Broadway Melody of 1940

1940

1h 42m

Musical

List

80%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

81%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

In New York City, the dance team of Johnny Brett (Fred Astaire) and King Shaw (George Murphy) are at the bottom of the heap, and barely scraping by in dance halls. When a producer, Bob Casey (Frank Morgan), catches sight of Brett's moves, he wants to cast him as the dance partner of the Broadway star Clare Bennett (Eleanor Powell). However, after some misdirection and confusion, Shaw becomes Bennett's partner instead, but Brett still has some dancing to do when Shaw fails to perform.

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Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

(The) final number "Begin the Beguine" is perhaps one (Astaire's) most graceful set pieces, but the film itself feels rather tired, and the formula for these large scale showbiz musicals that dazzled in the 1930s was beginning to wear thin.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 4, 2021

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Cole Porter contributes a handful of tunes, with the showstopper being the climactic presentation of "Begin the Beguine" - sung and staged not once but twice.

Rated: 3/4

Apr 23, 2021

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Seanax.com

... another ridiculous story that justifies itself in the historic one-time-only pairing of MGM's Queen of Tap Powell and the cinematic grace incarnate Fred Astaire.

Apr 6, 2008

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Susan Granger

www.susangranger.com

Rated: 4/5

Oct 5, 2006

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jun 13, 2005

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Audience Member

Better than the original Oscar winning film the story was simple but decent enough and the actors and actresses have charm I don't like dancing so skipped all those scenes.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

Full Review

william d

Astaire and Powell! Together! Who needs a plot?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

steve d

If you want a story with your dancing look elsewhere.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

sarah w

Absolutely One of the Greatest Movies of 1940 along with Pinocchio, Arise, My Love, Fantasia, Northwest Mounted Police, and The Thief of Bagdad. This movie is the best of the Broadway Melody movies from 1929 to 1940.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best musical movie ever made! With the best movie song ever sung: Begin the Beguine!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

Wonderful showcase for Fred Astaire's astonishing tap-dancing. Here he's partnered with the equally fleet Eleanor Powell and George Murphy in a typical backstage melodrama. Very attractively performed by the entire cast, and sprinkled with bonkers comedy spots. Great stuff.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Norman Taurog

Director

Fred Astaire

Johnny Brett

Eleanor Powell

Clare Bennett

George Murphy

King Shaw

Frank Morgan

Bob Casey

Ian Hunter

Bert C. Matthews

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Synopsis

In New York City, the dance team of Johnny Brett (Fred Astaire) and King Shaw (George Murphy) are at the bottom of the heap, and barely scraping by in dance halls. When a producer, Bob Casey (Frank Morgan), catches sight of Brett's moves, he wants to cast him as the dance partner of the Broadway star Clare Bennett (Eleanor Powell). However, after some misdirection and confusion, Shaw becomes Bennett's partner instead, but Brett still has some dancing to do when Shaw fails to perform.

Director: Norman Taurog
Screenwriter: Leon Gordon, George Oppenheimer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Loew's Inc.
Genre: Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
Runtime: 1h 42m

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