The Broadway Melody
Director: Harry Beaumont
Production Company: MGM
Music By: Nacio Herb Brown
Lyric by: Arthur Freed
Rating: N/A
Staring: Charles King, Anita Page, Bessie Love
My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
And so we have the Academy's first 'talkie' Best Picture. Not only a talkie, but a musical! It was a tall order for director, Harry Beaumont, who utilized various techniques to achieve the best sound on set. This meant a process of trial and error that made for very long shooting days. For instance, it took more than 3 hours for Bessie Love to shoot a very small ukulele scene.
In fact, sound in movies was so new that they produced a silent version of The Broadway Melody for viewing in many theaters across the country that didn't, yet, have the equipment to show non-silent films. Regardless, it was the top grossing movie of 1929 which probably helped push it into the winner's spot at the 2nd Annual Academy Awards. Let's just say, The Broadway Melody will not be making it into the top 10 of any lists.
While I can appreciate the craft of making the picture - especially with little experience to go in in sound - it's a hokey, sappy musical with songs that are just 'meh'. It's cliched and melodramatic and I have to admit I got bored through the middle.
Another love triangle flick, but this one is less engaging than Wings. Two sisters fight over the same man, make up, and all is well in the end - oh, and they are performers so music has an excuse to flit in and out of scenes. If it feels like I don't have much to say about this movie, it's because there isn't much to say. If you are looking for a 20s era musical to watch, see Show Boat and call it a day.
I'd give it 2/5 stars if only because I appreciate it's technical merit and thought Bessie Love and Anita Page were lovely.
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