The Broadway Melody

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Movie
Original title The Broadway Melody
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1929
length 110 minutes
Rod
Director Harry Beaumont
script Norman Houston ,
James Gleason ,
Edmund Goulding
production Irving Thalberg ,
Lawrence Weingarten
music Nacio Herb Brown ,
George M. Cohan
camera John Arnold
cut Sam Zimbalist
occupation

The Broadway Melody is one of the first sound film - musical , which premiered on February 1, 1929th The film was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , the film studio that was to develop into the most successful production company for films of this genre in the course of the 1930s. The screenplay, based on a story by Edmund Goulding, was written by Norman Houston and James Gleason. Directed by Harry Beaumont.

Most of the songs were written by Nacio Herb Brown (music) and Arthur Freed (lyrics). The classic " Give My Regards to Broadway " , which can also be heard in the opening credits of the film, was composed by George M. Cohan ; another song is by Willard Robison .

action

Mahoney sisters Queenie and Hank move from the small town to New York to pursue careers as dancers. The older sister Hank is considered to be very enterprising, while Queenie is celebrated for her beauty. Hank's fiancé Eddie brought the ambitious sisters to New York and introduced them to the theater. They should dance to his song "Broadway Melody". The demonstration in front of the producer fails because a competitor sabotaged the act. However, Queenie is hired when an actress needs to be represented on short notice. At her request, Hank is also employed. Eddie falls in love with Queenie. Out of loyalty to her sister, Queenie tries with all her might to oppose Eddie's advances. She starts a love affair with the notorious womanizer Jacques Warriner, who has seen her on stage and gives her expensive gifts and many promises.

Queenie is torn between the lure of riches on the one hand and the lack of feelings for Warriner on the other, because she secretly loves Eddie, which she will one day confess to him. Eddie and Hank reject the relationship with Jacques. Finally, Hank reveals to Eddie that she knows of his love for Queenie and advises him to fight for his love. Then he looks for Queenie. He's just getting in when Jacques starts to get intrusive. Jacques hits Eddie, whereupon Queenie ends the relationship and turns to Eddie. In the end, Eddie and Queenie get married, and she retires from show business as a new wife. However, Hank sticks to dancing and finds a replacement partner for her show - but her new partner had once sabotaged the performance of Queenie and Hank. It remains to be seen whether Hank will find happiness anyway.

background

Since many cinemas had no or insufficient sound film equipment at that time, a silent film version was also released in 1929 .

The film was extremely successful commercially. It set new standards and is now considered the first full-length sound film musical.

Awards

The film received an Oscar for Best Picture in 1930 .

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