Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940)

A dancer must choose between a Broadway career with the girl of his dreams and his loyalty to his dance partner.

Dance partners Johnny Brett (Fred Astaire) and King Shaw (George Murphy) find the climb to Broadway fame a little harder than they expected. A producer (Frank Morgan) finds the team at a dance hall and Brett, believing him a bill collector, gives him King Shaw's name to attempt to avoid paying the bill for a few days. Shaw is then called by the other producer for an audition with star Clare Bennett (Eleanor Powell). Johnny is happy for his partner when he gets the role and though he had been watching Bennett every chance he could get and admired her from afar, he believes his partner would have the better star quality and stepped aside--that is, until fame got to King Shaw's head and Brett is then forced to decide where his loyalties lie.

Sinatra said in That's Entertainment, to paraphrase, you'd never see the likes of the quality of Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire on film again. Couldn't agree more--some of the best dance routines on film are in this movie and they were filmed beautifully.

Powell Performances

All Ashore
Music and Lyrics by Roger Edens
Danced by Eleanor Powell

Between You and Me
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Danced by Eleanor Powell and George Murphy

Jukebox Dance
Music by Walter Ruick
Danced by Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire

I Concentrate On You
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Danced by Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire

Begin the Beguine
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Sung by Carmen D'Antonio (dubbed by Lois Hardnett) and The Music Maids
Danced by Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell

I've Got My Eyes on You
Music and lyrics by Cole Porter
Danced by Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell and George Murphy

Reviews

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Resources

Broadway Melody of 1940 on IMDb

Fast Facts

  • Sinatra said in That's Entertainment! that you would never see the caliber of dancer of Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell in Broadway Melody of 1940.

Lines to Remember

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