TWO TICKETS TO BROADWAY

US, 1951, 106 minutes, Colour.
Janet Leigh, Tony Martin, Gloria de Haven, Ann Miller, Bob Crosby, Eddie Bracken.
Directed by James V. Kern.

Two Tickets to Broadway is a run of the mill musical of the fifties. It is notable as being a vehicle for Janet Leigh, under the patronage and production of Howard Hughes. The choreography, which is not particularly startling, is by the veteran Busby Berkeley. Ann Miller gets a chance to dance and Tony Martin sings.

1. How enjoyable a musical? Its status in the line of Hollywood musicals of the 50's ? A Howard Hughes production? Tony Martin and his popularity, Janet Leigh? Bob Crosby? The focus on Broadway and the transition to television? The early days of television? Busby Berkley and his staging of the musical numbers?

2. The music, the genre: the conventions e.g. Nancy's farewell, the troupe of dancers failing and trying to make good on Broadway, Nancy and her ambitions, being tricked, final success? Dan as typical hero, struggle, success? The agent with his lying and his comedy? The musical numbers, the introduction of the songs and their re-play? Better than usual?

3. Colour photography, sets, choreography and music?

4. The basic American plot: small town girl comes to the city, falls in love, tries to make good? Struggle with friends? Serious and comic people? The lucky break? How conventionally American? The convention of American dream?

5. Dan as the typical American hero, singer? Nancy as the naive young girl from the country learning from experience in the city? Her falling in love, the link with the dances? The character of her friends? The nastiness in the comedy with the agent?

6. Any special highlights of this particular musical as illustrating the types of musicals of the fifties?