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IMDbPro

Broadway Melody of 1936

  • 19351935
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
36,036
5,363
Eleanor Powell in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer4:21
1 Video
28 Photos
MusicalRomance
Bob Gordon is staging a new Broadway Show. He gets an offer of money by Lillian, if she can dance in his show. Gordon's old class mate Irene, tries to get the leading role in this show, but ... Read allBob Gordon is staging a new Broadway Show. He gets an offer of money by Lillian, if she can dance in his show. Gordon's old class mate Irene, tries to get the leading role in this show, but Lillian insists in getting this part herself.Bob Gordon is staging a new Broadway Show. He gets an offer of money by Lillian, if she can dance in his show. Gordon's old class mate Irene, tries to get the leading role in this show, but Lillian insists in getting this part herself.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
36,036
5,363
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Directors
      • Roy Del Ruth
      • W.S. Van Dyke(retakes)
    • Writers
      • Jack McGowan(screen play)
      • Sid Silvers(screen play)
      • Moss Hart(based on an original story by)
    • Stars
      • Jack Benny
      • Eleanor Powell
      • Robert Taylor
    Top credits
    • Directors
      • Roy Del Ruth
      • W.S. Van Dyke(retakes)
    • Writers
      • Jack McGowan(screen play)
      • Sid Silvers(screen play)
      • Moss Hart(based on an original story by)
    • Stars
      • Jack Benny
      • Eleanor Powell
      • Robert Taylor
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 33User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 4:21
    Trailer

    Photos28

    Robert Taylor, June Knight, and Nick Long Jr. in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
    Eleanor Powell and Roger Edens in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
    Robert Taylor, Beatrice Coleman, Irene Coleman, Diane Cook, Mary Lou Dix, Ada Ford, Georgina Gray, June Knight, and Nick Long Jr. in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
    Eleanor Powell, Lona Andre, Bonnie Bannon, Jean Chatburn, Beatrice Coleman, Irene Coleman, Diane Cook, Mary Lou Dix, Ada Ford, Georgina Gray, Patricia Gregory, Mary Halsey, Julie Laird, Mary Lange, Lorna Low, Lucille Lund, Claire Meyers, Claire Owen, Wanda Perry, Beatrice Roberts, Anya Taranda, Luana Walters, Poppy Wilde, Edna Breyman, Connie Meyers, Mollie Peck, and Marion Lange in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
    Eleanor Powell, Lona Andre, Bonnie Bannon, Jean Chatburn, Beatrice Coleman, Irene Coleman, Diane Cook, Mary Lou Dix, Ada Ford, Georgina Gray, Patricia Gregory, Mary Halsey, Julie Laird, Mary Lange, Lorna Low, Lucille Lund, Claire Meyers, Claire Owen, Wanda Perry, Beatrice Roberts, Anya Taranda, Luana Walters, Poppy Wilde, Edna Breyman, Connie Meyers, Mollie Peck, and Marion Lange in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
    Eleanor Powell in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
    Harry Stockwell in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
    Buddy Ebsen, Eleanor Powell, and Vilma Ebsen in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
    Vilma Ebsen in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
    Robert Taylor and Eleanor Powell in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
    Eleanor Powell in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
    Robert Taylor, June Knight, and Nick Long Jr. in Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jack Benny
    Jack Benny
    • Bert Keeler
    Eleanor Powell
    Eleanor Powell
    • Irene Foster
    Robert Taylor
    Robert Taylor
    • Bob Gordon
    Una Merkel
    Una Merkel
    • Kitty Corbett
    Sid Silvers
    Sid Silvers
    • Snoop
    Buddy Ebsen
    Buddy Ebsen
    • Ted Burke
    June Knight
    June Knight
    • Lillian Brent
    Vilma Ebsen
    Vilma Ebsen
    • Sally Burke
    Nick Long Jr.
    Nick Long Jr.
    • Basil
    Robert Wildhack
    • The Snorer
    Paul Harvey
    Paul Harvey
    • Managing Editor
    Frances Langford
    Frances Langford
    • Frances Langford
    Harry Stockwell
    Harry Stockwell
    • Harry Stockwell
    Lona Andre
    Lona Andre
    • Showgirl
    • (uncredited)
    Gertrude Astor
    Gertrude Astor
    • Actress in Bob Gordon's Waiting Room
    • (uncredited)
    Bonnie Bannon
    Bonnie Bannon
    • Showgirl
    • (uncredited)
    Max Barwyn
    Max Barwyn
    • Headwaiter
    • (uncredited)
    Agostino Borgato
    Agostino Borgato
    • Smoker
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • Roy Del Ruth
      • W.S. Van Dyke(retakes) (uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Jack McGowan(screen play)
      • Sid Silvers(screen play)
      • Moss Hart(based on an original story by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Film debut of Buddy Ebsen.
    • Goofs
      At approximately 6:45, Snoop (Sid Silvers) looks out of the window of Bert Keeler (Jack Benny)'s Manhattan office, checking out a penthouse party on a rooftop below but casting a shadow on an overly-lit scrim meant to simulate panes of window glass between him and a painted backdrop of New York.
    • Quotes

