Broadway Melody of 1936

Released Sep 20, 1935

1h 45m

Musical

Comedy

List

89%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

76%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

When Broadway producer Robert Gordon (Robert Taylor) struggles to finance his new show, a wealthy widow, Lillian Brent (June Knight), offers him an idea: cast her and she will fund the project. Catching wind of the deal, columnist Bert Keeler (Jack Benny) blasts Gordon for practicing favoritism, which means when Gordon's former sweetheart, talented performer Irene Foster (Eleanor Powell), auditions for a part, Gordon refuses to cast her. Foster will need to scheme to win the role she deserves.

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Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy)

Esquire Magazine

The whole of Melody is deft, and some of the specialties, such as Dr. Wildhack's snoring numbers, are tops.

Apr 21, 2020

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

The producers of Broadway Melody of 1936 had lots of money to spend on their revue, and they spent it wisely in securing expert talent rather than famous Hollywood names.

Jul 23, 2019

Full Review

Helen Brown Norden

Vanity Fair

By this time, it is no news to anyone that Eleanor Powell is one of the biggest new names in pictures... She sings pleasantly, she acts with naturalness and charm, there is no woman dancer in the world who can equal her, and she has such a nice face.

May 31, 2019

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Seanax.com

The original story is credited to Moss Hart... but it was all about the production numbers and the spotlight dances by Powell.

Apr 6, 2008

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Despite Robert Taylor's stiff, non-singing tunr, this is the second and best of the four Broadway Melody MGM made, largely due to Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown's songs and Eleanor Powell's dazzling dancing.

Rated: B

Feb 13, 2008

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Strictly for those who love showbiz nostalgia.

Rated: C+

May 28, 2007

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Audience Member

When critics talk about the Thirties being the era of escapist entertainment, believe me they have Broadway Melody of 1936 in mind. For people like my parents growing up in the midst of The Depression this world where everyone wore tuxedos and danced away at rooftop parties in between Broadway shows can only be described as escapist. The nice thing about escapist films is that the plot really doesn't have to make sense. You couldn't have a Broadway producer as young as Robert Taylor, he was 25 when this came out. And certainly a talent like Eleanor Powell would certainly have been discovered long before Taylor rediscovers his old grade school chum from Albany. The plot such as it is involves producer Taylor and Walter Winchell like columnist Jack Benny engaging in a feud. During the course of things Benny creates a fictitious French stage star who is visiting New York. Later Taylor "discovers" Eleanor Powell masquerading as the fictitious Mademoiselle Arlette and signs her for his show. Taylor and Benny are fine and Jack Benny gives a good performance in a character that is free of the usual Jack Benny clichés he so carefully created for his radio persona. But the film really belongs to Eleanor Powell. You look at her dance and then you look at Ruby Keeler over at Warner Brothers and there just ain't a contest. Powell was primarily a dancer, but she had good comic timing, could put over a song, and even act decently. You will also like June Knight as the rich girl Taylor is courting for financial backing of his show. And Sid Silvers as Benny's sidekick is pretty funny especially in drag and with his scenes with Una Merkel.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

william d

Musical numbers with the great Eleanor Powell. If you can't sit through the insipid story to watch this incomparable performer then you're just not a fan of the genre.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Some good dance routines surrounded by mediocrity. (Mrs Blobbo say is word.)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

steve d

As pointless as the rest.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I would give it only one star, if not for the talent showcased and the amazing costumes on stage. The plot is thinner than a piece of paper, the humor is humorless and dumb, the acting poor, and the hijinks beyond laughable. This one you can surely pass up for better based on broadway films like the great ziegfield. Much like the original broadway melody-no thanks.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is the sort of film that Bullets over Broadway (1994) satirized brilliantly and so it was a shame that this film didn't have an ounce of the wit or originality that the film it inspired had. There really isn't much that can be said about the film unfortunately and that annoyed me as I usually like to spin out my reviews of films to couple hundred words but this one was so lacking in purpose or content. Those who watch the film will empathize with my struggle as it does not grab one's attention at any point but is not bad enough to tear into. I do not view this as a film worthy of mention as a terrible film but it also should not have been a Best Picture nominee.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

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Roy Del Ruth

Director

Jack Benny

Bert Keeler

Eleanor Powell

Irene Foster

Robert Taylor

Robert Gordon

Una Merkel

Kitty Corbett

Sid Silvers

Snoop Blue

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Synopsis

When Broadway producer Robert Gordon (Robert Taylor) struggles to finance his new show, a wealthy widow, Lillian Brent (June Knight), offers him an idea: cast her and she will fund the project. Catching wind of the deal, columnist Bert Keeler (Jack Benny) blasts Gordon for practicing favoritism, which means when Gordon's former sweetheart, talented performer Irene Foster (Eleanor Powell), auditions for a part, Gordon refuses to cast her. Foster will need to scheme to win the role she deserves.

Director: Roy Del Ruth
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 20, 1935, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 1h 45m

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