HotToastyRag Eleanor Powell is amazing. If you know all subjects Fred and Ginger, you need to rent an Eleanor Powell film. She's the best female tap dancer I've ever seen, and I have no idea why she isn't the most famous. She's pretty, a good actress, has a nice singing voice, and is a phenomenal dancer who makes it look easy. In Broadway Melody of 1938, she recreates the Fred and Ginger gazebo dance with George Murphy, but she takes the number out into the rain and ends with a big splash-literally. Once you've seen her dance, you can't help but ask, "Ginger who?"In this 1930s musical chalk-full of songs and dances from the all-star cast: Eleanor Powell, George Murphy, Buddy Epsom, Sophie Tucker, and Judy Garland, there's a very thin plot, a misunderstanding, and a love triangle. However, I don't think anyone rents a Broadway Melody movie for the storyline.Sophie Tucker, former Broadway sensation, tries to jumpstart her daughter's career and says poignantly, "I've had my day." "I remember," Robert Taylor smiles at her. She gives a very touching monologue about her experience onstage, and then gives the screen a treat by reprising her staple "Some of These Days," which eventually became the title of her autobiography. Sophie Tucker's daughter is the rising star Judy Garland, who sings the memorable song "You Made Me Love You" to a photograph of Clark Gable.Still, there's a lot of wasted screen time in this movie, interspersed among the good parts. Robert Wildhack literally talks five minutes about different types of sneezes, Billy Gilbert speaks in broken English and acts like a buffoon, and not every song will have you humming a reprise when the credits roll. You can rent it, though, or any of the other Broadway Melody movies, if you want to see some good dancing.

Neil Doyle Much as I admire ELEANOR POWELL and find ROBERT TAYLOR a pleasure to watch and listen to, Broadway MELODY OF 1938 is my least favorite of the three "Broadway Melody" titles produced by MGM.Naturally, the plot is merely an excuse to get some talented performers to do what they do best--so Eleanor Powell does a good share of overproduced dance routines, SOPHIE TUCKER sings "Some of These Days" (as Judy's mom), JUDY GARLAND sings her big heart out over a photo of Clark Gable for "Dear Mr. Gable--You Made Me Love You", and GEORGE MURPHY and BUDDY EBSEN demonstrate what good dancers they were.But the songs are a highly forgettable bunch, and that elephantine climax with ELEANOR POWELL dancing up a storm in an overelaborate production number (typical of MGM film endings), is too much. Worse still, the story involving race horses is a bore.Summing up: Despite the talent, a tiresome story about a horse trainer and a Broadway producer hardly provides the right kind of setting for a "show must go on" musical.

nnnn45089191 The third installment of the Broadway Melody series has a great advantage in the performance of 15 year old Judy Garland,here making her first mark in the movies.My wife commented she had never seen a 15 year old act so full of confidence. The movie is mediocre,but very enjoyable light fluff.Robert Taylor and Eleanor Powell have a nice chemistry as the young lovers.Great support from hoofers George Murphy and Buddy Ebsen.Especially Ebsen is a joy to watch. There's also an early appearance of Robert Benchley,and his wit is as dry as ever.It's fun to watch the MGM style musical at an early stage.The next two decades no other studio could touch MGM's musicals for sheer brilliance.

Casablanca3784 I don't care how shoddy is a script nor do I care about the flaky acting..they are all irrelevant when a film contains 15 year old Judy Garland singing "You Made Me Love You" to a picture of her favorite movie star, Clark Gable. That was the DEFINING moment in the budding megastar's future. That one scene was worth the time watching this hokey picture on TV. Furthermore another great moment was to watch the great, then 43 year old Sophie Tucker, sing "Some of These Days." Generally speaking the film was mediocre at best which explains my 5 rating yet for nostalgiaphiles, for someone like I, thrilled by the Broadway revival of "42nd Street," it was satisfying.