Customer Reviews

The Broadway Melody (Special Edition)

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3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The first talkie to win the BEST PICTURE Oscar finally comes to DVD, and it was well worth the wait.

Warner Home Video has packaged a dandy new DVD of "THE BROADWAY MELODY" that looks better than any 75 year old movie has a right to. I've never seen the film look or sound so good.

The story is hokey and predictable, but it was a trend-setter in its day. The great songs of Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown debuted here including the famous title tune and YOU WERE MEANT FOR ME.

As much fun as the movie is, the superb extras WB has assembled here are worth the price of the DVD alone. 5 METRO MOVIETONE REVUE shorts from the 1928-29 era, filled with long-forgotten vaudeville stars, shine here, proving that some of these performers were really terrific and shouldn't be forgotten. Added to this, is a nifty little vaudeville short with the team of Van & Schenck who perform two novelty songs, one of which will have you rolling on the floor.

Last but not least is the DVD debut of MGM's 1930 DOGVILLE COMEDY SHORT-The Dogway Melody. This 20 minute classic features an all Canine cast, parodying The Broadway Melody. It was co-directed by Jules White, who later helmed THE THREE STOOGES best shorts at Columbia.

You'll love the movie, which is packaged with its original poster on the cover, and the extras make this an extra special treasure for any true classic film fan.

Movie: **1/2 DVD Quality: **1/2 DVD Extras: *****

The legend is told that in 1928, M-G-M head Louis B. Mayer urged that his studio's production of "The Crowd" not be given the Best Picture Award because he preferred that M-G-M win the award the following year for their planned musical blockbuster, "The Broadway Melody". Whether the story is true or not, it is almost certain that "The Broadway Melody" captured the public's interest and critical hosannas not because it was a great movie, but because it was an innovative one. Here was the biggest, grandest, splashiest example of a brand new genre, the musical film; and musicals, which had only become technically possible a few short months ago with the introduction of sound, were very much in fashion. Seen today, in proper historical context, "The Broadway Melody" is a film that commands respect, but not as much affection; for while it pioneered many of the conventions associated with the great Hollywood musicals, it has long been surpassed by the films that came after it. Its backstage plot was bettered a scant four years later in "42nd Street"; its musical production numbers were trumped around the same time with the innovations of Busby Berkeley; even its wonderful score was reprised more beautifully in later films such as "Singin' in the Rain". Today, "The Broadway Melody" is more an historical curio, something definitely worth a first or second look, but not a classic most viewers could or would watch again and again with sustained enthusiasm.

That said, the DVD release of this artifact is genuinely a delight, primarily because the extras are so fascinating. The movie itself is given a somewhat shoddy film-to-DVD transfer: the video is desperately in need of some digital restoration work in several spots; ditto, the soundtrack; and it would help tremendously if the lost two-strip Technicolor footage could be located and restored to brighten up the black and white print. As for the aforementioned extras, they include the Theatrical Trailers for the three subsequent "Broadway Melody" films plus the rarely seen Technicolor trailer for the 1944 "Broadway Rhythm"; the "All-Barkie" canine parody short film "The Dogway Melody"; and six other rarely screened musical shorts from the dawn of the sound era, all of which feature vaudeville veterans performing their shticks for the camera - my favorites were the woman dressed in male drag who sang a spicy song about sailors, and a young lady who turned cartwheels while tap dancing! Overall, despite my reservations about the main feature, this DVD offers a great package of unusual entertainment, and is definitely recommended to M-G-M musical completists as well as to those who would enjoy the offbeat Special Features.

