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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

THE BROADWAY MELODY (1929)

Early ‘talkie’ M-G-M musical has been put out in a new edition that doesn’t restore any of the original 2-strip Technicolor elements. And the big 'numbos' could sure use the help since none of the performers are able to rise above the clunky routines on their all-too sturdy calves. Broadway was never this klutzy. Fortunately, there are some good tunes from Brown & Freed (with the title tune endlessly plugged in case we miss the huge thematic lick the boys ripped off of ‘California, Here I Come’*). Surprisingly, it’s the by-the-numbers plot of two sisters secretly in love with the same fella, and each nobly sacrificing in turn, that holds you in there; along with Bessie Love’s undeniable charm & spunk.

CONTEST: *Arthur Freed & Harry Brown's most blatant song rip-off came at the expense of Cole Porter who was too polite to ever mention it. Naturally, he needed Freed in his role as top M-G-M producer. But another famous B'way composer wasn't so shy about calling Freed out on his bit of musical plagarism. Name the two very similar tunes, the two films they're from and the stand up composer who shamed Freed to win a MAKSQUIBS Write-Up of any NetFlix DVD.

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