      Bert Keeler: Well of all the dumb guys...

      Snoop: Don't worry about Corbett, she won't tip the gag, she said so.

      Bert Keeler: Just the same I gotta find out who this Arlette dame is that Gordon's got signed up.

      Snoop: Well whadda ya want me to do?

      Bert Keeler: Go down to the ocean and pull a wave over your head!

    • Alternate versions
      A 14,000 feet long print was shown as preview in early August 1935 in several Californian cinemas. It included, at least three additional songs.
    • Connections
      Edited into Grand Central Murder (1942)
    • Soundtracks
      Broadway Rhythm
      (1935) (uncredited)

      Music by Nacio Herb Brown

      Lyrics by Arthur Freed

      Played during the opening credits

      Danced to by a chorus at rehearsal

      Sung by Frances Langford at the nightclub

      Danced to by Buddy Ebsen, Vilma Ebsen, June Knight, Nick Long Jr. and Eleanor Powell at the nightclub

    User reviews33

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Lightweight, But Lots of 1930s Musical Charm
    The plot of Broadway MELODY OF 1936 is a classic of its kind. Bob Gordon (popular matinée idol Robert Taylor) is producing a Broadway musical--but he runs afoul of actress and financial backer Lilly Brent (June Knight), who sees herself not only as the star of the show but Bob's ladylove as well. When their "romance" is played up by gossip columnist Bert Keeler (Jack Benny) fireworks ensue, and matters are further complicated by the arrival of Bob's old flame Irene Foster (Eleanor Powell) who has come to make her fortune as a dancer on the Great White Way.

    The twists and turns of the story are fairly obvious and the outcome is a foregone conclusion--like many Hollywood musicals of the mid-1930s the story really exists as an excuse for comic turns and musical numbers--but the film has a great deal of charm and catches a host of performers moving up to stardom. The big news here is Eleanor Powell and Jack Benny, both fairly new to film and both somewhat stiff in front of the camera... but whatever their faults in this film there's no denying that Powell clearly poised to become a great musical star or that Benny is a comic genius in the making.

    Powell, Taylor, and Benny are backed by a truly solid host of character actors and cameo performers, most notably Sid Silvers, Una Merkle, Frances Langford, and Harry Stockwell. But most film buffs will be particularly interested in the brother-sister team of Buddy and Vilma Ebsen, a popular vaudeville act; Vilma would soon retire, but Buddy's scruffy look, dunderheaded comedy, and hilariously eccentric dance style would propel him to a series of popular musicals and a very long career indeed. The musical numbers--which include such perennials as "Broadway Melody," "You are My Lucky Star," and "Gotta Feeling You're Fooling"--are all lots of fun to hear and see as well.

    When all is said and done, Broadway MELODY OF 1936 is hardly a "classic musical;" it is too disjointed, too cliché in plot and character to measure up to the truly great musicals of the era. But it is quite a bit of fun, and hardcore 1930s musical fans should enjoy it quite a bit.

    Gary F. Taylor, aka GFT, Amazon Reviewer
    helpful•7
    3
    • gftbiloxi
    • Mar 31, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 20, 1935 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Broadway Melody of 1935
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,607,900
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,258,780
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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