The Broadway Melody
original film poster
Directed by	Harry Beaumont
Produced by	Irving Thalberg Lawrence Weingarten
Written by	Edmund Goulding (story) Norman Houston James Gleason
Starring	Charles King Anita Page Bessie Love
Music by	Nacio Herb Brown George M. Cohan Willard Robison
Cinematography	John Arnold
Editing by	Sam S. Zimbalist William LeVanway
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s)	February 1, 1929
Running time	110 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$379,000 (estimated)
Followed by	Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935)
All Movie Guide profile
IMDb profile

The Broadway Melody (1929) was the first Sound film to win an Oscar for Best Picture. It is an early musical motion picture, released on 1 February 1929. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 444 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1000 × 1349 pixel, file size: 2. ... Harry Beaumont (1888 - 1966) was a prolific, versatile director during the 1920s and 30s who worked for some of the biggest production companies in Hollywood including Fox, Goldwyn, Metro, Warner Brothers and MGM. As a young man, he left school to join a stock company, eventually ending up on the... Irving Grant Thalberg (May 30, 1899 - September 14, 1936) was an American film producer during the early years of motion pictures. ... Lawrence Weingarten was an American film producer born on the 30th December 1897. ... Edmund Goulding (March 20, 1891 - December 21, 1959) was, among other things, an English-born film director. ... James Gleason (May 23, 1882 – April 12, 1959) was an American actor born in New York City. ... Charles Dunbar Burgess King (1875 - 1961) was a politician in Liberia. ... Anita Page in the 1930s Anita Page (born Anita Pomares, August 4, 1910, Flushing, New York) is an American film actress. ... Bessie Love (September 10, 1898 - April 26, 1986) was an American motion picture actress. ... Nacio Herb Brown (22 February 1896 - 28 September 1964) was a United States songwriter. ... George Michael Cohan (July 3, 1878 – November 5, 1942) was a United States entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, director, and producer of Irish descent. ... Willard Robison (born September 18, 1894 - June 24, 1968) was an American composer of popular song. ... London watchmaker John Arnold (1736–99), was one of the true master clockmakers from what was unarguably England’s golden age of horology. ... For alternate meanings of MGM, see MGM (disambiguation). ... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Broadway Melody of 1936 is a musical film released by MGM in 1935, despite the title. ... See also: 1928 in film 1929 1930 in film 1920s in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events The days of the silent film were numbered. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; the awards are voted on by other people within the industry. ... The musical film is a film genre in which several songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative. ... For other uses see film (disambiguation) Film refers to the celluliod media on which movies are printed Film — also called movies, the cinema, the silver screen, moving pictures, photoplays, picture shows, flicks, or motion pictures, — is a field that encompasses motion pictures as an art form or as... is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The film was one of the first musicals to feature a Technicolor sequence, which sparked the trend of color being used in a flurry of musicals that would hit the screens in 1929-1930. The film was the first musical motion picture released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was Hollywood's first all-talking musical. Logo celebrating Technicolors 90th Anniversary Technicolor is the trademark for a series of color film processes pioneered by Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation (a subsidiary of Technicolor, Inc. ... For alternate meanings of MGM, see MGM (disambiguation). ...

Plot

Poster for the film.

The plot involves the romances of musical comedy stars, set against the backstage hubbub of a Broadway revue. Anita Page and Bessie Love play a vaudeville sister act who've come to New York for their big break on Broadway. Charles King plays the song-and-dance man whose affection for one sister (Harriet) is supplanted by his growing love for the younger, more beautiful sister (Queenie). Harriet tries to protect her sister and derail the love triangle by dating a wealthy but unscrupulous "stage door Johnny." Bessie Love was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Anita Page in the 1930s Anita Page (born Anita Pomares, August 4, 1910, Flushing, New York) is an American film actress. ... Bessie Love (September 10, 1898 - April 26, 1986) was an American motion picture actress. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... Charles Dunbar Burgess King (1875 - 1961) was a politician in Liberia. ... The Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role is one of the awards given to actresses working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ...

The film was written by Norman Houston and James Gleason from a story by Edmund Goulding, and directed by Harry Beaumont. Original music for the film was written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, including the popular hit "You Were Meant For Me." The George M. Cohan classic "Give My Regards To Broadway" was also given its talkie debut in the film. James Gleason (May 23, 1882 – April 12, 1959) was an American actor born in New York City. ... Edmund Goulding (March 20, 1891 - December 21, 1959) was, among other things, an English-born film director. ... Harry Beaumont (1888 - 1966) was a prolific, versatile director during the 1920s and 30s who worked for some of the biggest production companies in Hollywood including Fox, Goldwyn, Metro, Warner Brothers and MGM. As a young man, he left school to join a stock company, eventually ending up on the... Arthur Freed (September 9, 1894 - April 12, 1973) was born Arthur Grossman in Down Ton Ton Village. ... Nacio Herb Brown (22 February 1896 - 28 September 1964) was a United States songwriter. ... George Michael Cohan (July 3, 1878 – November 5, 1942) was a United States entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, director, and producer of Irish descent. ...