At last, the FIRST great musical of the silver screen is captured on DVD, to be enjoyed over and over again.
Okay --so the story is cliched ---- but this film did it FIRST!... and opened the doorway for " 42nd Street " to elevate the status of the film musical four years later.
Okay -- so the dance routines look a little flat and strange --but then we watching something that happened 75 years ago. But it's great to see all those 20's/30's fashions; hear the Jazz Age slang; study the dancing styles and techniques of that era -- and of course hear THOSE SONGS again ( and again and again), some of which have become US Standards.
But with all its defects, the story moves rapidly. We are also
" treated" to some 1929 attitudes towards gay men and women, which although not complimentary is in keeping with the almost vaudevillian, outlook towards gay cliches. It is a pity that the 2-strip Technicolour musical sequence is missing, even though Technicolour is listed in the credits. Overall however this is a worthwhile, and important film in the development of US Cinema, although it may not have the "artiness", or the quality of the great silent films and some other early sound films. However, it was an MGM production and the values were high. The acting performances are in tune with the story and the times amd again we are transported back to when our grandparents or great grandparents were " playing up" and rebelling, just as we did, and future generations will continue to.
The DVD transfer is a little grainy and " messy " in parts, but the sound quality is superb.
The features are of great historical and entertainment value, although I felt a little embarrassed by the dressed up
" talking " dogs ... but again that was great entertainemnt
" in those days ". The MGM musical revue shorts are just wonderful.... vaudeville acts, with overly made up men, who wiggle and flap their hands around..and dainty maidens standing in a group with big bow sashes. But great examples of an industry trying to master and perfect the new sound techniques.
If you love Film , or have a passion --or a quiet interest -- in musical films, this HAS to be part of your collection. Another film that will never die... I bought this DVD and love it. Have played it 3 times already --- have only had it for 3 days. Buy it and enjoy...... why not give Granny and Grandpa a real suprise, and let them see it and wander down Memory Lane.. ?

Anybody fooled into thinking that "The Broadway Melody of 1929" is a full-fledged musical be forewarned. This film is essentially a backstage melodrama with acting and story values that are not uncommon to your average daytime serial. Certain allowances have to be made for this film because it is an early talking picture and the craft of working in this new medium had yet to be refined. This is not to say that the film doesn't have anything to recommend it. Bessie Love as Hank, the level-headed sibling of the film's featured sister act, gives probably the only full-bodied acting job. Anita Page as Queenie, the starstruck sister, is extremely easy on the eyes. There's a fantastic song score by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown. Ultimately one has to view this film more as a historic artifact and appreciate it for the ground it broke for future musical projects. This DVD contains an amusing parody of the film, "Dogway Melody" performed entirely by canines. As enjoyable as this short subject was it gave me a little bit of a pause because it appears as though the dogs are being manipulated by invisible wires.

I just wanted to write my first Amazon review to thank Mr. Felstein and all at Warners for this disc. I hope they'll continue to release early sound films (and also a lot more silents!).

I really enjoyed the movie and thought the DVD image was very satisfactory. Clearly, they didn't have the camera negative to work from - but they did the best they could with what they had. A complete restoration would be nice, but, I guess, would be too expensive as yet.

The movietone shorts didn't seem to be camera-negative, or direct print-down, either - though the short 'Dogway Melody' might have been - it often looked beautiful, if even the content was a little disturbing :)

My one complaint is that no information was presented on the fascinating short films. I would have liked to know what year they were from, when MGM got serious about sound, who the acts where, if they made it into movies ... and so on.

A highly recommended disc for all who love musicals and the early sound years. Thank-you again, Warners! Keep those rarities coming!

THE BROADWAY MELODY (1929, MGM, 100 minutes, b/w)

Director: Harry Beaumont (someone else staged the production numbers)

Winner of "best production" for the 1928-1929 Oscars (the equivalent of "best picture" in the second year of these awards), this film doesn't get much respect. Everyone agrees the music is good ("No skies of gray on the Great White Way / That's the Broadway melody"), but the reviews I found trash most of the rest of it. I agree the film isn't a classic, but without it there could have been no "42nd Street," "All About Eve," "Cabaret" or "Chicago." In these films, actors' lives take a backseat to their professional work. Bessie Love's lead performance is heartbreaking; she keeps going after losing her sister & future husband to one another. Gay themes include a swishy costumer played for laughs, & a relationship between the sisters that verges on incest. The DVD release isn't restored, so Technicolor production numbers remain black & white. Recommended to those who care about musicals on film, or who care about Hollywood history.

This was one of the first movie musicals. It shows the medium's immaturity but was the basis of many movie musicals that follow.

Eddie (Charles King) is the star of a new Broadway musical. He has promised a sister act a spot in the show. At first, the producers don't want them, then they decide that the younger sister Queenie (Anita Page) would make a good showgirl. She only agrees if they use her sister Hank (Bessie Love).

Hank loves Eddie but he has eyes for Queenie. Unfortunately, Queenie is looking to hook a millionaire. In the end, Hank becomes a star and Queenie settles for a simple life.

The story is basic but the score has some classic Arthur Freed & Nacio Herb Brown songs including You Were Meant for Me, Broadway Melody and Give My Regards to Broadway.

The film won the Best Picture of 1928-29 Oscar and was nominated for Best Actress (Love) and Best Director (There were only seven categories that year).

As a stand alone film, it is not great. But as a part of film history, it is a must have.

