The Broadway Melody (1929)

VHS CASE/ SIDE

Length of film:  100 Minutes (Roadshow: 110 Minutes)

Rated: U (G)

Genre: Drama, Romance, Musical

Director: Harry Beaumont

Starring: Bessie Love, Anita Page, Charles King, Eddie Kane, J. Emmett Beck, Jed Prouty, Kenneth Thomson

IMDB Rank: 5.6 /10

Part 1 Time:  49 Minutes (Roadshow: 56 Minutes)

Part 2 Time:  50 Minutes (Roadshow: 54 Minutes)

***Originally released in roadshow format having an overture, intermission, and exit music. All subsequent releases have excluded the roadshow format.

Where does the first part end? Hank Mahoney (Bessie Love) and Eddie Kearns (Charles King) leave the dressing room. Both are shocked by Queenie (Anita Page) going against their advice to not peruse playboy Jacques Warriner (Kenneth Thomson).

Final line of dialogue on the first part: “Come on, let’s go and get a bowl of chilli,” Eddie Kearns states to Hank Mahoney as they leave the dressing room.

First line of dialogue on the second part: Hank enters her apartment bedroom to see Queenie in bed. She shockingly states, “Queenie!”

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Somewhat, since coming to New York and entering the Broadway scene, Queenie has been given much more attention than her sister Hank. Notorious playboy Jacques Warriner begins to pursue Queenie causing friction between her sister and Eddie.

Which part is better? Considered the granddaddy of all MGM musicals, the film does seem aged with many of the actors still using exaggerated gestures (a technique used during the silent film era), which at times can be a bit awkward given the dialogue. Nevertheless, this film must have been very impressive during its release, as many films in the late 1920’s still did not include sound. Overall, part two is relatively better as a lovers triangle surprisingly forms between Hank, Eddie, and Queenie creating much drama.

Academy Awards: 1930; Best Picture, Best Leading Actress (Nominated- Bessie Love), Best Director (Nominated)