Classic film . Francoise the waiter describing his salad .
Disadvantages:
If you dont like musicals its not for you .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
My nan was always a huge fan of these old musicals and her love for them was passed down the generations. She would watch them with my mum and in turn my mum sat and watched them with me. Quite often, bizarrely, shown at christmas this became one of my favourite musicals.
Here i am only reviewing the film, i do not have the 2nd disc and am therefore unable to review its contents. Despite the fact that it is a film only review it may be quite long, there are alot of musical numbers within the film each deserving recognition.
The Film- Easter Parade is a 1948 musical film starring Fred Astaire and Judy Garland. It features music by Irving Berlin. The film was originally to have starred Gene Kelly, but he was injured playing football just before the film was going to be made. Astaire, who was set to retire from making films, was convinced to come back and replace him, he had always wanted to work with Judy Garland and other projects they had been set to work on together had never come to be. The film is set in 1912 in New York City, made by MGM in their heyday this was described as one of "the happiest movies ever made" it runs for approximately 107 minutes.
The story- Don and Nadine are a successful dance partnership, about to start a new contract of performances, Nadine however has different ideas and has been offered solo opportunitys. Angry that she wants to leave him Don decides he can train anyone to be as good as Nadine. Slighty fazed by drink he picks a girl from the bars chorus line called Hannah and tells her to audition for him the following day. She turns up but there are some complications,not least the fact that she's not sure what foot is left and what foot is right. Realising he's made a mistake but unwilling and too proud to back down, he starts to train Hannah. It doesnt run smoothly and their shows dont recieve a good reception, after a meeting with Nadine Don realises that he's been trying to make Hannah into Nadine instead of working with her talents, with a change of approach things start to pick up and they become a success. Slowly Hannah falls for Don and initially the feelings arent returned, their friend Johnny tells Hannah he loves her but she cannot accept his love. Don and Hannah have a dissagreement after their opening night and Hannah returns to the bar where she used to work. Realising, the following day, that what they have is too important to throw away Hannah surprises Don with gifts and they make up.
Now "where does the easter parade come into this?" i hear you ask, well during the initial shopping trip, in which Don is trying to mould Hannah into Nadine, they stumble accross the New York City easter parade. Hannah admires Nadine, not realising who she is, and Don promises that at the following years easter parade everyone will be noticing Hannah and not Nadine. They indeed return to the parade the following year as the film draws to an end.
Songs/Routines- In true musical style Easter Parade is dotted with songs detailing everything from shopping for hats to loosing your chance at love. Most of the routines are accomapnied by fantastic dance routines, often using a large cast.
"Happy Easter" This is the first song in the film. Don is doing his Easter shopping and is greeting all the people as he goes by. The main of the song is based in a hat shop giving various descriptions and benefits of the hats being modelled(strange concept i know) "here's a hat for a pretty face, happy easter, heres a hat that is trimmed with lace, happy easter" there isnt alot of dance involved in this song.
"Drum Crazy" Having chosen a hat for his girl Don spots a toy rabbit in a shop window, as he goes to buy it a small boy takes it to his mother. The song revolves around Don convincing the boy that a different toy would be better for him, this is where the lyric of this reviews title comes from. There is a fantastic tap number in this song where Astaire uses his feet and cane to drum out a beat while dancing. Naturally being called "drum crazy" there are alot of drums involved, it is a very catchy number that gets your feet tapping and the beat stuck in your head.
"It Only Happens When I Dance With You" This is another song sang by Astaire, a slow and romantic number. Don is trying to convince Nadine that she shouldnt leave the partnership. The ballroom dance sequence, which takes place around her appartment, is quite hypnotic and Don almost suceeds in his mission.
"I Want to Go Back to Michigan" This is the first song involving Hannah, she sings it during her show at the bar where she meets Don. The lyrics are simple matching the impression that she is meant to be a simple country girl who longs to return home.
"A Fella with an Umbrella" Johnny and Hannah are caught in a rainstorm and Johnny who has instantly fallen in love with Hannah explains his feelings in song "here to find a girl who'll save her love for a rainy day" Hannah replies within the song that she is happy to help him find a girl but leaves for a meeting before Johnny has a chance to convince her she's the one he wants. Its a slower song, reflecting the pace of their stroll through the rain.
