tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post498955673169026410..comments2024-03-27T21:42:56.131-05:00Comments on 1001plus: Eleanor PowellSJHoneywellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-23313974788140823402015-04-04T08:57:48.869-05:002015-04-04T08:57:48.869-05:00It's mostly about Eleanor Powell for me in thi...It's mostly about Eleanor Powell for me in this film. I watched that rooftop dance, particularly the finale, about five times in a row. She had some moves, and I can only wish that she had been better treated by her male co-stars and stuck around longer. <br /><br />There's a good bit of evidence that Powell's career was cut short because a lot of male dancers didn't like working with her. The reason was pure ego--when Eleanor Powell put on her dancing shoes, she was the only person on stage worth watching, and the male stars didn't like the competition. SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-52808420503844599732015-04-02T13:38:03.363-05:002015-04-02T13:38:03.363-05:00(I had forgotten that I left a message here even t...(I had forgotten that I left a message here even though I had never seen the movie just so I could talk about how great Eleanor Powell is.)<br /><br /><i>Broadway Melody of 1936</i> was on TCM so I DVRed it and watched it this morning. I wasn't too keen on watching it because I don't like <i>Broadway Melody of 1940</i> too much. (But I love the original <i>Broadway Melody</i> of 1929 because it is SO WEIRD!) <br /><br />However <i>Broadway Melody of 1936</i> is on my list because 1935 is one of the years where I'm trying to see all the movies that were nominated for Best Picture (now all I have left for 1935 is <i>Alice Adams</i>!) so I had to see it.<br /><br />And I'm glad I saw it because I love Eleanor Powell and it makes me sad that her movies aren't always that great. However, <i>Broadway Melody of 1936</i> isn't <i>Footlight Parade</i> or <i>Shall We Dance</i>, but it's still highly entertaining and a lot of fun, with only a few soft spots.<br /><br />Of course, Eleanor Powell is such a great dancer that she's fun to watch, even when the number isn't really that notable otherwise. But here, she has a fun number on a tenement rooftop with Buddy Ebsen and she's also got a great finale with Broadway Rhythm.<br /><br />Along for the ride are Robert Taylor and Jack Benny. But we also get Una Merkel! And she's great as usual.<br /><br />There are a lot of amusing and often funny little touches that keep it moving along:<br /><br />Eleanor Powell's Katharine Hepburn impression is hilarious.<br /><br />Jack Benny's assistant dresses as a French cabaret star and then does a terrible job faking a French accent on the phone.<br /><br />Buddy Ebsen making a Gandhi joke. (He's very funny whenever he appears. Except when he's dancing. Then he's amazing. <br /><br />Yeah, this is pretty good. It may not go over too well with people who don't particularly like 1930s musicals.Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17921029597363212734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-68504947870664671922014-12-17T19:12:25.598-06:002014-12-17T19:12:25.598-06:00I can see that. Cyd Charisse is pretty awesome, an...I can see that. Cyd Charisse is pretty awesome, and her movies definitely were better.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-34541043804819491312014-12-17T17:21:00.713-06:002014-12-17T17:21:00.713-06:00She is good! I've seen Born to Dance and Broad...She is good! I've seen <i>Born to Dance</i> and <i>Broadway Melody of 1940</i> and Miss Powell does ten to hog all the best moments.<br /><br />My favorite female dancer is Cyd Charisse, but I might feel differently if Eleanor Powell had been in some better movies.Tonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17921029597363212734noreply@blogger.com