''Easter Parade'' is a 1948 American

Technicolor Technicolor is a series of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes, the first version dating back to 1916, and followed by improved versions over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black and white films ...

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as brea ...

starring

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. While critically acclaimed for many different roles throughout her career, she is widely known for playing the part of Dorothy Gale in '' The ...

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer. He is often called the greatest dancer in Hollywood film history. Astaire's career in stage, film, and tele ...

Peter Lawford Peter Sydney Ernest Lawford ( Aylen; 7 September 1923 – 24 December 1984) was an English-American actor.Obituary '' Variety'', 26 December 1984. He was a member of the " Rat Pack" and the brother-in-law of US president John F. Kennedy and se ...

and

Ann Miller Ann Miller (born Johnnie Lucille Collier; April 12, 1923 – January 22, 2004) was an American retired actress and former dancer. She is best remembered for her work in the Classical Hollywood cinema musicals of the 1940s and 1950s. Her early ...

. The music by

Irving Berlin Irving Berlin (born Israel Beilin; yi, ישראל ביילין; May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was a Russian-American composer, songwriter and lyricist. His music forms a large part of the Great American Songbook. Born in Imperial Russ ...

includes some of Astaire and Garland's best-known songs, including " Easter Parade", "

Steppin' Out with My Baby "Steppin' Out with My Baby" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin and introduced in the 1948 musical film '' Easter Parade''. There it was sung by Fred Astaire as part of a dance number involving Astaire on stairs and three different dance p ...

", and "

We're a Couple of Swells "We're a Couple of Swells" is an American comedy duet song performed by Judy Garland and Fred Astaire in the film '' Easter Parade'' (1948). It was written by Irving Berlin. Berlin originally wrote the song "Let's Take an Old-Fashioned Walk" for t ...

Gene Kelly Eugene Curran Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996) was an American actor, dancer, singer, filmmaker, and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessibl ...

was originally cast opposite Judy Garland, but he broke his ankle. The part was then offered to Fred Astaire, who had retired two years earlier. Astaire, who was very eager to work again, consulted Kelly about the offer, and Kelly was happy to support his decision to take the role. Garland and Astaire were a successful team, and Astaire was restored to his status as a top MGM star. A critical and commercial success, ''Easter Parade'' was the highest-grossing musical film of 1948, and the second-highest grossing MGM musical of the 1940s, after ''

Meet Me in St. Louis ''Meet Me in St. Louis'' is a 1944 American Christmas film, Christmas musical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Divided into a series of seasonal vignettes, starting with Summer 1903, it relates the story of a year in the life of the Smith famil ...

''.

Plot

In 1912,

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

star Don Hewes buys Easter presents for his sweetheart ("Happy Easter"), getting a boy to part with a plush rabbit by playing all the drums in the toy store ("Drum Crazy"). He takes the gifts to his dancing partner, Nadine Hale, who has been offered the opportunity to star in a show—solo. He tries to persuade her to stay with him ("It Only Happens When I Dance With You") but she has signed a contract. Don's best friend, Johnny, arrives. Nadine is clearly attracted to Johnny, but he resists her out of respect for Don. Don drowns his sorrows at the bar at Pastini's restaurant, bragging to Johnny and Mike the bartender that he can make a star dancer out of any girl from the floor show. He chooses Hannah Brown. The next day, at rehearsal, he learns that she suffers from left/right confusion. Don tries to turn Hannah into a copy of Nadine, teaching her to dance the same way, buying her a similar wardrobe, and giving her the exotic stage name "Juanita". She makes several mistakes at their first performance ("Beautiful Faces Need Beautiful Clothes"), and the show is a fiasco. Johnny is instantly attracted to Hannah, singing "A Fella With an Umbrella" while walking her to rehearsal. He tries unsuccessfully to reunite Don with Nadine, who tells Don her friends are laughing, because Hannah is trying to be her. Don realizes his mistakes after Hannah sings—and they dance to—“I Love a Piano". He prepares routines better suited to her. Now known as "Hannah & Hewes", they become a great success ("

I Love a Piano "I Love a Piano" is a popular song with words and music by Irving Berlin. It was copyrighted on December 9, 1920 and introduced in the Broadway musical revue '' Stop! Look! Listen!'' when it was performed by Harry Fox and the ensemble. The song ...

