Broadway Melody

[hajune]

This was the first million $ production ever for a dance movie. Expectations were high since it was the great Fred Astaire's first movie after Ginger. Last 2 lost money. MGM wanted the 2 giants of tap to team up in this elaborate production. Ellie had to slow down in this dance for Fred. They called her machine gun Ellie because of her rapid close to the ground tapping. Her forward going pirouettes to this day have never been matched.

[hajune]

I have seen 3 comments here talking only how good Fred was. Ellie was the better dancer. That is not my words but Fred's in his autobiography and at least 27 others from the era I was able to find. He was openly intimitated by her but he danced with anyway. If the whole scene was shown Fred did not even get in the dance until 2:40. She did things no other dancer could do. Virtually all the great dancers of the era called her the best. As Fred said she danced in a class by herself.

[SHOELESSJOE60]

What timing these two have. Never saw any tapping like tyhis..... never.

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!

[victoriaphibes]

Interesting version of "Begin the Beguine."

[TinaTheTerrible]

Beautifully done.

[Esersan]

Delizioso!)))

[royalprotector]

His homeliness and great dance steps were such a contrast.

[freeindeed7]

WOW. simply amazing.

[lizzyluvscats17]

He sure could dance!!I love tap dancing!I wish I could dance like that!

[Italiagirl1]

Oh wow thats wonderful Super cool what film???

[MatthewBuick]

Broadway Melody of 1940.

[hexxxxe13]

Ich finds super. Aber sicher viel Übung und Anstrengung nötig

[PforPZ]

It's fantastic to see both of these great dancers together.

[mandycaly]

WOW.....WOW....WOW...Amazing..­.what talent they

both had....a BIG THANK YOU for posting...and for helping keep this era alive~~~~~

[TwedB]

Dancing fantastic but the picture quality is poor

[bearcub410]

if their is a heaven this is it. thanks so much . one of the best dance numbers i have ever seen. love begin the beguine. thanks

[TommyBoy249er]

i just saw this last night for the first time, can't believe i've never seen it b4 then, simply amazing

[lefevre82]

Why does everyone bash on Ginger? I thought that Fred and her had great chemistry and she was a good dancer. I'm a tad confused about this.

[missuniworld]

is this the 1929's Broadway Melody???

[bon1042]

No, this is 1940... Sinatra said of this... You know... you can wait around forever, but you'll never see the likes of this again... it was in That's Entertainment, Part 1. early 1970's, it's on VHS.

[yd42]

Eleonor Powell and Fred Astaire are the best dancers. Although Ginger Rogers brought a lot of grace to the duo with fred.

[bon1042]

He said Rita Hayworth was his favorite partner, and I can see why, not only can she tap dance, but she had an ethereal, graceful, floating quality that Ginger didn't have.

[jmrssn]

Eleanor Powell is Fred's partner here, not Hayworth.

[bon1042]

What....??? please, I know that for God's sake. See my other comments. I'm 65 yrs old I know Rita fm Eleanor Powell. My Rita comment was in response to back and forth with another poster months ago.

[bon1042]

I have the video, Broadway Melody of 1940, considered the bestof the series. I heard a statement re. You Were Never Lovelier that Fred said Rita was favorite dance partner, but another poster on another dance video said wasn't true, but after querying him turned out he made assumption based on a book he read which didn't state he didn't like Rita. So don't know what actual truth is. I like Ginger, just happen to feel Rita was more graceful, ethereal, smoother, just my opinion.

[mizokiZON]

i love this

but whatever happened to the longer, better quality one that was posted before? =(

[bon1042]

When I asked about this number, someone who posts these dances said it had been taken down, copyright issues, I don't know.