Easter Parade (1948)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Charles Walters

Writers:

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

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 | Dance | Ziegfeld Follies | Vaudeville | Fashion Show

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win

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")

Also Known As:

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

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (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 | 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:

This is the second time that a character says to Judy Garland: "Why didn't you tell me I was in love with you?" in a film. The first was Gene Kelly in For Me and My Gal (1942).

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: Robert Patrick says in his book, "Film Moi": "The most beautiful goof in movies comes in the 'Steppin' Out with My Baby' number. Fred Astaire at one point goes into slow motion. The chorus behind him continues at normal speed, but that's not the goof. 'Judy Garland', in the wings watching this miracle, just beams with admiration - as well she should."

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:

Referenced in The Projectionist (1971)

Soundtrack:

A Fella with an Umbrella

One of the Best MGM Musicals from the 1940's

I just saw "Easter Parade" on the big screen for the first time, earlier this evening, and have to say that it's definitely one of the best musicals ever produced by the Arthur Freed Unit at MGM, especially out of the ones from the 1940's.

I really enjoyed the movie even though I've already seen it several times on video. It features all of the halmarks of a Freed production including an amazing cast with Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, and Ann Miller, lush technicolor photography, incredible dancing, and a great score that features over 16 songs by Irving Berlin. It actually had a pretty good story too, rather just a bunch of songs with a plot that basically exists to get from one song to the next, like in some lesser musicals.

The story is about a famous dancer, played by Fred Astaire, who tries to build a new act with an inexperienced chorus girl whom he discovers (Garland), after his former partner (Miller) leaves him to pursue a solo career. Of course, the requisite romantic complications and personal and professional jealousies also figure into the mix.

Since all three principles play performers, there are plenty of opportunities for each of them to show off their singing and dancing in almost iconic numbers like "Steppin' Out with My Baby", "Shakin' the Blues Away", and "A Couple of Swells", which have all come to be heavily identified with Astaire, Miller, and Garland respectively throughout their careers.

I definitely enjoyed this film and think it's a must-see for anyone who enjoys musicals or are fans of Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, and Ann Miller. (Peter Lawford's in this one too, but I'm not a huge fan of his.) Too bad there's no DVD version.