," "Snookie-Ookums", "The Ragtime Violin", and "When That Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves For Alabam'”). Auditioning for the

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as ''The Ziegfeld Follies of the Ai ...

, Hannah and Don meet the show's star—Nadine. Realizing that Nadine is Don's former partner, Hannah demands to know if they were in love. At their hotel, Don reveals that he turned down the Ziegfeld offer, believing Hannah and Nadine do not belong in the same show: Nadine can't compare with Hannah. They are about to kiss, when Johnny arrives to take Hannah to dinner. He confesses that he fell in love with her during the rainstorm, but Hannah admits that she is hopelessly in love with Don. Don is in the audience when Nadine's show opens ("Shakin' The Blues Away"). Later, he reveals to Hannah that he has signed them to star in their own show and invites her out to do the town. She arrives at his apartment to find that he has arranged a private dinner. He makes the mistake of mentioning their act, and Hannah explodes, accusing him of treating their rendezvous like a dance rehearsal. She tries to leave, but he kisses her. She plays the piano and sings "It Only Happens When I Dance With You," “Why didn’t you tell me I was in love with you?” he asks, and they embrace. Their show features Don and a large chorus ("

") followed by "

", in which he and Hannah play bums. Afterward, they celebrate at the

roof garden A roof garden is a garden on the roof of a building. Besides the decorative benefit, roof plantings may provide food, temperature control, hydrological benefits, architectural enhancement, habitats or corridors for wildlife, recreational op ...

where Nadine is performing. The audience gives them a rousing ovation. Nadine is furious. After dancing to "The Girl on the Magazine Cover," she insists that Don perform one of their old numbers with her: "It Only Happens When I Dance With You (Reprise)". Don reluctantly agrees. Hannah leaves. At Pastini's, where she and Don first met, Hannah pours out her troubles to Mike ("Better Luck Next Time"). She finds Don waiting outside her apartment. He tries to explain himself, promising to wait all night for her to forgive him, but the house detective evicts him just before she opens the door. The next morning, Johnny tells Hannah that if he loved someone, he would show them. Hannah is inspired. Flowers, a chocolate egg and a live bunny in a top hat arrive anonymously at Don's apartment, followed by Hannah, who reminds him of their date and sings ( "Easter Parade"). Don puts a diamond ring on her left hand as they walk in the Easter parade.

Cast

as Hannah Brown. *

as Don Hewes.

was originally cast as Don, but he broke his ankle just prior to production. Astaire, who had announced his retirement from film, was coaxed back by Kelly to replace him. Astaire would "retire" several more times over the next decade, but he would still go on to make a number of additional classic musicals in between retirements. *

as Jonathan Harrow III.

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the " Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular entertainers of the 1940s, 1950s, and ...

was at one point considered for this role *

as Nadine Hale. This film marked her major MGM debut. She had previously been under contract to RKO in the 1930s and then to

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...

in the early to mid-1940s, replacing

Cyd Charisse Cyd Charisse (born Tula Ellice Finklea; March 8, 1922 – June 17, 2008) was an American actress and dancer. After recovering from polio as a child and studying ballet, Charisse entered films in the 1940s. Her roles usually featured her abilit ...

, who withdrew from the production due to torn ligaments in her knee. * Jules Munshin as François, the maître d'. *

Clinton Sundberg Clinton Charles Sundberg (December 7, 1903 (some sources say 1906) – December 14, 1987) was an American character actor in film and stage. Early years Sundberg was born in Appleton, Minnesota. He graduated from Hamline University in St. Pau ...

as Mike the bartender. * Richard Beavers as the singer of "The Girl on the Magazine Cover" *

Jeni Le Gon Jeni LeGon (born Jennie Ligon; August 14, 1916 – December 7, 2012), also credited as Jeni Le Gon, was an American dancer, dance instructor, and actress. She was one of the first African-American women to establish a solo career in tap da ...

as Essie, Nadine's maid (uncredited) * Jimmy Bates as the boy in the toy shop (uncredited). * Norman Barker as the trombonist who plays in the duet with Judy Garland (uncredited). *

Jimmie Dodd James Wesley Dodd (March 28, 1910 – November 10, 1964) was an American actor, singer and songwriter best known as the master of ceremonies for the popular 1950s Walt Disney television series ''The Mickey Mouse Club,'' as well as the write ...

