Main Cast: Robert Taylor, Eleanor Powell, George Murphy, Binnie Barnes, Buddy Ebsen, Judy Garland
Release Year: 1937
Country: US
Run Time: 110 minutes
Plot
This third entry in MGM's "Broadway Melody" series may not have been the biggest or best, but thanks to a masterpiece of casting it is one of the most memorable of the batch. Signed by MGM in 1935, 15-year-old Judy Garland made her first feature-film appearance under the aegis of Leo the Lion, immediately capturing the hearts of moviegoers everywhere by singing "You Made Me Love You" to a photograph of Clark Gable (a sequence that has since been excerpted countless times in TV and movie documentaries). She later shares a song-and-dance number with gangly Buddy Ebsen, making an impressive entrance in a white midget car (Ebsen would later be cast as the Tin Man in Judy's The Wizard of Oz, only to be replaced by Jack Haley when he fell ill during shooting). The presence of Garland, coupled with several superlative dance solos by Eleanor Powell and a spectacular musical finale, tends to make one forget about the plot, which has something to do with a racehorse owned by heroine Sally Lee (Powell). The horse wins the Grand Steeplechase, the prize money is poured into the stage production previously bankrolled by Steve Raleigh (Robert Taylor), and the Show Goes On. Movies fans of the 1930s with long memories were gratified to see such old vaudeville favorites as Sophie Tucker and Willie Howard in the cast, even if their material wasn't quite up to standard. Interestingly, one of the best comic turns is performed by "professional sneezer" Robert Wildhack -- leaving another famed movie sneezer, Billy Gilbert, with virtually nothing to do! On the other hand, Robert Benchley is his usual droll self, managing to score a comic bullseye despite all the lavish and noisy competition around him. Broadway Melody of 1938 was followed by a 1940 sequel, distinguished by the "challenge dance" between returnee Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
History was in the making with Broadway Melody of 1938, though few at the time were aware of it. It's not that Melody was any great shakes material-wise. The story is old hat and trite, another let's-put-on-a-show-but-how-will-we-raise-the-money rehash, with a racehorse subplot thrown in so they could stake some claim to "originality." The characterizations are paper thin, the dialogue is often pedestrian and much of the comedy is forced. The score is better, a hodgepodge of some very good and some not-exactly-a-classic. But if Melody overall is only a middling musical, it has a skyrocket in it in the form of 15-year-old Judy Garland, who received a lot of deserved notice for knocking one out of the ballpark with her "Dear Mr. Gable/You Made Me Love You," which even decades later still packs a punch. She has other bright spots as well, including a winning turn with Buddy Ebsen and a couple of choruses of "Everybody Sing" that are pure charm; but it's the "Gable" number that launched her into the cinema firmament. But Melody has more than Garland; there's some more fantastic singing from Sophie Tucker, good hoofing from Ebsen, a nice comic bit from Robert Benchley and some first class, frequently amazing Terpsichore from Eleanor Powell. If the material is not first class, the performers certainly are. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
The film is most notable for young Garland's performance of "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)", a tribute to Clark Gable which turned the teenage singer, who had been toiling in obscurity for a couple of years, into an overnight sensation, leading eventually to her being cast in The Wizard of Oz as Dorothy.
Young horse trainer Sally (Eleanor Powell) befriends Sonny (George Murphy) and Peter (Buddy Ebsen), who have been hired to look after a horse her family once owned. Concerned for the horse's well-being, she sneaks aboard a train taking the horse and its caretakers to New York City. En route she meets talent agent Steve Raleigh (Robert Taylor) who, impressed with her dancing and singing, sets her on the road to stardom and romance blossoms between the two. A subplot involves a boarding house for performers run by Sophie Tucker, who is trying to find a big break for young Judy Garland.
"You Are My Lucky Star" (1935) - in opening credits
"Yours and Mine" (1937) - sung by Eleanor Powell (dubbed by Marjorie Lane); danced by Eleanor Powell and George Murphy; danced by Judy Garland and Buddy Ebsen
"Follow in My Footsteps" (1937) - sung and danced by George Murphy, Buddy Ebsen and Eleanor Powell (dubbed by Marjorie Lane)
"Everybody Sing" (1937) - sung by Judy Garland, Sophie Tucker, Barnett Parker and chorus
"I'm Feeling Like a Million" (1937) - sung and danced by George Murphy and Eleanor Powell (dubbed by Marjorie Lane); recorded by Judy Garland but cut from the film
"Your Broadway and My Broadway" (1937) - sung by Sophie Tucker and Charles Igor Gorin, danced by George Murphy, Eleanor Powell, Buddy Ebsen and Judy Garland; recorded by Judy Garland and chorus but cut from the film
"Broadway Rhythm" (1935) - sung by a chorus and danced by Eleanor Powell
"Got a Pair of New Shoes" (1937) - sung by a chorus and danced by Eleanor Powell in the finale
"Sun Showers" (1937) - recorded by Charles Igor Gorin but cut from the film
This was the third of the "Broadway Melody" series, and had the working title of Broadway Melody of 1937.[3] When it was released, late in 1937, it was advertised with the tagline So new it's a year ahead!.
The film was in production from late February to 20 July1937, and was released on 20 August.[4] Its initial running time was 115 minutes, compared to the final running time of 110 minutes.[3]
Judy Garland's number, "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)" has been cited as her first great film success. The song was specially prepared by Roger Edens for Clark Gable's 36th birthday as a present, and Garland sang it at the party given by MGM. Producer Louis B. Mayer was so impressed he ordered that it be included in the next possible musical MGM was producing.[3]
The finale of the film takes place on a giant set upon which neon signs are visible showing the names of famous stage and screen stars. During Sophie Tucker's final number, all of the signs in the background actually change to read "Sophie Tucker" in tribute to her.
