EASTER PARADE
US, 1948, 107 minutes, Colour.
Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Ann Miller, Peter Lawford, Jules Munshin.
Directed by Charles Walters.
Easter Parade is one of the most entertaining of the MGM musicals of the 40s. It was a fine star vehicle for Fred Astaire, dancing at his best. Ann Miller also has an opportunity to show her skills at dancing. The film also starred Judy Garland – and has some wonderful song-and-dance routines with both Astaire and Garland, for example ‘A Couple of Swells’. Peter Lawford is in the supporting cast.
The film was written by novelist Sidney Sheldon as well as the husband-and-wife team of Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett who were writing from the 30s including a number of the musicals like Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, In the Good Old Summertime. They won a Tony for The Diary of Anne Frank.
The film was directed by Charles Walters who also directed a number of musicals in the 40s and 50s including Lili, The Barkleys of Broadway and Summer Stock. He made a number of light comedies in the 60s including Walk, Don’t Run and The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
1. The quality of the film as a classic M.G.M. musical? Production values, colour, sets and decor, M.G.M. gloss? The score, the dancing? Popular entertainment?
2. The popularity of the film over the decades? Charles Waters' direction, Judy Garland and Fred Astaire? Ann Miller? A popular blend of songs, dances, comedy routines, theatre background story?
3. The impact of Fred Astaire and his quality dancing, Judy Garland, her vulnerability in performance, singing? How well did they combine? Ann Miller and the varieties of her choreography?
4. The Cinderella aspects of the plot? Hannah as the Cinderella type, picked by a Prince Charming, transformed into a star? The danger of not following through? The popular ingredients of the theatre success story, jealousy, rags to riches to? Conventional material how well presented?
3. Irving Berlin's popularity over the decades? The quality of his songs? The way they were introduced into the plot? The plot? The popularity of Easter Parade? Fred Astaire's choreography to Irving Berlin's music? Judy Garland's versions?
6. Don an the stage type, his love for Nadine, partnership, disappointment, taking Hannah and using her? His falling in love with her but not realizing it? The continued rivalry with Nadine? The friendship with Johnny? The gradual realization of the love for Hannah? The happy ending and the march along the Easter Parade?
7. Hannah an attractive heroine? Credible in her change from chorus girl to star? Judy Garland's style, performance, vulnerability?
8. Nadine an a strong and self-willed character? Vanity, jealousy, relationship with Johnny? In such sequences as the Easter Parade? The people leaving bar? The contrast with Johnny and his wealth, study? Naivety? Attraction to Nadine, friendship with Don, attraction to Hannah and the song 'The Feller with tho Umbrella'? Doing his good deed in enabling Hannah and Don to be together?
9. The contribution of the waiter and his performance at the restaurant, the barman and his comment on life?
10. The Hollywood view of American life, success? relationships, romance and love? Why are those always popular ingredients?
