Broadway Melody of 1940

Well if you know anything about Fred Astaire movies, you already know that his films are never very long on plot. HOWEVER, the music and especially his dancing make up for a thin plot. This one is no exception. The plot of the movie is pretty unimaginative. But, the dancing is about as good as it gets!!! Be sure not to miss the final dance number, with Mr. Astaire and Ms. Powell dancing to "Begin the Begine". I would call it the quintessential dance routine of American film. It is a stark study in black and white. A black background, with twinkling stars, a shiny polished black floor, and the two dancing geniuses all in white. This is a MUST SEE for anyone who loves dance.

After watching this film you can't help but wish Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell had made more together. It is truly a treat to watch the two masters in action!

Whenever you see Eleanor Powell tap dance, you're watching the very best there was. She is in complete, effortless-seeming control. She's one of filmdom's better ballroom dancers too. And what more can you say about Fred Astaire, the task master who makes his dancing look so natural. George Murphy, who would become a U.S. Senator, hangs in there with the best of them too. Then, to cap it off, you have Cole Porter's music. And don't forget the speciality acts--a little bit of vaudeville thrown in. And another thing about Eleanor Powell. If everyone smiled like she does, the world would be a happy place indeed.

I wish that Fred and Eleanor had made more movies together. Fred had many good partners over his career, but Eleanor was the best tap dancing partner. Ginger Rogers was probably the most popular but I feel that was because she was more photogenic and not because she was the best dancer. I myself prefer the tap dancing to the ballroom dancing. Eleanor had no competition in the arena of tap dancing. The story in this movie is no better than any of Fred's other movies. I am only commenting on the dancing. The Broadway Melody of 1940 will never be excelled in what it had to offer. Even Murphy added no small contribution to this movie. I never realized he could tap dance. Jerry Berry Salida, Co 81201

Alas, "Broadway Melody of 1940" is the only film that Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell made together. Their dancing ignites "Begin the Beguine," and one only wishes there had been another teaming of the lady with the dimpled smile and fast feet and that master of grace. You can see the entire story coming a mile away, but it doesn't matter. Besides the cast, which includes the always charming George Murphy, Frank Morgan, and Ian Hunter, the film is full of Cole Porter music, including the beautiful "I Concentrate on You." Powell's and Astaire's finale makes the entire film worth seeing. They make such a relaxed couple - though they lack the intensity of the Astaire-Rogers teaming, they have a chemistry and a natural symmetry that makes up for it. Highly recommended.

Great MGM musical starring Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell. Astaire plays Johnny Brett, who's part of a dancing team with King Shaw (future U.S. Senator George Murphy). A producer (a very funny Frank Morgan) discovers Johnny and wants to make him the new partner of Clare Bennett (Powell). But Johnny thinks he's a creditor and gives him the name of his partner instead. So, off of this mix-up, King Shaw gets the job as Clare's partner. From there, a series of somewhat predictable things happen, as the movie is a bit formulaic. The movie's strength is not in its plot, however, it's in the musical numbers. Cole Porter songs, Astaire & Powell dancing, and that MGM gloss they seemed to have a patent on make this a must-see film for fans of classic movies.

The fabulous Begin the Begiuine number deserves all the raves and superlatives it receives and is worth the price of the movie. Interest in it was revived by its appearance in That's Entertainment. However, seldom mentioned, and I forgot about it myself until I watched the dvd is the dazzling tap they do called the juke box number. Smaller in scale but as remarkable in its own way as the Beguine. Thanks the powers that be for DVDs...as one can watch and listen to these great song and dances over and over....their equal will never be seen again.