Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937)

A racehorse leads the way to love, wealth, and the Broadway stage.

The favorite horse to win, the Whipple's Star Gazer, is injured in a race, leading it's prior owner (Eleanor Powell) to tag along in the horse train he's on going to New York to be sure he is taken care of properly by his two novice trainers (George Murphy and Buddy Epsen). Along with Star Gazer's current owners, a producer the couple choses to back for a Broadway show is also on the train working out details for the production--a show that is missing a well-known leading lady. While strolling the train, producer Steve Raleigh (Robert Taylor) discovers the former horse owner of his backers dancing in the horse car with the other trainers. He pleads the case for this girl to become a leading lady of the show to the backers, going as far as to set her up in home for ex-vaudevillians and hopefuls (including Judy Garland and Sophie Tucker) back in New York, but the backers pull out--rather Mrs. Whipple doesn't like that her handsome producer is falling in love with the leading lady. Determined to own the horse again and take care of it when the Whipples put the horse up for sale, the dancer bids on the horse for more than she's able to pay. The trainers lend their services and borrowed winnings in another race to help take care of the horse for free. Star Gazer heals and is entered into the big race in order to put on the show, hoping that his winnings will pay off all the debt put on in hiring the actors and theater.

All of the leads bring in brilliant performances. Epsen, Powell, and Murphy make a charming trio. Garland and Tucker are what legends are made of.

Powell Performances

Yours and Mine
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Danced to by Eleanor Powell and George Murphy

Follow in My Footsteps
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Sung and danced to by George Murphy, Buddy Ebsen and Eleanor Powell (dubbed by Marjorie Lane)

Feelin' Like a Million
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Sung and danced to by George Murphy and Eleanor Powell
(dubbed by Marjorie Lane)

Your Broadway and My Broadway
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Sung by Sophie Tucker and Charles Igor Gorin
Danced to by George Murphy, Eleanor Powell, Buddy Ebsen and Judy Garland

Broadway Rhythm
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Danced by Eleanor Powell

Got a Pair of New Shoes
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Danced by Eleanor Powell in the finale

Reviews

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Resources

Broadway Melody of 1938 on IMDb

Fast Facts

  • George Murphy said in his autobiography that the "Feelin' Like a Million" number was one of the first to be shot in parts.
  • "Dear Mr. Gable" was written for Judy to sing at Clark Gable's birthday party and was so well recieved it was placed in the film.

Lines to Remember

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