The Broadway Melody

I went into my viewing of The Broadway Melody with almost no expectations, due to its constant appearance on "Worst Best Picture Winner" lists. I was more than pleasantly surprised, however, that the film was quite enjoyable.

Broadway Melody, The (1929) *** (out of 4) This film is best known for being the first musical and talkie to win the Best Picture Oscar. The movie tells the story of two sisters (Bessie Love, Anita Page) who move to New York City to make it big on Broadway but soon they fall in love with the same man (Charles King).

"The Broadway Melody" certainly has the obvious handicap to holding up in that, it's 82 year old but it still is a worthwhile view for lovers of either film, theater, music, or particularly musical theater. I, being passionate about all of those would be an ideal candidate to watch it.

Keeping in mind that the film is 80 years old and was made just when sound was new its interesting to see considering that it won best picture the year it came out. You can still feel the studios adjusting to the new medium since at several scene breaks they still use title cards, the sound is often uneven, the acting techniques antiquated and the plot older than the hills.

There's no denying the creakiness of The Broadway Melody (1929). Best known as the first sound film to win Best Picture, TBM inspired a series of spiritual successors into the early 1940s.

I loved "Broadway 36", "Broadway 38", and " Broadway 40" largely due to the wonderful, beautiful talented Eleanor Powell. Since she didn't become known until the mid 30s, this first " Broadway" along with other reasons was not quite as terrific.

The following are lyrics by Arthur Freed - A million lights they flicker there - A million hearts beat quicker there - No skies of gray on the Great White Way - That's the Broadway Melody.Released in 1929 - The Broadway Melody is a somewhat difficult movie to review since one feels that with every comment they must be reminding the readers that this was one of the very first all-sound pictures to come out of Hollywood.

A pair of sisters from the vaudeville circuit try to make it big time on Broadway, but matters of the heart complicate the attempt.This was the first sound film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Two sisters from way out West try their hand as a song and dance act in the Big Apple and the dramas of their lives unfold. A charming early talkie that includes musical and dance numbers into one pleasant viewing.