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The Broadway Melody

  • 19291929
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Charles King, Bessie Love, and Anita Page in The Broadway Melody (1929)
  • Drama
  • Musical
  • Romance
A pair of sisters from the vaudeville circuit try to make it big time on Broadway, but matters of the heart complicate the attempt.A pair of sisters from the vaudeville circuit try to make it big time on Broadway, but matters of the heart complicate the attempt.A pair of sisters from the vaudeville circuit try to make it big time on Broadway, but matters of the heart complicate the attempt.
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Harry Beaumont
  • Writers
    • Edmund Goulding(story)
    • Norman Houston(dialogue)
    • James Gleason(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Bessie Love
    • Anita Page
    • Charles King
Top credits
  • Director
    • Harry Beaumont
  • Writers
    • Edmund Goulding(story)
    • Norman Houston(dialogue)
    • James Gleason(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Bessie Love
    • Anita Page
    • Charles King
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 89User reviews
    • 40Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 3 nominations total

    Photos59

    Nacio Herb Brown, J. Emmett Beck, James Burroughs, Dorothy Coonan Wellman, Drew Demorest, Edward Dillon, Charles King, Carla Laemmle, Bessie Love, Angella Mawby, Anita Page, Alice Weaver, Ruth Jennings, Claudette Mawby, Claudine Mawby, Alice Pitman, Diana Verne, The Angeles Twins, and Betty Arthur in The Broadway Melody (1929)
    Bessie Love in The Broadway Melody (1929)
    Bessie Love in The Broadway Melody (1929)
    Bessie Love and Jed Prouty in The Broadway Melody (1929)
    Bessie Love and Anita Page in The Broadway Melody (1929)
    Mary Doran, Charles King, Carla Laemmle, Angella Mawby, Joyce Murray, Alice Weaver, Claudette Mawby, Claudine Mawby, Alice Pitman, Diana Verne, and The Angeles Twins in The Broadway Melody (1929)
    Charles King, Bessie Love, and Anita Page in The Broadway Melody (1929)
    Charles King and Bessie Love in The Broadway Melody (1929)
    Eddie Bush, Paul Gibbons, and Charles King in The Broadway Melody (1929)
    J. Emmett Beck, Charles King, and Anita Page in The Broadway Melody (1929)
    Drew Demorest, Bessie Love, and Blanche Payson in The Broadway Melody (1929)
    Mary Doran in The Broadway Melody (1929)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Bessie Love
    Bessie Love
    • Harriet 'Hank' Mahoneyas Harriet 'Hank' Mahoney
    Anita Page
    Anita Page
    • Queenie Mahoneyas Queenie Mahoney
    Charles King
    Charles King
    • Eddie Kearnsas Eddie Kearns
    Eddie Kane
    Eddie Kane
    • Francis Zanfieldas Francis Zanfield
    J. Emmett Beck
    • Babe Hatrickas Babe Hatrick
    Jed Prouty
    Jed Prouty
    • Uncle Jedas Uncle Jed
    Kenneth Thomson
    Kenneth Thomson
    • Jacques Warrineras Jacques Warriner
    The Angeles Twins
    • Chorus Girlsas Chorus Girls
    • (uncredited)
    Betty Arthur
    • Chorus Danceras Chorus Dancer
    • (uncredited)
    Nacio Herb Brown
    Nacio Herb Brown
    • Pianistas Pianist
    • (uncredited)
    James Burroughs
    • Singeras Singer
    • (uncredited)
    Eddie Bush
    • Quartet Guitarist and Singeras Quartet Guitarist and Singer
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Cooke
    Ray Cooke
    • Bellhopas Bellhop
    • (uncredited)
    Drew Demorest
    Drew Demorest
    • Turpe - Costumeras Turpe - Costumer
    • (uncredited)
    Edward Dillon
    Edward Dillon
    • Dillon - Stage Manageras Dillon - Stage Manager
    • (uncredited)
    Mary Doran
    Mary Doran
    • Floas Flo
    • (uncredited)
    Arthur Freed
    Arthur Freed
    • Bystander in Rehearsal Roomas Bystander in Rehearsal Room
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Gibbons
    • Quartet Guitarist and Singeras Quartet Guitarist and Singer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Harry Beaumont
    • Writers
      • Edmund Goulding(story)
      • Norman Houston(dialogue)
      • James Gleason(dialogue)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A silent version was also released, as many cinemas hadn't yet acquired sound equipment in 1929.
    • Goofs
      The guitar player in the song "Broadway Melody" cannot be heard playing until he tilts his guitar slightly (possibly towards the mic).
    • Quotes

      Eddie Kearns: Hank, did you see Queenie? What's the matter Hank, aren't ya happy? Wasn't Queenie great? Aren't ya proud of her?

      Hank Mahoney: Oh, of course, Eddie. I'm glad to see her make good. Oh, but, gee, we ain't never had to get by on our legs before.

      Eddie Kearns: Oh, that don't mean nothin', Hank. Those guys are not going to pay ten bucks to look at your face; this is Broadway!

      Hank Mahoney: Yeah, "Broad's way!"

    • Alternate versions
      The "Wedding of the Painted Doll" musical sequence was originally presented in Technicolor. All color prints of this sequence are lost, so later reissues and DVD release present the sequence in black and white.
    • Connections
      Edited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      The Broadway Melody
      (1929) (uncredited)

      Music by Nacio Herb Brown

      Lyrics by Arthur Freed

      Played during the opening credits and often in the score

      Performed many times by various cast including Nacio Herb Brown (piano), Charles King,

      Anita Page, Bessie Love and chorus girls

    User reviews89

    Review
    Top review
    My Favorite Movie Also! Anita Page and Bessie Love- Two of Hollywood's most overlooked actresses!
    I agree with Kieran Kenney, Historians who give bad reviews on this film must be smoking something or don't know what talent is, Historians seem to call movies good that aren't. Some of these so-called Hollywood and Movie Historians are blind. I love this movie. This is my favorite musical and movie. The Broadway Melody was the film that opened the door for musicals and was one of the first Talkies. Everyone holds their own in this own. Anita Page is so talented. I can't see why she didn't become one of MGM'S biggest star. Anita Page was more beautiful then most of the other stars of early Hollywood. Anita Page was one of the most beautiful women in the history of Hollywood. She's still alive, people should be trying to interview, write a book on her, and get the public to know her. She's one of the few living of early Hollywood. Historians and classic movie fans should appreciate her, give her recognition, instead of writing 5 sometimes 10 books on the same classic star. How many books does it take to tell a person's life? Anita Page has plenty of stories about herself and other stars. In every movie Anita was in she gave her heart and soul. Anita always gave a performance. I enjoyed every movie I've seen her in.

    I love Bessie Love in this movie also, MGM gave her worthless movies after The Broadway Melody. Bessie Love was a talented actress and dancer. it wasn't her, so it must of been the studio's fault of her not making the transition to being a Talkie Star. Another one who didn't make it was Mary Doran who played Flo and the girl Hank(Bessie Love) gets in a fight with. Mary Doran was talented, but she usually had bit parts but she always stole the scene. In this movie everyone gives a performance of a lifetime, they give Academy Award performances, they give put their heart and soul in this movie. I don't know but this movie gives you the feel of how life was back in the late 1920s, early 1930s. Times weren't as innocent as people think. People back then seem to be full of life, full of love, full of song and dance(unlike today). This movies puts you in that era. If you got a taste for good movies, you'll love this. Hollywood don't make movies like this anymore.
    helpful•9
    3
    • msladysoul
    • Jun 19, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 6, 1929 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Broadway Melody of 1929
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $379,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent

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