Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937)

the audience applauded

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Eleanor Powell is amazing. If you know all subjects Fred and Ginger, you need to rent an Eleanor Powell film. She's the best female tap dancer I've ever seen, and I have no idea why she isn't the most famous. She's pretty, a good actress, has a nice singing voice, and is a phenomenal dancer who makes it look easy. In Broadway Melody of 1938, she recreates the Fred and Ginger gazebo dance with George Murphy, but she takes the number out into the rain and ends with a big splash-literally. Once you've seen her dance, you can't help but ask, "Ginger who?"In this 1930s musical chalk-full of songs and dances from the all-star cast: Eleanor Powell, George Murphy, Buddy Epsom, Sophie Tucker, and Judy Garland, there's a very thin plot, a misunderstanding, and a love triangle. However, I don't think anyone rents a Broadway Melody movie for the storyline.Sophie Tucker, former Broadway sensation, tries to jumpstart her daughter's career and says poignantly, "I've had my day." "I remember," Robert Taylor smiles at her. She gives a very touching monologue about her experience onstage, and then gives the screen a treat by reprising her staple "Some of These Days," which eventually became the title of her autobiography. Sophie Tucker's daughter is the rising star Judy Garland, who sings the memorable song "You Made Me Love You" to a photograph of Clark Gable.Still, there's a lot of wasted screen time in this movie, interspersed among the good parts. Robert Wildhack literally talks five minutes about different types of sneezes, Billy Gilbert speaks in broken English and acts like a buffoon, and not every song will have you humming a reprise when the credits roll. You can rent it, though, or any of the other Broadway Melody movies, if you want to see some good dancing.

With some of the same actors, the director and writers from the similarly titled edition two years earlier, this third of the four MGM musicals featuring the title song lacks the charm and originality of its predecessor.However, it makes up for it historically because it contains Judy Garland's first appearance in a full length film. Garland sings "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)" to a picture of Clark Gable (among other things).Director Roy Del Ruth, writers Jack McGowan and Sid Silvers, actors Robert Taylor, Eleanor Powell and Buddy Ebsen are joined by George Murphy, Binnie Barnes, Sophie Tucker, Raymond Walburn, Robert Benchley, Charley Grapewin and Billy Gilbert (among others).Robert Wildhack's monologue about sneezes is too long and tiresome in this one and the whole racehorse back story is uninvolving and predictable.After being billed third behind headliner Jack Benny and Powell in the 1936 movie, Taylor's name jumped to the top following his turn opposite Greta Garbo in Camille (1936). Again, he plays a young show producer; this time he wants it star an unknown hoofer (Powell) until his financial backer's (Walburn) wife (Barnes) interferes for jealous spite.Murphy and Ebsen play out-of-work performers who befriend Powell's character; Tucker plays Garland's stage mother, a former star herself. Benchley is Taylor's agent, Grapewin a horse trainer, and Gilbert a barber-come-investor in Powell's horse.

Likable musical with a recycled plot that combines musical and horse racing movie clichés. This film reunites the two leads from Broadway Melody of 1936, Taylor and Powell. Also returning from that film is Buddy Ebsen. Robert Benchley, Raymond Walburn, Billy Gilbert, and Charley Grapewin are all wasted. Stiff George Murphy and scenery-chewing Sophie Tucker add little to things. On the plus side we have the dancing of Eleanor Powell, the singing of Judy Garland, and Robert Taylor being...well, Robert Taylor. Includes famous scene where teenage Judy Garland sings "You Made Me Love You" to a picture of Clark Gable. Aside from this cute number, the songs are OK but nothing terribly memorable. In Broadway '36 there was a character who did various snoring sounds. Here the same actor returns doing sneezing sounds. Amusing but hardly a knee-slapping gag. Powell's tap dancing is still the highlight, of course. Although there's precious little of that for a musical that's nearly two hours. Her number in the rain with Murphy and the finale are both nice but neither her best work. All of the Broadway Melody films are fun fluff but not quite on par with the Busby Berkeley '30s musicals for Warner Bros. for my taste. This one isn't as good as Broadway '36 or '40 but it is enjoyable.

The third installment of the Broadway Melody series has a great advantage in the performance of 15 year old Judy Garland,here making her first mark in the movies.My wife commented she had never seen a 15 year old act so full of confidence. The movie is mediocre,but very enjoyable light fluff.Robert Taylor and Eleanor Powell have a nice chemistry as the young lovers.Great support from hoofers George Murphy and Buddy Ebsen.Especially Ebsen is a joy to watch. There's also an early appearance of Robert Benchley,and his wit is as dry as ever.It's fun to watch the MGM style musical at an early stage.The next two decades no other studio could touch MGM's musicals for sheer brilliance.