The Broadway Melody

1929
Passed
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

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Charles King, Bessie Love, and Anita Page in The Broadway Melody (1929)

A pair of sisters from the vaudeville circuit try to make it big time on Broadway, but matters of the heart complicate the attempt.A pair of sisters from the vaudeville circuit try to make it big time on Broadway, but matters of the heart complicate the attempt.A pair of sisters from the vaudeville circuit try to make it big time on Broadway, but matters of the heart complicate the attempt.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

8.2K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Oscar
- 5 wins & 2 nominations total

Photos66

+ 59

Top cast38

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Bessie Love

Harriet 'Hank' Mahoney

Anita Page

Queenie Mahoney

Charles King

Eddie Kearns

Eddie Kane

Francis Zanfield

J. Emmett Beck

Babe Hatrick

Jed Prouty

Uncle Jed

Kenneth Thomson

Jacques Warriner

The Angeles Twins

Chorus Girls
(uncredited)

Betty Arthur

Chorus Dancer
(uncredited)

Nacio Herb Brown

Pianist
(uncredited)

James Burroughs

Singer
(uncredited)

Eddie Bush

Quartet Guitarist and Singer
(uncredited)

Ray Cooke

Bellhop
(uncredited)

Dorothy Coonan Wellman

Chorus Girl
(uncredited)

Drew Demorest

Turpe - Costumer
(uncredited)

Edward Dillon

Dillon - Stage Manager
(uncredited)

Mary Doran

Flo
(uncredited)

Arthur Freed

Bystander in Rehearsal Room
(uncredited)

Best Picture Winners by Year

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
A silent version was also released, as many cinemas hadn't yet acquired sound equipment in 1929.

Goofs
The guitar player in the song "Broadway Melody" cannot be heard playing until he tilts his guitar slightly (possibly towards the mic).

Quotes
Eddie Kearns: Hank, did you see Queenie? What's the matter Hank, aren't ya happy? Wasn't Queenie great? Aren't ya proud of her?
Hank Mahoney: Oh, of course, Eddie. I'm glad to see her make good. Oh, but, gee, we ain't never had to get by on our legs before.
Eddie Kearns: Oh, that don't mean nothin', Hank. Those guys are not going to pay ten bucks to look at your face; this is Broadway!
Hank Mahoney: Yeah, "Broad's way!"

Alternate versions
The "Wedding of the Painted Doll" musical sequence was originally presented in Technicolor. All color prints of this sequence are lost, so later reissues and DVD release present the sequence in black and white.

Connections
Edited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972)

Soundtracks
The Broadway Melody
(1929) (uncredited)
Music by Nacio Herb Brown
Lyrics by Arthur Freed
Played during the opening credits and often in the score
Performed many times by various cast including Nacio Herb Brown (piano), Charles King,
Anita Page, Bessie Love and chorus girls

User reviews103

Review

Featured review

Didn't I see you Singing in the Rain?

Anyone who's interested in early talkies will be fascinated by this film. It has all the goofiness you'd expect and a whole lot of charm -- not to mention all the musical numbers brilliantly remade a few decades later in "Singing in the Rain," which presumably takes place in the same studio at the same time. In fact, if you love "Singing in the Rain" and understand the spirit of that film, you'll love this film. This film was made to be a lighthearted extravaganza, and as other commentators have noted, it probably won Best Picture by wowing everyone with its astonishing special effect (they sing! they dance! they speak!). Reminds one of other films that have done the same (the whole boat sinks!). The interplay between the two sisters at the beginning is a little, shall we say, peculiar -- also fascinating. Not for film snobs, but a fun look at the past.