Broadway Melody of 1936
Broadway Melody of 1936 is a musical film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1935. It was a follow-up of sorts to the successful The Broadway Melody, which had been released in 1929, although, there is no story connection with the earlier film beyond the title and some music.
The film was written by Harry W. Conn, Moss Hart, Jack McGowan and Sid Silvers. It was directed by Roy Del Ruth and starred Jack Benny, Eleanor Powell, Robert Taylor, June Knight, Frances Langford, Sid Silvers, Buddy Ebsen and Vilma Ebsen. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. In New York, it opened at the Capitol Theatre, the site of many prestigious MGM premieres.
Plot
Irene Foster tries to convince her high school sweetheart, Broadway producer Robert Gordon, to give her a chance to star in his new musical, but he is too busy with the rich widow backing his show. Irene tries to show Gordon that she has the talent to succeed, but he will not hire her. Things become complicated when she begins impersonating a French dancer, who was actually the invention of a gossip columnist.Cast
- Jack Benny as Bert Keeler
- Eleanor Powell as Irene Foster
- Robert Taylor as Robert Gordon
- Una Merkel as Kitty Corbett
- Sid Silvers as Snoop Blue
- Buddy Ebsen as Ted Burke
- June Knight as Lillian Brent
- Vilma Ebsen as Sally Burke
- Nick Long, Jr. as Basil Newcombe
- Robert John Wildhack as Hornblow
- Paul Harvey as Scully
- Frances Langford as herself
- Harry Stockwell as himself
This was Powell's first leading role, and her first film for MGM. She would appear in the next two entries in the Broadway Melody series: Broadway Melody of 1938 and Broadway Melody of 1940. This also marked Ebsen's film debut. Though she was dubbed in this film by Marjorie Lane, Eleanor recorded "You Are My Lucky Star" with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra.
Don Wilson, Jack Benny's regular announcer on The Jack Benny Program, is not credited in Broadway Melody of 1936, but his presence in the movie is evident at the beginning where he is the radio show host.
Soundtrack
- "Broadway Rhythm"
- * Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- * Lyrics by Arthur Freed
- * Performed by Frances Langford
- * Performed by Buddy Ebsen, Vilma Ebsen, June Knight, Nick Long Jr., and Eleanor Powell
- "You Are My Lucky Star"
- * Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- * Lyrics by Arthur Freed; Played during the opening credits
- * Performed by Frances Langford and chorus
- * Performed by Eleanor Powell and chorus
- * Performed by Roger Edens and Eleanor Powell
- * Performed by Robert Taylor and chorus
- "Broadway Melody"
- * Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- * Lyrics by Arthur Freed
- * Performed by Harry Stockwell
- "I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'"
- * Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- * Lyrics by Arthur Freed
- * Sung by June Knight, Robert Taylor and chorus
- * Performed by June Knight, Nick Long Jr., and chorus
- * Performed by Frances Langford
- "Sing Before Breakfast"
- * Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- * Lyrics by Arthur Freed
- * Performed by Buddy Ebsen, Vilma Ebsen, and Eleanor Powell
- "All I Do Is Dream Of You"
- * Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- * Lyrics by Arthur Freed
- "On a Sunday Afternoon"
- * Music by Nacio Herb Brown
- * Lyrics by Arthur Freed
- * Performed by Buddy Ebsen and Vilma Ebsen
- "The Old Folks at Home "
- * Written by Stephen Foster
- * Performed by Roger Edens
Accolades
The film was nominated for three Oscars at the 8th Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Writing (Original Story), and Best Dance Direction, winning the last one. As this film is the second in a film series, it could be viewed as the first "sequel" to ever be nominated for Best Picture.The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:
- 2004: AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs:
- * "You Are My Lucky Star" – Nominated