Born to Dance (1936)

A young lady determined to dance on Broadway finds New York to be a little bit more complicated than she ever imagined.

After an impromptu dance at the Lonely Hearts Club, Nora Paige (Eleanor Powell), found a friend in the establishment's clerk, Jenny Saks (Una Merkel) who invited her to live with she and her little girl. Jenny's husband and two men from his crew came as moral support to visit Jenny since they married. With help from one of the two of Saks' crewmembers (James Stewart), Nora works her way to Broadway.

James Stewart had minor roles before this film and it was one of the first that showed that even his minimal musical abilities could propel him further along to fame. The most charming moments are with Stewart and his easy-going dances with Powell.

Powell Performances

Rap, Tap on Wood
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Sung and danced by Eleanor Powell and The Foursome
Eleanor Powell's vocals dubbed by Marjorie Lane
Also danced by Eleanor Powell at a rehearsal

Hey, Babe, Hey
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Sung and danced by Eleanor Powell, James Stewart, Sid Silvers,
Una Merkel, Frances Langford, Buddy Ebsen and The Foursome
Eleanor Powell's vocals dubbed by Marjorie Lane

Love Me, Love My Pekinese
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Danced by Eleanor Powell

Easy to Love
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Played during the opening credits and as background music
Sung by Eleanor Powell (dubbed by Marjorie Lane) and James Stewart, Frances Langford and danced by her and Buddy Ebsen
Reprised by the cast at the end

Swingin' the Jinx Away
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Danced by Buddy Ebsen and Eleanor Powell

Reviews

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Resources

Born to Dance on IMDb

Fast Facts

  • James Stewart claimed in That's Entertainment that MGM was so confident in the popularity of "Easy to Love" that even his voice couldn't diminish it, so he wasn't dubbed in the film.

Lines to Remember

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