"Vaudeville Montage: I Love A Piano / Snookey Ookums / The Ragtime Violin / When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam'" This is a montage of different songs featuring Don and Hannah during their stage shows. Each song features both voices and tap routines. The characters happiness is reflected in these numbers, you can see they've finally found their direction and are are having success.
"Shakin' the Blues Away" An upbeat number by Nadine, it is part of her solo show. This song features a full orcastra and an amazing solo tap routine. Ann Miller, who plays Nadine, really shows off her skills with this number.
"Steppin' Out with My Baby" This number takes place during Don and Hannahs big show, it features Don and a large supporting cast of dancers. As he sings about an upcoming date he dances with many of the females, each with a different style from sultry seductive jazz style to fast moving jive. The solo section stands out the most though as Don(Astaire) dances in front of the other dancers, a slow motion effect is created by superimposing a slowed down version of his routine over a standard version of the backing routine. This number really showcases Astaires talent.
"A Couple of Swells" This is a fun number, again during Don and Hannahs show, where the pair are dressed up as tramps, The lyrics are all about how they'd make their journey up the avenue by different ways if only they had the means "We would sail up the avenue but we havent got a yaught, we would ride up the avenue but the horse we had was shot" it has quite a simple dance routine to it which sums up how the tramps are trying to be something they're not.
"The Girl on the Magazine Cover" This is a beautiful number, a real crooner. It is large scale with a gentleman singing as he passes by large scale "magazine covers" each magazine features a different girl, looking as if she'd been painted on in a glamourous pose. Each girl moves a she passes them. When he reaches the end of his song Nadine steps out from her cover to join the other girls who have now gathered in a group, she then begins her own dance which is a mix of ballroom and soft tap styles.
"Better Luck Next Time" This song, sang by Hannah, is a sad song full of passion. Sat in the bar with only the bartender for company and believing she has lost her only chance at love she declares "there aint gunna be no next time for me" Naturally being such a sad song there is no accompanying rountine, she is simply sat on a bar stool.
"Easter Parade" This is a background song as Don and Hannah attend the Easter Parade and recieve lots of attention, it runs as the film ends.
Cast- Naturally being a 1940's musical there is quite a considerable cast of dancers and actors, here i have listed the main characters that feature prominently in the film.
Judy Garland as Hannah Brown Fred Astaire as Don Hewes Peter Lawford as Jonathan Harrow III/Johnny Ann Miller as Nadine Hale Jules Munshin as François(waiter) Clinton Sundberg as Mike the bartender
Production Credits- Again, more people helped with the creation of the movie but i have only listed a few.
Directed by Charles Walters Produced by Arthur Freed Written by Sidney Sheldon,Frances Goodrich,Albert Hackett Music by Johnny Green and Roger Edens (score) Irving Berlin (songs) Cinematography by Harry Stradling Sr.
My Opinion- I really enjoy this film and it doesnt have to be easter time to be able to watch it, its not like a christmas film, theres actually very little easter involved. The characters are very well played and while Don(Astaire) may not be the classic type of movie hero it is easy to see how Hannah(Garland) could fall for his grace and charm. Ann Mills plays the self centered Nadine wonderfully and you cant wait to see her nose put out of joint. The song and dance routines are incredible, as most are in these films. You wouldnt get a film like this nowadays, not even films like Moulin Rogue can live up to the talent and skill displayed in classic musicals like Easter Parade. While i enjoy all the dance scenes, especially "drum crazy" which is my favourite and "steppin out with my baby", my favourite scene actually takes part in a restaurant, the restaurant and its waiter appear several times but it is as he describes how his salad is made when Jules Munshin/Francoise really has a shining role. Slowly describing the process of making the salad he whips himself into a frenzy of ingredient description and mixing actions, i always laugh at this scene. The film has some great lines, one of my favourites being when Johnny visits Hannah after her argument with Don "do something about your face, you look terrible" this may seem like an insult but its delivered with fun and warmth and you dont feel like he's being rude, you see how comfortable they are as friends. This isnt just an enjoyable film for me, but a fond memory of time spent with my nan. All in all this is a great feel good film, perfect for the family, theres no high drama, blazing guns or excess of skin like is often seen in todays films. If you like musicals but havent seen this one it's definately worth watching. it is a carming love story, full of fabulous songs and dancing with the perfect happy ending. If you rent into musials and prefer more modern films it may not be the film for you.
![Easter Parade [1948]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/65497066.jpg)
This product has not yet been reviewed. 
