BORN TO DANCE/Ο ΧΟΡΟΣ ΕΙΝ’Η ΖΩΗ ΜΟΥ

Born to Dance
MGM, 1936, B/W, 105 minutes, ***½
Released November, 1936

Sensational dancing and terrific Cole Porter songs highlight this legendary musical. Eleanor Powell and James Stewart star in a story about a sailor on leave in New York who falls for a struggling dancer.

The romance stalls, thanks to a publicity stunt involving Stewart and a glamorous Broadway star. But the young lovers eventually make up and it's up to Powell, as the understudy, to save the show when the star walks out on opening night.

Powell, at her tap dancing best, astounds with her fancy footwork and Stewart, in one of his earliest screen roles, even sings. In support is an inspired cast including a young singing and dancing Buddy Ebsen.

The film nabbed two Academy Award nominations: one for Best Dance Direction and one for Best Song ("I've Got You Under My Skin"). Boasting a spectacular 16-minute finale upon one of the largest musical sets ever built, Born to Dance is a dance lover's dream and MGM at its best!

Light easy-going comedy is loads of fun with laughs from end to end. Great depression era escapism just might be good for today's world as well! James Stewart gets to sing "Easy to Love." Frances Langford takes a whack at it, as well, but the arrangement is intended for Buddy Ebsen's dancing. MGM kept trying to find a good fit for this song for nearly two decades, but it never really got the treatment it deserved (not to belittle Stewart's attempt). "Hey Babe Hey" is a really fun number, too. Great cast, great music.
Produced by: Jack Cummings
Directed by: Roy Del Ruth
Screen Play by: Jack McGowan and Sid Silvers
From a Story by: Jack McGowan, Sid Silvers and B. G. DeSylva
Words and Music by: Cole Porter
Musical Director: Alfred Newman
Musical Arrangements: Roger Edens
Orchestrations: Edward Powell
Choral Arrangements: Leo Arnaud
Musical Presentation: Merrill Pye
Dance Ensembles: Dave Gould
Marine Advisor: Harvey S. Haislip, Commander U.S.N. Ret.
Art Director: Cedric Gibbons
Associates: Joseph Wright, Edwin B. Willis
Gowns by: Adrian
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Photographed by: Ray June
Film Editor: Blanche Sewell

Awards: Academy Award nominations for Best Song ("I've Got You Under My Skin") and Best Dance Direction (Dave Gould)

Cast: Eleanor Powell [Nora Paige], James Stewart [Ted Barker], Virginia Bruce [Lucy James], Una Merkel [Jenny Saks], Sid Silvers ["Gunny" Saks], Frances Langford ["Peppy" Turner], Raymond Walburn [Captain Dingby], Alan Dinehart [McKay], Buddy Ebsen ["Mush" Tracy], Juantia Quigley [Sally Saks], Georges and Jalna [Themselves], Reginald Gardiner [Policeman]; Barnett Parker [Floorwalker], J. Marshall Smith, L. Dwight Snyder, Ray Johnson, Del Porter [The Foursome], Additional Cast: Charles Coleman [Waiter], Helen Troy [Receptionist], Marjorie Lane [singing voice of Eleanor Powell]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:01] Rolling Home (sung by James Stewart, Buddy Ebsen, Sid Silvers, The Foursome and Chorus); [0:10] Rap-Tap on Wood (sung and danced by Eleonor Powell dubbed by Marjorie Lane with background singing by the Foursome); [0:21] Hey Babe Hey (sung and danced by James Stewart, Eleanor Powell, Sid Silvers, Una Merkel, Buddy Ebsen and Frances Langford with background vocals by The Foursome and Chorus - really fun number!); [0:36] Entrance of Lucy James (sung by Raymond Walburn, The Foursome, Virginia Bruce and Chorus [a bit of a parody of "H.M.S. Pinafore"]); [0:38] Love Me, Love My Pekinese (sung by Virginia Bruce and Chorus); [0:45] Easy to Love (sung by James Stewart and Marjorie Lane dubbing for Eleanor Powell; danced by Eleanor Powell with James Stewart, Reginald Gardiner "conducting" at conclusion); [0:55] I've Got You Under My Skin (instrumental arrangement danced by Georges and Jalna); [1:17] I've Got You Under My Skin (sung by Virginia Bruce); [1:21] Easy to Love (sung by Frances Langford, danced by Buddy Ebsen); [1:25] Swingin' the Jinx Away (piano and orchestral arrangement danced by Eleanor Powell); [1:31] Swingin' the Jinx Away (big production finale sung by Frances Langford and Chorus; sung and danced by Buddy Ebsen and Chorus; danced by Eleanor Powell with instrumental and choral background); [1:44] Easy to Love (reprised by James Stewart and Chorus)