Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Roy Del Ruth

Writers:

Jack McGowan (story) and
Sid Silvers (story) ...

Release Date:

20 August 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Romance

Plot:

Steve Raleight wants to produce a show on Broadway. He finds a backer, Herman Whipple and a leading lady...

Plot Keywords:

Train | Horse | Wager | Loan | Horse Racing

Cast

Robert Taylor	...	Stephan 'Steve' Raleigh
Eleanor Powell	...	Sally Lee
George Murphy	...	Sonny Ledford
Binnie Barnes	...	Caroline Whipple
Buddy Ebsen	...	Peter Trot
Sophie Tucker	...	Alice Clayton
Judy Garland	...	Betty Clayton
Charles Igor Gorin	...	Nicki Papaloopas, Barber
Raymond Walburn	...	Herman J. Whipple
Robert Benchley	...	Duffy, Raleigh's P.R. Man
Willie Howard	...	The Waiter
Charley Grapewin	...	James K. Blakeley, Trainer
Robert Wildhack	...	The Sneezer
Billy Gilbert	...	George Papaloopas, Barber
Barnett Parker	...	Jerry Jason, Brown's Receptionist

Also Known As:

The Broadway Melody of 1937 (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #3392)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

For the number "Your Broadway and Mine", the set is decorated with the names of Broadway stars from the 1910s and 1920s. When Alice (played by Sophie Tucker) starts talking about former times, Tucker's name can be seen at least twice in the background.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the number "Follow in My Footsteps" Sally Lee puts her guitar on the bunk, nobody takes it but it can't be seen after the cut.

Quotes:

Betty Clayton: [singing] I'm just another fan of yours, and I thought I'd write and tell you so.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hairspray (2007)

Soundtrack:

Got a Pair of New Shoes

enjoyable musical which reunites the 1936 cast members

Eleanor Powell, Robert Taylor, Buddy Ebsen and Robert Wildhack reunite for "Broadway Melody of 1938," not to be confused with "Broadway Melody of 1936" which is better. The 1938 film also stars Sophie Tucker, Judy Garland, Robert Benchley and Binnie Barnes. Taylor is now a producer named Steve instead of Robert, and Powell is newcomer to Broadway Sally Lee. Instead of knowing Steve from Albany, she now comes from a farm. Wildhack is doing scientific work on sneezing instead of snoring this time, and Buddy Ebsen still dances but has actually quit show business. The plot concerns the usual getting the money for a Broadway show, with horse racing thrown in for good measure.

The musical numbers are nowhere near as good as in the past, but we do have the young Judy singing her "You Made Me Love You" to Mr. Gable and "Some of These Days" belted out by Sophie Tucker. At 15, Garland had a very mature voice and was adorable. What a gift. It was also a rare treat to see Sophie Tucker. Here she plays Judy's mother and runs a rooming house for actors. Charles Igor Gorin plays an opera singing barber and sings the Toreador Song and Largo al factotum very well. As you'll see, the horse thinks so too.

Taylor looks fabulous and provides the eye candy and Powell's dancing is great. There are some cute bits in the movie as well. The finale is absolutely enormous. Good fun.