Broadway Melody of 1940

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Broadway Melody of 1940

1940

1h 42m

Musical

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80%

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5 Reviews

80%

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1,000+ Ratings

In New York City, the dance team of Johnny Brett (Fred Astaire) and King Shaw (George Murphy) are at the bottom of the heap, and barely scraping by in dance halls. When a producer, Bob Casey (Frank Morgan), catches sight of Brett's moves, he wants to cast him as the dance partner of the Broadway star Clare Bennett (Eleanor Powell). However, after some misdirection and confusion, Shaw becomes Bennett's partner instead, but Brett still has some dancing to do when Shaw fails to perform.

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

05/04/2021

2.5/4

(The) final number "Begin the Beguine" is perhaps one (Astaire's) most graceful set pieces, but the film itself feels rather tired, and the formula for these large scale showbiz musicals that dazzled in the 1930s was beginning to wear thin.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

04/23/2021

3/4

Cole Porter contributes a handful of tunes, with the showstopper being the climactic presentation of "Begin the Beguine" - sung and staged not once but twice.

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Sean Axmaker

Seanax.com

04/06/2008

... another ridiculous story that justifies itself in the historic one-time-only pairing of MGM's Queen of Tap Powell and the cinematic grace incarnate Fred Astaire.

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Susan Granger

www.susangranger.com

10/05/2006

4/5

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

06/13/2005

2/5

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Eli K

@Eli22 06/19/2024

Can't put under List tag.

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 10/04/2022

Better than the original Oscar winning film the story was simple but decent enough and the actors and actresses have charm I don't like dancing so skipped all those scenes.

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william d

@acsdoug 04/14/2022

Astaire and Powell! Together! Who needs a plot?

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steve d

@RT35616104 07/22/2020

If you want a story with your dancing look elsewhere.

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Thomas M

@TMProofreader 01/27/2019

The best musical movie ever made! With the best movie song ever sung: Begin the Beguine!

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Simon T

@MovieTart 03/15/2016

Wonderful showcase for Fred Astaire's astonishing tap-dancing. Here he's partnered with the equally fleet Eleanor Powell and George Murphy in a typical backstage melodrama. Very attractively performed by the entire cast, and sprinkled with bonkers comedy spots. Great stuff.

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Norman Taurog

Director

Fred Astaire

Johnny Brett

Eleanor Powell

Clare Bennett

George Murphy

King Shaw

Frank Morgan

Bob Casey

Ian Hunter

Bert C. Matthews

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Synopsis

In New York City, the dance team of Johnny Brett (Fred Astaire) and King Shaw (George Murphy) are at the bottom of the heap, and barely scraping by in dance halls. When a producer, Bob Casey (Frank Morgan), catches sight of Brett's moves, he wants to cast him as the dance partner of the Broadway star Clare Bennett (Eleanor Powell). However, after some misdirection and confusion, Shaw becomes Bennett's partner instead, but Brett still has some dancing to do when Shaw fails to perform.

Director: Norman Taurog
Producer: Jack Cummings
Screenwriter: Leon Gordon, George Oppenheimer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Loew's Inc.
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
Runtime: 1h 42m