Easter Parade (1948)

Director:

Charles Walters

Writers:

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

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:

Easter | Dancing | Dance | Contract | Ziegfeld Follies

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win

US TV Schedule:

Mon. June 11

12:00 AM

TCM

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")
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Albright	...	Western Union Messenger (uncredited)
Lola Albright	...	Hat Model / Showgirl (uncredited)
Shirley Ballard	...	Showgirl (uncredited)
Jimmy Bates	...	Boy (uncredited)
Hal Bell	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Margaret Bert	...	Florist (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks	...	Diner at Rooftop Show (uncredited)
Peter Chong	...	Sam - Don's Valet (uncredited)
Jimmie Dodd	...	Cabby (uncredited)
Dolores Donlon	...	Showgirl (uncredited)
Fern Eggen	...	Salesgirl (uncredited)
Harry Fox	...	Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Sig Frohlich	...	Callboy (uncredited)
June Gale	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Ruth Hall	...	Showgirl (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Backstage Well-Wisher / Diner at Rooftop Show (uncredited)
Hector and His Pals	...	Themselves (uncredited)
Helene Heigh	...	Hat Shop Owner (uncredited)
Shep Houghton	...	Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
Marjorie Jackson	...	Showgirl (uncredited)
Patricia Jackson	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Bob Jellison	...	Drugstore Patron (uncredited)
Doris Kemper	...	Anna - Backstage Maid (uncredited)
Gail Langford	...	Showgirl (uncredited)
Joi Lansing	...	Hat Model / Showgirl (uncredited)
Jeni Le Gon	...	Essie, Nadine's Maid (uncredited)
Nolan Leary	...	Drugstore Clerk (uncredited)
Frank Mayo	...	Headwaiter (uncredited)
Harold Miller	...	Diner in Restaurant (uncredited)
Howard M. Mitchell	...	Drugstore Patron (uncredited)
George Noisom	...	Western Union Messenger (uncredited)
Robert Emmett O'Connor	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Dick Paxton	...	Western Union Messenger (uncredited)
Albert Pollet	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Angi O. Poulos	...	Peddler (uncredited)
Bobbie Priest	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Jean Romer	...	Twin Showgirl (uncredited)
Lynne Romer	...	Twin Showgirl (uncredited)
Ralph Sanford	...	Hotel Detective (uncredited)
Sara Shane	...	Showgirl (uncredited)
Dick Simmons	...	Al - Ziegfeld Aide (uncredited)
Dee Turnell	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Benay Venuta	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Patricia Walker	...	Showgirl (uncredited)
Johnny Walsh	...	Western Union Messenger (uncredited)
Wilson Wood	...	Marty, Piano Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Charles Walters

Writing credits
Frances Goodrich		(story) &
Albert Hackett		(story)
Sidney Sheldon		(screenplay) &
Frances Goodrich		(screenplay) &
Albert Hackett		(screenplay)
Guy Bolton		uncredited

Produced by
Arthur Freed	....	producer
Roger Edens	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Conrad Salinger		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Harry Stradling Sr.		(as Harry Stradling)

Film Editing by
Albert Akst

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons
Jack Martin Smith

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis

Costume Design by
Irene		(costumes: women)
Valles		(costumes: men)

Makeup Department
Jack Dawn	....	makeup designer
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair styles designer
Dorothy Ponedel	....	key makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Al Shenberg	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carl 'Major' Roup	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Wallace Worsley Jr.	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Arthur Krams	....	associate set decorator

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director
James Brock	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Warren Newcombe	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Borland	....	grip (uncredited)
Ed Hubbell	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Sam Leavitt	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera: Technicolor (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo Arnaud	....	orchestrator
Johnny Green	....	musical director
Conrad Salinger	....	orchestrator
Robert Tucker	....	vocal arranger
Van Cleave	....	orchestrator
Sidney Cutner	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Roger Edens	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)
Robert Franklyn	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Paul Marquardt	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Leo Shuken	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Henri Jaffa	....	associate technicolor color director
Natalie Kalmus	....	technicolor color director
Fred Astaire	....	choreographer (uncredited)
Leslie H. Martinson	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Charles Walters	....	choreographer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
• Loew's

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1948) (USA) (theatrical) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1949) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1949) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1962) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Living Colour Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1950) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Canada) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (4 film collection)

Also Known As:

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

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Italian

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 | Netherlands:AL (original rating) (1949) | 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:

Ann Miller had to perform her biggest numbers in a back brace. In an interview with Robert Osborne, she revealed that she had been thrown down the stairs by her then husband. She was also pregnant at the time and was in a lot of pain.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Marty is obviously not really playing the piano as is hand movements do not match the notes being played.

Quotes:

Hannah Brown:[her eyes are closed] What color are my eyes?
Don Hewes:[kissing her, causing her to open her eyes in surprise] Brown.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture Leadership (1949)

Soundtrack:

Call Me Up Some Rainy Afternoon

One of the Best

This is a superlative musical, made by the very best musical talents at the top of their game. Judy Garland and Fred Astaire were (along with Gene Kelly) the ultimate in musical comedy stars, and this was their only on-screen pairing. This film affords them the chance to shine both individually and as a duo, displaying Astaire's dazzling footwork and Garland's throbbing voice, as well as their comic abilities. Irving Berlin provides them with a potpourri of popular tunes, and there are several stunning show-stoppers, especially the "A Couple of Swells" number (with Astaire parodying his usual Top Hat and Tails persona). Garland's voice makes "I Love a Piano" ring out, and Astaire shows that at nearly age 50 he could still dance with aplomb in "Steppin' Out with my Baby" (though why they decided to run part of it in slow motion when this could never happen in the stage production they were presenting is a bit of a mystery). The opening number, "Drum Crazy" is also a little masterpiece, since it highlights not only Astaire's dancing, but also his drumming abilities, and also tells a little story and comments on his character as well, all without a word of dialogue. Mention should also be made of the sensational Ann Miller, in one of her best roles. The songs (some old, some new) fit very snugly into the fluffy but sturdy plot, and the entire package is a nifty delight and a reminder of what musical comedy was like when it reached the heights.