As Good As It Gets

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

With that quote Sinatra summed Broadway Melody of 1940 up perfectly. The 30s, 40s and 50s were especially timeless for musicals, and in the past twenty years or so(though this may seem unfair) we haven't seen stars in the same ilke as the likes of Fred and Ginger, Eleanor Powell, Cyd Charise, Judy Garland and Gene Kelly to name a few. The story for Broadway Melody of 1940 is familiar and very predictable but everything else dazzles to the extent that it doesn't matter so much, even with the story Broadway Melody of 1940 is from a personal point of view one of the best film musicals of the 40s. The sets and costumes are polished and glossy in a beautiful way. The Begin the Beguine set is particularly striking, while the photography captures everything lovingly and with care. The songs are like really juicy bon-bons with catchy melodies and clever lyrics, I Concentrate On You is one of Cole Porter's best ever songs and sung with such a wonderful richness by Douglas McPhail. They are helped too by the outstanding quality of the choreography, the clear standout is Begin the Beguine, which is one of the greatest dance routines of any Fred Astaire film. But let's not dispute how seamlessly sophisticated Please Don't Monkey with Broadway is or how wittily choreographed I Concentrate on You is. The dialogue is funny and warm-hearted and it is directed with a lightly assured touch. The three lead performances carry Broadway Melody of 1940 wonderfully. Fred Astaire is still his usual likable and sweet-natured self and dances with his typical as well as unique athleticism and elegance. Eleanor Powell is charming enough and dances a dream, some of the best tap dancing on film is courtesy of her and apparently Astaire was intimidated by her for that. George Murphy is terrific as well, not the finest of actors but his terrific singing and especially dancing more than make up for it. The supporting cast do well too, with an amusingly bumbling Frank Morgan. In conclusion, once you get past the story you'll find an absolute treat in Broadway Melody of 1940. 10/10 Bethany Cox

George Murphy and Fred Astaire are a dance team that has struggled for five years. Now, one of them is about to be offered the lead in a big Broadway extravaganza--the only problem is that through a mix-up, the wrong guy has been signed for the part. And, that guy is unreliable, a bit selfish and getting a swollen head.While the plot of this film has quite a few clichés and a few of the dance numbers have flat moments, this is a definite must-see for lovers of dance. The film pairs the best male and female tappers in Hollywood (Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell) and has some very able assistance from George Murphy--one of the few men who could keep up with Fred on the dance floor. The dance numbers are amazing--with tons of energy, grace and athleticism. The two best numbers are the opening on with Fred and George as well as the first number with Fred and Eleanor. In between, Fred actually dances alone on several occasions and these scenes are delights as well. The flat moments I mention included PARTS of the final big number, 'Begin the Begine'--as the operatic warblings and showiness really detracted from the fact that Fred and Eleanor were amazing together. But the wonderful dancing in the rest of the film make it easy to overlook the overly produced parts and it's a joy to watch.

"Broadway Melody of 1940", like its' predecessors, is all about music and dancing, strung together with the slightest of stories. Nobody watches these films with the intent of getting a good story. They want the entertainment.This is one of the better entries in the series. Mostly because of the fantastic dancing that is done by the two leads, Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire. This is the only time that they were paired in a film, and it shows that when he's dancing, Astaire needs only one thing. Ginger Rogers. One of the major flaws in this film has nothing to do with the story. It has to do with the fact that Astaire and Powell really don't have any chemistry together. As others have said on this posting board, it really appears that while they are dancing the same steps, in the same scene, they couldn't be further apart, emotionally. It's been said that Astaire was afraid to dance with Powell because he felt that she was one of the few who could dance better than him. He's right.I would imagine that there must have been a great deal of hype when this film came out, about them dancing for the first time together. It's a shame that the results weren't better.George Murphy and Frank Morgan offer terrific supporting work.Worth renting, but ultimately disappointing.

Its great that Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire were able to dance together in at least one film. The Cole Porter music such as "Begin the Beguine" for the finale is perfect. George Murphy supported well throughout this movie. When such talent as Astaire,Powell,and Murphy is displayed with terrific music, the story does take a backseat. Still,Frank Morgan was great as a befuddled producer partner for this musical. At the end of the movie I only wanted to see more. If only Fred and Eleanor could have made another film together. Eleanor lights up the screen with her wonderful smile and her terrific eyes. Then add Fred's uplifting demeanor to their exquisite tap dancing,the chemistry is there for a heart warming experience.