Another great MGM musical, this one made in 1948. MGM described it as “the happiest musical ever made.” (This may have been a valid claim at the time, but then Singin’ In The Rain came along, and I don’t know a happier movie than Singin’.)
Fred Astaire plays Don Hewes (originally Gene Kelly was supposed to star as Don, but injured his ankle and personally requested that Astaire play the part). Don is part of a song and dance couple, but when his partner Nadine Hale (Ann Miller) leaves him, he hires Hannah Brown (Judy Garland) as his new partner. In a story vaguely reminiscent of Garland’s role in For Me and My Gal, in which she starred with Gene Kelly, Hannah falls in love with Don, but still feels threatened by his previous partnership with Nadine.
The storyline of course is really a way to string together some lovely songs and dances. Of particular note are Don’s ‘Drum Crazy’ dance, his ‘Steppin’ Out With My Baby’ dance, and the ‘A Couple of Swells’ number performed by Astaire and Garland.
Hannah sings some lovely songs, and looks gorgeous as well. Ann Miller plays a rather unlikeable character, but there’s no denying that her tap dance in the number ‘Shakin’ The Blues Away’ is anything less than terrific.
This certainly is a happy movie, and there’s plenty of numbers which will get your toes tapping. The score by Irving Berlin is lovely, with some instantly recognisable numbers. Well worth watching.
Year of release: 1948
Director: Charles Walters
Writers: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Sidney Sheldon, Guy Bolton
Main cast: Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Ann Miller, Peter Lawford
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