Easter Parade (1948)

Director:

Charles Walters

Writers:

Frances Goodrich (story) &
Albert Hackett (story) ...

Release Date:

8 July 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Romance

Tagline:

The Happiest Musical Ever Made is Irving Berlin's Easter Parade

Plot:

Don Hewes and Nadine Hale are a dancing team, but she decides to start a career on her own. So he takes the next dancer he meets...

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Easter | Ziegfeld Follies | Fashion Show | Showbiz

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Judy Garland	...	Hannah Brown
Fred Astaire	...	Don Hewes
Peter Lawford	...	Jonathan Harrow III
Ann Miller	...	Nadine Hale
Jules Munshin	...	Headwaiter François
Clinton Sundberg	...	Mike the Bartender
Richard Beavers	...	Singer ("The Girl on the Magazine Cover")

Also Known As:

Irving Berlin's Easter Parade (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (MPAA rating: certificate #12947) | South Korea:All | Sweden:Btl | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Judy Garland's husband, Vincente Minnelli, was originally slated to direct, but her psychiatrist advised them not to work together.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Hannah is explaining to Don in the rehearsal room that she can't tell left from right, she says she normally wears a garter on her left leg so she can tell which is which. She touches her left leg to indicate this.

Quotes:

[the bartender hands Don his drink]
Don Hewes: Can you drown a brunette in this?
Mike the Bartender: How tall is she?
Don Hewes: Five foot six.
Mike the Bartender: [filling the glass a little more] Try this.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Easter Parade: On the Avenue (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam'

I'm Drum Crazy!!!

This is one of those movies to watch when you're having a lousy day. From the opening notes, you get a big grin on your face. By the time you get to the 2nd number "Drum Crazy", you're positively smiling ear-to-ear (if not banging on the furniture yourself, like I was. Sorry, mom).

Being a (failed) drummer myself, I absolutely loved this piece. A few weeks ago I saw "Daddy Long Legs" in which Fred also does a drum solo & dance. Folks, this cat really knows how to bang the tom toms. Rhythm is the foundation of dance, and Fred really shows his mastery of it, alongside his comedic antics.

Everything is colourful. Everything is graceful (camera work included). The sets (recreating 1912) are faithfully and magnificently done, particularly the scenes of New York City with horses, buggies, old storefronts and hundreds of extras dressed impeccably in Victorian attire. This movie will truly sweep you off your feet.

I can't wait to have another lousy day so that I can pop this bad boy in the DVD player.