Actors: Bessie Love, Anita Page, Charles King, Jed Prouty, Eddie Kane, Kenneth Thomson.
Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Broadway Melody (1929)
The Mahoney sisters land in New York with dreams of making it big on Broadway after sucessfully working smaller circuts with their sister act. The two have help in their endeavors from their uncle/agent and the elder sister's fiancee who is also a sucessful songwriter. The songwriter promises to get them into the show at the theater he works for, and after a disasterous audition, the producer reluctantly agrees to hire them. Both girls are delighted, but their big piece is quickly cut from the show in rehearsal. The younger, prettier sister lands a part as a beauty on a boat, while the older sister is left to sulk. Eddie, the older sister's fiancee begins to fall in love with the younger sister, but he is not alone in his affections. Attempting to distance herself from Eddie, the younger sister (who has affections for Eddie as well) begins to date a rich gentleman with an unrighteous interest in her. Seeing that the two are in love with each other, the older sister convinces her fiancee she never loved him, allowing both her fiancee and her sister to be in love and live happily ever after.
--Erika Johnson, Resident Scholar
The lead singer in a Broadway show (Charles King) is engaged to the elder of two dancing sisters (Bessie Love). The sisters also hanker for Broadway success, so the tenor finds a place for them in the show. However, it is the younger and prettier sister (Anita Page) who becomes an overnight sensation. The singer falls for her too. This places him in a real fix. He doesn't want to break his engagement to the elder girl, but he doesn't want his new love to party with other men either.
--John Reid, Resident Scholar
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Analysis of The Broadway Melody (1929)
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1900-1920's
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Kind of romance:
- love triangle/polygon
Job/Profession/Poverty Story?
Yes
Job:
- actor
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
- Female
Profession/status:
- actor
Age:
- 20's-30's
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
- (woman) short/butch/lez
Body type
- (man) average
- (woman) average
Events of movie makes character more...
- irritated
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
- blonde
Hair style
- (woman) short/butch/lez
Body type
- (woman) average
How much in movie?
- 90%-100%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- not employed but independently wealthy
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 20%
- 60%
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average
- (man) muscular
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
City?
Yes
City:
- New York
Misc setting
- theater
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- very happy
- frustrated
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
If lots of song/dance...
- lot of singing and dancing
If soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Broadway musical
