THE BROADWAY MELODY (1929)

Film of the Day #98

THE BROADWAY MELODY
1929 • Harry Beaumont

Screenplay: Sarah Y. Mason, Norman Houston, James Gleason, Earl Baldwin; Story by Edmund Goulding
Producer: Irving Thalberg, Lawrence Weingarten
Cast: Charles King, Anita Page, Bessie Love, Jed Prouty, Kenneth Thomson, Edward Dillon
Cinematography: John Arnold
Music: Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Those men aren't going to pay ten bucks to look at your face; this is Broadway! 

Hank & Queenie are a vaudeville sister act who come to New York City to make it on Broadway, with the help of Hank's boyfriend, Eddie Kearns. Eddie inadvertently falls in love with the beautiful Queenie, who also becomes a huge star, leaving her sister out of the spotlight. Realizing that if Eddie leaves Hank it would devastate her, Queenie tries to protect her sister by getting involved with Jock Warriner, a member of New York high society.

I try to watch everything I can. Historically speaking this film is of a great deal of importance as it is the first-ever "talkie" to win the Academy Award for Best Picture... and it's a musical too. Now what one has to realize when watching this film is that sound films, let alone musicals, were in their infancy. So while today we are used to musicals being huge productions with extravagant sets and at least 5 or 6 show-stopping numbers, this film has about 5 songs total... and they're not exactly show-stoppers. Given that recording techniques were still new to the industry, the sound of the film is oftentimes pretty terrible, and camera shots never strayed from long wide shots or at most medium shots. What a viewer has to realize is that Hollywood was in a transition period... moving from silent films to sound, so of course it's going to look and sound a little "off."

Having said that, it's a very unique and interesting look at the beginning of Hollywood musicals on film. The songs weren't quite as polished... the sets were not quite as spectacular... but still, it is a unique and interesting experience. One thing that The Broadway Melody does share in common with its musical brethren is melodrama. THAT it has plenty of. Hank loves Eddie. Queenie loves Eddie. Eddie loves Queenie and Hank. Queenie and Hank are sisters. Jock wants Queenie, which makes Eddie jealous. And so on, etc., etc.

Of the three main actors, Bessie Love is probably the most effective, even though Anita Page is probably more fondly remembered. However, Beesie's character, Hank, is the most interesting. Hank must choose between sacrificing her own happiness or her sister's happiness, and Bessie Love never goes over the top when she certainly could have. Not like that stopped Charles King, who was a complete ham in his role as Eddie Kearns. But I can forgive it, because as stated earlier this was a transition period for Hollywood, and acting for a silent film is much different than acting for a "talkie."

If you're a film history junkie (like me) or someone interested in early Hollywood musicals, watch this film.

Well, we aren't leavin' this town, 'til we get a flash of Babe Ruth and Grant's Tomb.

Notable Awards & Accomplishments

• Academy AwardWinner: Outstanding Picture
• Academy Award Nominee: Actress - Bessie Love
• Academy Award Nominee: Direction - Harry Beaumont

Streaming: Not currently streaming
Digital Rental/Purchase: Available at most major digital retailers
Physical Media: Available on Blu-Ray and DVD