, who went on to lead ''

The Mickey Mouse Club ''The Mickey Mouse Club'' is an American variety television show that aired intermittently from 1955 to 1996 and returned to social media in 2017. Created by Walt Disney and produced by Walt Disney Productions, the program was first televised ...

'', as the cab driver after Hannah leaves the Ziegfeld audition (uncredited).

Awards and honors

The film is recognized by

American Film Institute The American Film Institute (AFI) is an American nonprofit film organization that educates filmmakers and honors the heritage of the motion picture arts in the United States. AFI is supported by private funding and public membership fees. Lead ...

in these lists: * 2004: AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs: ** "

" – Nominated * 2006:

AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals Part of the AFI 100 Years… series, AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals is a list of the top musicals in American cinema. The list was unveiled by the American Film Institute at the Hollywood Bowl The Hollywood Bowl is an amphitheatre in the Holl ...

– Nominated

Musical numbers

:''All songs by

'' Performance credits below indicate both singing and dancing unless otherwise noted. # "Happy Easter" (

) # "Drum Crazy" (Astaire) # "It Only Happens When I Dance With You" (Astaire singing, dancing with

) # " I Want To Go Back To Michigan" (

) # "Beautiful Faces Need Beautiful Clothes" (Astaire and Garland dancing) # "A Fella with an Umbrella" (

, Garland) # Vaudeville Montage: "

" (Garland singing, dancing with Astaire), "Snookey Ookums" (Astaire, Garland), "The Ragtime Violin" (Astaire singing, dancing with Garland), and "When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam'" (Garland, Astaire) # "Shakin' the Blues Away" (Miller) # "It Only Happens When I Dance With You (reprise)" (Garland singing) # "

" (Astaire, chorus, and featured dancers Patricia Jackson, Bobbie Priest, Dee Turnell) # "

" (Astaire, Garland) # "The Girl on the Magazine Cover" (Richard Beavers singing, Miller dancing) # "It Only Happens When I Dance With You (instrumental)" (Astaire and Miller dancing) # "Better Luck Next Time" (Garland singing) # " Easter Parade" (Garland, Astaire) # "Everybody's Doin' It Now" (Do Not Know) Easter Parade Sheet Music 1911 One musical number, a seductive performance of "Mr. Monotony" by Garland wearing a tuxedo jacket, black fedora, and black nylons (a style of dress which would become something of a trademark in later years after she wore the same outfit in ''

Summer Stock In American theater, summer-stock theater is a theater that presents stage productions only in the summer. The name combines the season with the tradition of staging shows by a resident company, reusing stock scenery and costumes. Summer stock th ...

''), was cut from the film as it was deemed too risqué for a film supposedly set in 1912. Audiences finally got to see it in the 90s when an edited version was included in the 1994 compilation film '' That's Entertainment! III''. It was first seen as part of the extras on the VHS and Laser Disc special edition versions the following year. When the film was released to DVD, several minutes of outtakes, raw footage, and alternative takes of this performance were included in addition to the footage previously released. As with '' White Christmas'' six years later, it is impossible to remix the musical numbers from this film into

Stereo Stereophonic sound, or more commonly stereo, is a method of sound reproduction that recreates a multi-directional, 3-dimensional audible perspective. This is usually achieved by using two independent audio channels through a configuration ...

surround sound Surround sound is a technique for enriching the fidelity and depth of sound reproduction by using multiple audio channels from speakers that surround the listener (surround channels). Its first application was in movie theaters. Prior to s ...

, because the original audio track recordings burned in a fire, leaving only a monaural composite track containing dialogue, music and effects, and an isolated music-only track intended for international release.

Reception

The film earned $4,144,000 in the US and Canada and $1,659,000 overseas.

Notes

External links

* * * *
Review of ''Easter Parade''
at TVGuide.com

{{DEFAULTSORT:Easter Parade 1948 films 1948 musical films American musical films Films about entertainers Films about musical theatre Films directed by Charles Walters Films produced by Arthur Freed Films scored by Irving Berlin Films scored by Johnny Green Films set in 1912 Films set in 1913 Films set in New York City Films that won the Best Original Score Academy Award Films with screenplays by Sidney Sheldon Jukebox musical films Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films about Easter 1940s English-language films 1940s American films