BORN TO DANCE

US, 1935, minutes, Black and white.
Eleanor Powell, James Stewart, Sid Silvers, Buddy Ebsen.
Directed by Roy del Ruth.

Born to Dance is a star vehicle for Eleanor Powell. She was to appear in such films as Rosalie, the Broadway Melody series.

She is an excellent, dancer and has opportunity to show her skills. James Stewart appears in one of his earliest roles and he has the opportunity to sing and dance, something he did not do in later films. He has the one opportunity, Cole Porter's 'Easy to Love' and Virginia Bruce sings 'Under My Skin' to him. There is an enjoyable supporting cast including Una Merkel and Sid Silvers who co-wrote the film. Frances Langford sings.

The score is by Cole Porter who was also working on Anything Goes at Paramount at the same time. The plot is hackneyed but nonetheless enjoyable - and has echoes, of course, of so many other musicals.

1. Enjoyable MGM musical? The 30a? Plot? Singing? Dancing? Vehicle for Eleanor Powell?

2. Black and white photography? The studio locations? The stage settings? The finale? Musical score by Cole Porter? Lyrics? Melodies? ('Love me, Love My Pekinese'?) The finale? 'Easy to Love' and 'Under My Skin'?

3. The title and the focus on Nora? Introduction of the character? Her hopes, the American dream, difficulties, success?

4. The film as the story of Nora: arrival at the hotel, clash with Jenny, boarding with her, the demonstration in the hotel lobby, wanting a job, the encounter with Ted, falling in love, the interactions with the sailors, the dates, the possibility of a job, the clash over Lucy James, her turning Ted down, her dancing, in the show, Lucy James sacking her, the irony of the mix-ups and her getting the star position, reconciliation? The 42nd Street heroine? Eleanor Powell and her singing, her skills at dancing?

5. James Stewart as Ted, in the Navy, on leave, his awkward and gangly style, singing and dancing, romantic lead, the dance routines with Eleanor Powell and the cast? Rescuing Lucy James' Pekinese? The set-up? Gossip and publicity? His reaction? The break with Nora? Getting her the job? The fight with McKay? The happy finale?

6. The Navy: the focus on Tracy and Gunny, comedy routines, singing and dancing, the opening song? The captain of the chip and his awkwardness, not sending the message? In the brig? The comic patter? The song and dance routines? Gunny and Jenny and her mistaking Ted for him? The final reconciliation, and his going to sea again? Mush and his dancing?

7. The waitress in the hotel, Frances Langford and her singing, in the final show?

8. Jenny and her friendship with Nora, her daughter, the comic touches, concealing the truth, the mix-ups with Gunny? The finale - and his going to sea again?

9. The comedy with the captain, Lucy James and her going on board, the Pekinese?

10. Lucy James, the prima donna actress, publicity, clash with her producer, tantrums, the sacking of Nora, her missing out on the show?

11. Popular entertaining musical? The focus on the stage? The stars and temperament? Opportunities for success? Romance?