The Broadway Melody (also known as The Broadway Melody of 1929) is a 1929 American pre-code musical film. Directed by Harry Beaumont, the film was written by Norman Houston and James Gleason from a story by Edmund Goulding. It features a Technicolor sequence, although today only the black-and-white version of that sequence survives.
The Broadway Melody follows the story of the Mahoney sisters, Hank (Bessie Love) and Queenie (Anita Page), who dream of making it big on Broadway. They travel from their vaudeville circuit act to New York City with their friend Eddie Kearns (Charles King), a song-and-dance man who promises to get them into his new show produced by the famous Francis Zanfield (Eddie Kane). Hank, the elder sister, is the more assertive and business-minded one, while Queenie possesses captivating beauty. Their arrival in New York is filled with hope and ambition. However, complications arise when Eddie becomes smitten with Queenie's charm, jeopardizing the sisters' bond and their chance at stardom.
Cast[]
Anita Page as Queenie Mahoney
Bessie Love as Harriet "Hank" Mahoney
Charles King as Eddie Kearns
Jed Prouty as Uncle Jed
Kenneth Thomson as Jacques Warriner
Edward Dillon as Stage Manager
Mary Doran as Flo, the blonde
Eddie Kane as Zanfield
J. Emmett Beck as Babe Hatrick
Marshall Ruth as Stew
Drew Demarest as Turpe
James Gleason as Music Publisher (uncredited)
Musical numbers[]
Music by Nacio Herb Brown, lyrics by Arthur Freed, except as noted.[1][2]
Due to it being a film published in 1929, The Broadway Melody will enter the public domain on January 1, 2025.
Bessie Love was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.
The George M. Cohan classic "Give My Regards to Broadway" is used under the opening establishing shots of New York City, its film debut.
The film is notable for being the first musical released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Hollywood's first all-talking musical, and the first sound film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.
It was also one of the early musicals to feature a Technicolor sequence, which sparked the trend of color being used in a flurry of musicals that would hit the screens from 1929 to 1930.
References[]
↑Bloom, Ken. Hollywood Song: The Complete Film Musical Companion, Vol. 1, 1995. Published by Facts On File, Inc.
The Broadway Melody (soundtrack/video) • Broadway Melody of 1936 (soundtrack/video) • Broadway Melody of 1938 (soundtrack/video) • Broadway Melody of 1940 (soundtrack/video)
Characters
The Broadway Melody:Queenie Mahoney • Harriet "Hank" Mahoney • Eddie Kearns • Uncle Jed • Jacques Warriner • Stage Manager • Flo • Zanfield • Babe Hatrick • Stew • Turpe • Music Publisher
Broadway Melody of 1936:Bert Keeler • Irene Foster • Robert Gordon • Kitty Corbett • Snoop Blue • Ted Burke • Lillian Brent • Sally Burke • Basil Newcombe • Hornblow • Scully • Frances Langford • Harry Stockwell Broadway Melody of 1938:Steve Raleigh • Sally Lee • Betty Clayton • Peter Trot • Alice Clayton • Sonny Ledford • Caroline Whipple • Herman J. Whipple • Duffy, P.R. Man • The Waiter • James K. Blakeley • George Papaloopas • The Sneezer Broadway Melody of 1940:Johnny Brett • Clare Bennett • King Shaw • Bob Casey • Bert C. Matthews • Amy Blake • Emmy Lou Lee • Pearl Delonge • Juggler • Silhouettist • Panhandler
Songs
The Broadway Melody:The Broadway Melody • Give My Regards to Broadway • Harmony Babies • Love Boat • You Were Meant For Me • Truthful Parson Brown • The Wedding of the Painted Doll • The Boy Friend
Broadway Melody of 1936:Broadway Rhythm • You Are My Lucky Star • I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin' • Sing Before Breakfast • All I Do Is Dream Of You • On a Sunday Afternoon • The Old Folks at Home (Swanee River) Broadway Melody of 1938:Yours and Mine • The Toreador Song • Follow in My Footsteps • Everybody Sing • Auld Lang Syne • Some of These Days • I'm Feelin' Like a Million • Largo Al Factotum • You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It) • Your Broadway and My Broadway • Got a Pair of New Shoes • Happy Days Are Here Again • In the Evening by the Moonlight Broadway Melody of 1940:Please Don't Monkey with Broadway • All Ashore • Between You and Me • I've Got My Eyes on You • Jukebox Dance • I Concentrate on You • Begin the Beguine • Bridal Chorus • Wedding March • Anchors Aweigh • Over the Waves • Il Bacio
