals of the 30's like "Whoopee" made in 1930. Watch "42nd Street" or the Fred Astaire Ginger Rogers musicals. They all seem to have more "glitz and glamour" to them. "The Braodway Melody" number is awfully flat. But, they make up for it with "The Wedding of the Painted Doll" number. But even in this piece, the dancing is not amazing. The songs in the film however are, which happened to be written by the team of Freed & Brown, if you're having trouble placing them, they wrote "Temptation" along with, "The Broadway Melody" & "You Were Meant For Me" are enjoyable to listen to.
The story to the film is by Edmund Goulding, who directed "Grand Hotel" with Greta Garbo, which won best picture in 1932.
Bottom-line:Although it was the first musical to ever win the best picture award and was the first complete "talkie", the film has more to enjoy then this. It is a charming film that works more as a drama than a musical. July 23, 2002

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