DVD EXTRAS:

Short: The Dogway Melody - A parody with dogs instead of actors - I just didn't get it?
Shorts: Metro Movietone Revues - Early vaudeville acts - These are really cheesy but show what people considered cutting edge 75 years ago!
Short: Van and Shenck - A vaudeville pair - Again corny
Trailers for the 4 Broadway Melody sequels

The Broadway Melody of 1940 was the last of the Broadway Melody series and the last of the great black and white musicals. Of all of Fred Astaire's dancing partners Ms. Powell is by far the best match. In this film the two greatest dancers in history give the world a film to remember, which sadly has been forgotten. The film includes a wonderful Cole Proter score with the songs "Please Don't Monkey With Broadway" and "I've Got My Eyes on You". Astaire and partner played by George Murphy are dancers looking to hit the big time in New York, and Powell is the Broadway star they both fall in love with. This is a classic feast for the eyes and ears that no musical or Astaire fan should miss.

The Broadway Melody Of 1929 scored a coup at the box office; it was also the first "talkie" to receive the Oscar for Best Picture. This incredible film was very modern for its time even though the story today would never suffice as a movie plot. The acting is convincing; Bessie Love and Anita Page shine as the sister act Hank and Queenie Mahoney. Just one look at Charles King as Eddie Kearns tells you he's the good guy who can't help being human; and Kenneth Thomson turns in an excellent performance as the rich playboy Jacques Warriner. Arthur Freed himself gets a small role as a bystander in the rehearsal room for Francis Zanfield's latest Broadway production. Clearly the character of Francis Zanfield refers to the great Flo Ziegfeld--excellent!

The movie opens with sisters Hank and Queenie arriving in New York to seek fortune and fame as a Broadway act. They talk it over with Eddie, who loves Hank until he gets a glimpse of Queenie now that she's "all grown up." Eddie tries to get the sisters into the latest Broadway revue production staged by Francis Zanfield. Things begin to happen both for the better and for the worse as Eddie realizes that he loves Queenie and not Hank anymore. Queenie tries to escape Eddie by dating a rich playboy named Jacques so that Hank, her sister, could be happy with Eddie. However, Jacques' money may not be enough to win Queenie's true love. Queenie must then decide between Eddie and Jacques; and her decision effects Hank's life, too.

The shades of black and white complement the fine acting perfectly; and the superb musical numbers strike you as infectious even today. The movie score boasts the infectiously happy "The Broadway Melody;" "You Were Meant For Me" and "Truthful Parson Brown." These numbers are sung with the great sensitivity you expect from a MGM musical and the musical arrangements reflect forethought, too.

The cinematography is quite good for it's time. The opening moments feature beautiful aerial views of Manhattan; the lighting is good and the subjects are well framed within the screen. You get excellent sound and the strength of the choreography shows in the dancer numbers as well as the brief fight scene between Eddie and Jacques.

The DVD offers wonderful extras, too. MGM spoofs its own movie with "The Dogway Melody." The trained dogs act out a story that is remarkably similar to The Broadway Melody of 1929--excellent! There are five "Metro Movietone Revues," too, which showcase other talented acts in the form of short movies. Van & Schenck get to display their talents in their own musical revue as well.

As for Broadway Melody itself, sure, the plot might be corny, contrived and predictable--but, then again, who cares? These characters show their human sides well through fine acting and the musical numbers exceed your expectations. The movie holds your attention throughout and the themes of love, humanity and wanting success will remain forever relevant to us both today and in the future. Kudos to MGM and these superb actors for producing such a treat as The Broadway Melody of 1929! Great job, everyone!

CONSIDERING WHEN THIS MUSICAL WAS MADE, IT IS A GREAT FORERUNNER TO THE LATER BROADWAY MELODY FILMS. IT IS FAR SUPERIOR TO THE REMAKE WITH LANA TURNER AND JOAN BLONDELL. IN MY OPINION BROADWAY MELODY OF 1936 WAS THE BEST BROADWAY MELODY MADE. YOU CAN'T REALLY TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM BROADWAY MELODY OF 1929, IN AS MUCH AS IT PRESENTED ITSELF WITH A LOT OF VIGOR, GOOD CAST AND MUSIC WHICH FOR ITS DAY SURELY HAD MOVIE GOERS WONDERING WHEN OTHER MUSICALS WERE COMING. IF YOU ARE A MOVIE MUSICAL BUFF BE SURE TO INCLUDE BROADWAY MELODY OF 1929 IN YOUR COLLECTION.