1929 magazine ad

The Broadway Melody advertisment from 1929 magazine; if any aplicable copyright, presumed fair use for article about the film The copyright status of this vintage image is undetermined; it may still be copyrighted. ... The Broadway Melody advertisment from 1929 magazine; if any aplicable copyright, presumed fair use for article about the film The copyright status of this vintage image is undetermined; it may still be copyrighted. ...

Production

A silent version was also released, for there were still many motion picture theaters without sound equipment at the time. The film featured a musical sequence for "The Wedding of the Painted Doll" that was presented in early two-color Technicolor (red and green). Color would quickly come to be associated with the musical genre, and scores of features were released in 1929 and 1930 that either featured color sequences or were filmed entirely in color. A silent film is a film which has no accompanying soundtrack. ... Logo celebrating Technicolors 90th Anniversary Technicolor is the trademark for a series of color film processes pioneered by Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation (a subsidiary of Technicolor, Inc. ...

Public Reaction

The film was a substantial success. It was the top grossing picture of 1929, and won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Historically, it is often considered the first complete example of the Hollywood musical. However, the film has since come to be seen as weak, cliché-ridden, and overly melodramatic. Even in 1929, the creaky stereotypes of backstage show biz were something less than fresh. Most believe that the primary reason for its success in the Academy Awards was due to the films with which it competed being equally unimpressive. Filmsite.org describes the 1929 Oscars thusly: "The films nominated for this year's awards were some of the weakest films in the history of American cinema, reflecting the chaos of the transition from silents to sound films." // The Academy Award for Best Motion Picture is one of the Academy Awards, awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which are voted on by others within the industry. ... ... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... 1930 Academy Awards may refer to: 2nd Academy Awards, the first Academy Awards ceremony that took place in 1930 3rd Academy Awards, the second Academy Awards ceremony that took place in 1930 and which honored the best in film for 1930 Category: ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

Nonetheless, the movie was so popular, that a sequel (Chasing Rainbows) was released in 1930. Chasing Rainbows is a 1930 American romantic musical film directed by Charles Reisner. ...

Preservation

Poster for the film.

The complete film survives, except for the Technicolor sequence which is lost. Only a black and white copy of this sequence survives. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Logo celebrating Technicolors 90th Anniversary Technicolor is the trademark for a series of color film processes pioneered by Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation (a subsidiary of Technicolor, Inc. ...

Sequels

Three more movies were later made by MGM with similar titles, Broadway Melody of 1936, Broadway Melody of 1938 and Broadway Melody of 1940, were released by MGM. Although not direct sequels in the traditional sense, they all had the same basic premise of a group of people putting on a show (the films also had recurring cast members playing different roles, most notably dancer Eleanor Powell who appeared in all three). Broadway Melody of 1936 is a musical film released by MGM in 1935, despite the title. ... Broadway Melody of 1938 is a 1937 musical film, produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Roy Del Ruth. ... Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell dance to Begin the Beguine in Broadway Melody of 1940. ... Eleanor Powell, left, in Broadway Melody of 1938. ...

The original movie was also remade in 1940 as Two Girls on Broadway. Another Broadway Melody film was planned for 1942 (starring Gene Kelly and Eleanor Powell) but production was cancelled at the last minute. Broadway Rhythm, a 1944 musical by MGM, was originally to have been titled Broadway Melody of 1944. Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Eugene Curran Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996), better known as Gene Kelly, was an American dancer, actor, singer, director, producer, and choreographer. ... Eleanor Powell, left, in Broadway Melody of 1938. ... Broadway Rhythm is an MGM Technicolor musical film released in 1944. ...

Awards

Academy Award Wins (1929)

• Best Picture

The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; the awards are voted on by other people within the industry. ...

Academy Award Nominations (1929)

• Best Actress - Bessie Love
• Best Director - Harry Beaumont
• NOTE: No nominations were announced prior to the 1930 ceremonies. Love and Beaumont are presumed to have been under consideration, and are listed as such by the Academy of Motion Pictures.

The Academy Award for Best Actress is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are actors and actresses. ... Bessie Love (September 10, 1898 - April 26, 1986) was an American motion picture actress. ... The Academy Award for Directing is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; the awards are voted on by other people within the industry. ... Harry Beaumont (1888 - 1966) was a prolific, versatile director during the 1920s and 30s who worked for some of the biggest production companies in Hollywood including Fox, Goldwyn, Metro, Warner Brothers and MGM. As a young man, he left school to join a stock company, eventually ending up on the...

External links

• The Broadway Melody at the Internet Movie Database
• Broadway Melody on the Great MGM Musicals site

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about movies, actors, television shows, production crew personnel, and video games. ...