EASTER PARADE (1948)

Though not as stylish or sophisticated as later Arthur Freed/Fred Astaire musicals (see Minnelli’s THE BAND WAGON/’53; Mamoulian’s SILK STOCKINGS/’57), this Irving Berlin compendium makes for square but powerhouse entertainment on its own ultra-professional terms.  Especially once past its set-up (dumped by dancing stage partner Ann Miller, Fred initially flops with impulsively chosen replacement Judy Garland till he sees what she does excel at) and kicks off Act Two with a medley that moves plot and relationship in a vaudeville oriented combo that seamlessly joins four Berlin oldies (‘I Love A Piano’; ‘Snooky Ookums’; ‘Ragtime Violin’; ‘When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam’‘) into an unbeatable highlight reel.  Berlin, as usual, plugging his catalog for two-thirds of a score and coming up with five or six new songs, including gems ‘It Only Happens When I Dance With You’; ‘Steppin’ Out With My Baby’; A Couple of Swells,’; ‘Better Luck Next Time.’*  Garland and then husband Vincente Minnelli had just been thru the wringer on THE PIRATE (still in retakes), so Charles Walters got his second directing assignment (after the adorable GOOD NEWS) and was lucky to find Garland on her very best behavior.  (Afraid to rock the boat next to Astaire’s legendary professionalism?  Him: a take after take guy; Her: a one-and-done phenom.  How’d this ever work out?)  He also brought out something fresh in her acting.  Watch her right after the Ziegfeld audition, suddenly figuring out his romantic past with Miller.  It’s exactly the sort of comic clarity she was unable to muster in THE PIRATE.  Joyous stuff, and Garland’s biggest hit after MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS/'44, deservedly so.

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID/LINK:  *Berlin used to say that he had about seven or eight templates for many songs, and you can hear exactly how that worked comparing this film’s ‘Better Luck Next Time,’ with ‘Now It Can Be Told’ in ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND/’38.  (Skip to the 1'50" mark to hear a carbon-copy cadence used in both songs.)   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO3teEN54rA

SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY:  People make fun of the ‘novelty’ number Berlin came up with for Peter Lawford, ‘A Fella with an Umbrella’ when he meets-cute with Garland.  But behind the silly lyric is a damn good tune.  Have a listen when Garland takes the verse.