''Broadway Rhythm'' (1944) is a

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

Technicolor Technicolor is a family of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes. The first version, Process 1, was introduced in 1916, and improved versions followed over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black-and ...

musical film, produced by Jack Cummings and directed by Roy Del Ruth. It was originally announced as ''Broadway Melody of 1944'' to follow MGM's ''Broadway Melody'' films of 1929, 1936, 1938, and 1940. It was originally slated to star Eleanor Powell and

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

, but Louis B. Mayer and MGM loaned Kelly out to Columbia to play opposite

Rita Hayworth Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino; October 17, 1918May 14, 1987) was an American actress, dancer, and Pin-up model, pin-up girl. She achieved fame in the 1940s as one of the top stars of the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of ...

in '' Cover Girl'' (1944). The film instead starred George Murphy, who had appeared in '' Broadway Melody of 1938'' and '' Broadway Melody of 1940.'' Mayer then replaced Powell with Ginny Simms. Other cast members included Charles Winninger, Gloria DeHaven,

Lena Horne Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010) was an American singer, actress, dancer and civil rights activist. Horne's career spanned more than seventy years and covered film, television and theatre. Horne joined the chorus of the C ...

, Nancy Walker, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, the Ross Sisters, and Ben Blue, as well as Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra.

Plot

Murphy plays a successful Broadway musical comedy producer named Johnnie Demming. He needs a star for his new show. He's smitten with the glamorous film star, Helen Hoyt (Simms), and offers the part to her, but she turns him down because she wants to be sure she's in a hit. Johnnie's father (Winninger), retired from vaudeville, wants to do his own show. He gets his daughter, Patsy (DeHaven) and also Helen. Johnnie feels betrayed by his father.

Cast

* George Murphy as Jonnie Demming * Ginny Simms as Helen Hoyt * Charles Winninger as Sam Demming * Gloria DeHaven as Patsy Demming * Nancy Walker as Trixie Simpson * Ben Blue as Felix Gross *

as Fernway de la Fer * Eddie "Rochester" Anderson as Eddie * Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra * Hazel Scott as herself * Kenny Bowers as Ray Kent * The Ross Sisters as Maggie, Aggie and Elmira * Dean Murphy as Hired Man * Louis Mason as Farmer * Bunny Waters as Bunnie * Walter B. Long as Doug Kelly * Sara Haden as Miss Wynn

Soundtrack

The film is very loosely based on the Broadway musical '' Very Warm for May'' (1939). However, all the songs from the musical except for " All the Things You Are" were left out of the film. Some of the songs from the movie are by the writers of the original musical, Jerome Kern and

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and director in musical theater for nearly 40 years. He won eight Tony Awards and two Academy Award ...

: * All the Things You Are * That Lucky Fellow * In Other Words, Seventeen * All in Fun

Additional songs

* " Somebody Loves Me" by

George Gershwin George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned jazz, popular music, popular and classical music. Among his best-known works are the songs "Swan ...

Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the ...

*"Who's Who", "Solid Potato Salad", "Irresistible You", "Milkman Keep Those Bottles Quiet", "I Love Corny Music" by Raye and DePaul * "What Do You Think I Am", "Brazilian Boogie" by

Martin Martin may refer to: Places Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Europe * Martin, Croatia, a village * Martin, Slovakia, a city * Martín del Río, Aragón, Spain * M ...

and Blane * " Pretty Baby" by Tony Jackson, Egbert Van Alstyne, Gus Kahn * " Amor" by Gabriel Ruiz, Ricardo Lopez Mendez

References

External links