Movie:"The Broadway Melody" (1929)

The mother of

all

Broadway backstage musicals,"The Broadway Melody" (1929) turned out to be far more interesting that I expected.

I approached this movie thinking it would be ancient museum piece on the level with Al Jonson's work (over-acting and chest-beating as it were,since musical theatre at that point was still not far removed from vaudeville tradition and audience way back should have been able to see the star tearing the hair) but it turned out to be the cutest thing,real travel back in time.

Once viewer let himself being transported in late 1920s,it's all relatively easy - the story is simple but effective: two sisters arrive in New York full of optimism and dreams about making a career in musical theatre. One is sparkling with ambition and energy (older sister,Bessie Love) while the other is a ditzy beauty (Anita Page) who immediately falls in trouble because her looks attracts rich city slickers. What follows is a cute little mix up with lot of backstage bitching,old fashioned musical numbers,sisters argue,men pursue them,fame comes (but for wrong reasons - Anita ends up half naked on a stage) and at the end all is well although it's a bitter-sweet because its suggested that younger sister found her happiness in a marriage while the older sister will forever stay on the road as an entertainer. In other words,you can't have both - it's either career or a family life.

I was really surprised how much I enjoyed this - after all,it was made in 1929 - some later movies were far more old-fashioned than this. Human emotions are basically always the same (greed,ambition,disappointment and lust shown here could easily be focus of some new movie) and if you accept hammy acting (some actors have apparently not yet mastered new medium of sound movies) it is a fun entertainment. Two big celebrities of the time were alluded in the characters of Mr.Zanfield who is a Broadway producer and sleazy rich city slicker is called Mr.Warriner (after head of Warner Bros Studio),latter is creepy and has something of Bela Lugosi in him.

By far the best actress here is Bessie Love in a role of older sister who is full of fire and enthusiasm (just watch her dance in a hotel room) while her younger sister Anita Page is a somewhat wooden but I am not entirely sure was this intentional since it suits her character.There is a nice comic turn by stuttering old uncle Jed Prouty who usually cuts his stutter with a whistle,pity his role was not a bit expanded.

I actually really liked Bessie Love - what a cute little fireball,she has something of latter Doris Day/Betty Hutton spark and is a joy to watch,in fact she is supposed to be older and wiser sister,protective of her scatterbrained blonde bimbo younger sister but to be honest Bessie is prettier anyway,Anita Page is simply taller.

Interesting fact and perhaps a bit unusual,but I have to mention this: on a few occasions sisters show affections towards each other by kissing each other in the mouth.

Now,1929 or not,but I have never encountered sisters who are kissing each other in the mouth - peck on the cheek is one thing but mouth to mouth is another. It is not a big thing but it just looks out of space. I mean,younger sister goes away on a honeymoon and as a farewell kisses older sister in the mouth?