On the day before Easter in 1911, Don Hewes is crushed when his dancing partner (and object of affection) Nadine Hale refuses to start a new contract with him. To prove Nadine's not important to him, Don acquires innocent new protege Hannah Brown, vowing to make her a star in time for next year's Easter parade.
Judy Garland
Hannah Brown
Fred Astaire
Don Hewes
Peter Lawford
Jonathan Harrow III
Ann Miller
Nadine Hale
Jules Munshin
François
Clinton Sundberg
Mike
Richard Beavers
Singer ("The Girl on the Magazine Cover")
Lola Albright
Hat Model / Showgirl (uncredited)
Shirley Ballard
Showgirl (uncredited)
Edward Biby
Audience Member (uncredited)
June Gale
Minor Role (uncredited)
Joi Lansing
Hat Model / Showgirl (uncredited)
Robert Emmett O'Connor
Policeman (uncredited)
Sam Harris
Backstage Well-Wisher / Diner at Rooftop Show (uncredited)
Harold Miller
Diner in Restaurant (uncredited)
Jeni Le Gon
Essie (uncredited)
Sara Shane
Showgirl (uncredited)
John Albright
Western Union Messenger (uncredited)
Don Anderson
Passerby on Street (uncredited)
Norman S. Barker
Trombone player in bar (uncredited)
Jimmy Bates
Boy (uncredited)
Virginia Bates
Model (uncredited)
Hal Bell
Dancer (uncredited)
Margaret Bert
Florist (uncredited)
Lulu Mae Bohrman
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Ralph Brooks
Diner at Rooftop Show (uncredited)
Rosalee Calvert
Model (uncredited)
James Carlisle
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Peter Chong
Sam - Don's Valet (uncredited)
James Conaty
Passerby on Street (uncredited)
Jack Deery
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Dante DiPaolo
Dancer (uncredited)
Jimmie Dodd
Cabby (uncredited)
Dolores Donlon
Showgirl (uncredited)
Patricia Edwards
Showgirl (uncredited)
Charles Fogel
Pedestrian (uncredited)
J.C. Fowler
Pedestrian (uncredited)
Harry Fox
Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Joel Friend
Dancer (uncredited)
Sig Frohlich
Callboy (uncredited)
Robert Haines
Waiter at Rooftop Restaurant (uncredited)
Ruth Hall
Showgirl (uncredited)
Sam Harris
Backstage Well-Wisher/Diner at Rooftop Show (uncredited)
Helene Heigh
Hat Shop Owner (uncredited)
Shep Houghton
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Marjorie Jackson
Showgirl (uncredited)
Patricia Jackson
Dancer (uncredited)
Bob Jellison
Drugstore Patron (uncredited)
Doris Kemper
Anna - Backstage Maid (uncredited)
Gail Langford
Showgirl (uncredited)
Joi Lansing
Hat Model/Showgirl (uncredited)
Jeni Le Gon
Essie, Nadine's Maid (uncredited)
Nolan Leary
Drugstore Clerk (uncredited)
Dale Lefler
Dancer (uncredited)
Max Linder
Audience Member (uncredited)
King Lockwood
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Leota Lorraine
Audience Member (uncredited)
Laura Mason
Twin Showgirl (uncredited)
Matt Mattox
Dancer (uncredited)
Bert May
Dancer (uncredited)
Frank Mayo
Headwaiter (uncredited)
Philo McCullough
Diner at Rooftop Show (uncredited)
Howard M. Mitchell
Drugstore Patron (uncredited)
Richard Neill
Audience Member (uncredited)
George Noisom
Western Union Messenger (uncredited)
Barry Norton
Diner at Rooftop Show (uncredited)
Dick Paxton
Western Union Messenger (uncredited)
Albert Pollet
Waiter (uncredited)
Angi O. Poulos
Peddler (uncredited)
Paul Power
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Bobbie Priest
Dancer (uncredited)
Jean Romer
Twin Showgirl (uncredited)
Ralph Sanford
Hotel Detective (uncredited)
Dick Simmons
Al - Ziegfeld Aide (uncredited)
Bert Spencer
Clerk (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook
Pedestrian (uncredited)
Aline Towne
Salesgirl (uncredited)
Dee Turnell
Dancer (uncredited)
Benay Venuta
Bar Patron (uncredited)
Johnny Walsh
Western Union Messenger (uncredited)
Wilson Wood
Marty, Piano Player (uncredited)
Director
Charles Walters
Lyricist
Irving Berlin
Original Story, Screenplay
Frances Goodrich
Original Story, Screenplay
Albert Hackett
Screenplay
Sidney Sheldon
Writer
Guy Bolton
December 26, 2024
7
After he's left a bit high and dry by his established partner "Nadine" (Ann Miller), acclaimed song and dance man "Hewes" (Fred Astaire) makes a rather drunken promise to their pal "Jonathan" (Peter Lawford) that her replacements are ten-a-penny. The words are barely out of his mouth when he encounters "Hannah" (Judy Garland) who's making $15 a week as a dancer on the stage in a club. She has potential, thinks he, and so he ups her wages a bit and invites her to train with him. From here on in, this plot is fairly predictable so don't expect anything remotely left-field. What we do get, though, is a classy and charming romance that's peppered with half a dozen energetically choreographed routines that prove quite a feat for a woman usually wearing six-inch heels and an ankle-length skirt! Obviously, everyone does their own singing - to the likes of Irving Berlin's "It Only Happens When I Dance With You"; "A Couple of Swells" and the title track and these songs showcase not just the powerful voice of Garland, but also of the fainter but equally soothing dulcets of the dapper Astaire too. Lawford doesn't really trouble the scorers but does enough and Miller plays the increasingly irked "Nadine' - "Shakin' the Blues Away", quite entertainingly as the film gathers pace. It's precision film-making at it's most natural, is colourful, lively, occasionally quite pithily written and well worth a watch.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00