April 14, 1944 'Broadway Rhythm' Presented by Talented Performers at the Capitol B.C.
There's one thing you've got to say for Metro; it certainly spares no expense, either of money or personal talent, in making a musical film. Have a look at "Broadway Rhythm," which came to the Capitol yesterday. It is so crammed with capable performers that they get in one another's way. It is so loaded with flashy productions and so sprinkled with old and new songs that a studio less extravagant could have made two or three pictures out of it. As a matter of fact, the stage musical on which it is based, "Very Warm for May," has been compressed so insouciantly within it that you'd hardly know it was there. Only one song from the original is plugged at all; that's "All the Things You Are." The rest is lost in a mad scramble of comedy, song and dance.
The loss is not too deplorable, since "Very Warm for May" was not precisely a classic. But neither is likely to be this film, which is lavishly piled all around it. The story is an ordinary one about a wonder-boy of Broadway who has his troubles producing a show. A Hollywood actress figures in it, and so do the producer's sister and dad. They all end up together, with other people, in another sort of show.
And even that story gets battered in the headlong succession of acts, in the frantic endeavor of Metro to cram all available talent into it. George Murphy, who plays the producer, doesn't even get a chance to work his feet until the big finale number, and then he's through in a flash. And Ginny Simms, the leading lady (and an ample one she is, too), is spotted in a few production numbers and the rest of the time she virtually cools her heels. Meanwhile, activity swirls around them in a variety of individually excellent turns. Concocted in Technicolor, it all makes a lot of show.
There is Lena Home, in magnificent productions, singing "Brazilian Boogie" and "Somebody Loves Me"; Hazel Scott, jamming a classic at her piano in a number dragged in by the neck, and Tommy Dorsey's orchestra banging away from time to time. There are Ben Blue and Nancy Walker, doing scattered comedy routines, and Miss Walker, singing a honey of a ditty called "Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet," Three little girls, the Ross Sisters, do a grand acrobatic dance, and Gloria DeHaven and Kenny Bowers make a sweet juvenile song-and-dance team. There are also Dean Murphy with impersonations, Walter B. Long in a fast tap dance and Charlie Winninger, clowning broadly and singing one chorus of "Pretty Baby."
Indeed, there is so much in this picture that, after almost two hours of it, you feel that only one thing was lacking: a ruthless and competent editor. It takes a strong constitution to absorb so much helter-skelter show.
BROADWAY RHYTHM, screen play by Dorothy Kingsley and Harry Clork; from a story by Jack McGowan; based on the musical, "Very Warm For May," by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein 2d; directed by Roy Del Ruth; produced by Jack Cummings for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; additional songs by George and Ira Gershwin; Raye and DePaul, Martin and Blane; Tony Jackson, Egbert Van Alstyne, Gus Kahn, Gabriel Ruiz and Ricardo Lopez Mendez. At the Capitol. Jonnie Demming . . . . . George Murphy Helen Hoyt . . . . . Ginny Simms Sam Demming . . . . . Charlse Winninger Patsy Demming . . . . . Gloria De Haven Trixie Simpson . . . . . Nancy Walker Felix Gross . . . . . Ben Blue Fernway De La Fer . . . . . Lena Horne Eddie . . . . . Eddie "Rochester" Anderson Hazel Scott . . . . . Herself Ray Kent . . . . . Kenny Bowers Maggie . . . . . The Ross Sisters Aggie Elmira Hired Man . . . . . Dean Murphy Farmer . . . . . Louis Mason Bunnie . . . . . Bunny Waters Doug Kelly . . . . . Walter B. Long and Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
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