BROADWAY RHYTHM

Broadway Rhythm
MGM, 1944, Color, 115 minutes, ***
Released January, 1944

Based on the stage musical "Very Warm for May" by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II, this film was originally intended to be Broadway Melody of 1944, starring Gene Kelly and Eleanor Powell. But, due to major casting changes and other problems, it was renamed. Admittedly, the "let's put on a show" story gets old, and this one is quite weak. But, the musical numbers are wonderful, and the performers seem to be having a good time. Just think of it as a music video and you'll find it enjoyable enough.

Charles Winninger is really turned loose to do his stuff in this one! Highlights include Charles Winninger and Tommy Dorsey singing and playing "I Love Corny Music" and Nancy Walker's "Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet."

As is typical with so many MGM musicals, they bought the rights to this Kern / Hammerstein musical and threw out the story and music. But other than that, nothing is changed, ha. Anyway it's an entertaining film, and some of the original music did make it into the final cut. Great cast, and packed with music from one end to the other.

Produced by: Jack Cummings
Directed by: Roy Del Ruth
Screen Play by: Dorothy Kingsley and Harry Clork
Story by: Jack McGowan
Based on the Musical "Very Warm For May" by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II
Additional Songs: "Somebody Loves Me" (by) George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin; "Who's Who," "Solid Potato Salad," "Irresistable You," "Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet," "I Love Corny Music" (by) Raye and DePaul; "What Do You Think I Am," "Brazilian Boogie" (by) Martin and Blane; "Pretty Baby" (by) Tony Jackson, Egbert Van Alstyne and Gus Kahn; "Amor" (by) Gabriel Ruiz, Ricardo Lopez Mendez
Musical Direction and Supervision: Johnny Green
Orchestrations: Ted Duncan, Sy Oliver, Lewis Raymond, Phil Moore
Vocal Arrangements: Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane, Kay Thompson, Gene DePaul
Dance Direction: Charles Walters, Jack Donohue, Robert Alton, Don Loper
Art Director: Cedric Gibbons
Associate: Jack Martin Smith
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Associate: McLean Nisbet
Musical Presentation: Merrill Pye
Costume Supervision: Irene
Associate: Sharaff
Men's Costumes by: Gile Steele
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Leonard Smith
Photographed in Technicolor
Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus
Associate: Henri Jaffa
Film Editor: Albert Akst

Cast: George Murphy [Johnnie Demming], Ginny Simms [Helen Hoyt], Charles Winninger [Sam Demming], Gloria DeHaven [Patsy Demming], Nancy Walker [Trixie Simpson], Ben Blue [Felix Gross], Lena Horne [Fernway De La Fer], Eddie "Rochester" Anderson [Eddie], Hazel Scott [Herself], Kenny Bowers [Ray Kent], Ross Sisters (Maggie, Aggie, Elmira) [Themselves], Dean Murphy [Hired Man], Louis Mason [Farmer], Bunny Waters [Bunnie], Walter B. Long [Doug Kelly], Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra [Themselves], Additional Cast: Sara Haden [Miss Wynn, Teacher]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:02] National Emblem (March) (traditional and swing arrangement played by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra with Charles Winninger on trombone); [0:06] unidentified instrumental (danced by George Murphy and unidentified female partner); [0:13] Irresistable You (Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra with vocals by unidentified male quintet); [0:19] Can-Can (danced by Chorus Girls); [0:23] What Do You Think I Am (sung and danced by Gloria DeHaven and Kenny Bowers); [0:29] Amor (sung in Spanish by Ginny Simms, danced by Mens Chorus); [0:42] Brazilian Boogie (sung and danced by Lena Horne and Chorus); [0:56] Solid Potato Salad (sung by the Ross Sisters, followed by their novelty gymnastic "dance" act); [1:01] That Lucky Fellow / In Other Words, Seventeen / All in Fun (sung by George Murphy); [1:03] All the Things You Are (sung by Ginny Simms); [1:12] Somebody Loves Me (sung by Lena Horne); [1:16] Chopin's Waltz in D Flat, Opus 64, No. 1 ("Minute Waltz") (played by Hazel Scott at the piano with Orchestra); [1:25] I Love Corny Music (sung and played on trombone by Charles Winninger and Tommy Dorsey -- cute number!); [1:29] Impressions of Charlie McCarthy, Mortimer Snerd, Clark Gable, Jimmy Stewart, Franklin D. Roosevelt and others by Kenny Bowers; [1:33] Pretty Baby (sung and danced by Kenny Bowers and Gloria DeHaven, then sung and danced by Charles Winninger and Gloria DeHaven with Chorus Girls); [1:37] Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider (instrumental danced by Walter B. Long); [1:41] Milkman Keep Those Bottles Quiet (sung by Nancy Walker with Chorus, danced by Nancy Walker, Ben Blue and Tommy Dorsey); [1:49] Finale: Oh, You Beautiful Doll (sung by Charles Winninger, danced by Charles Winninger and Chorus Girls) / Who's Who (sung and danced by George Murphy and Chorus Girls) / Irresistable You (sung by Ginny Simms, danced by Chorus Girls) / All the Things You Are (sung by Ginny Simms, danced by Chorus Girls) / Who's Who (sung and danced by The Company)