My fourth movie, "The Broadway Melody"

"The Broadway Melody", released in 1929, was the first talkie and the first musical to win an Academy Award for Best Production (today's best picture.)  Some critical reviews said that this film only won due to 1929 being one of the weakest years for motion pictures ever and there wasn't really a clear choice for a winner.  I loved it!  It was campy and over-acted (in a good way).  Anita Page and Bessie Love, who was nominated for an academy award for best actress, were great.  The acting was over the top and the portrayal of the people of the theatre was so stereotypical.  It was a fun musical and the story, although extremely melodramatic, was engaging.  Having watched several movies from the twenties really has demonstrated to me the loose morals of the day.  It seems that innuendo and brassy woman and men who make brazen remarks were the norm of the day back then.  The movie tells the story of 2 sisters; Hank who is the go getter and the smart one, and Queenie, who is rather naive and somewhat intellectually challenged.  They arrive in New York to embark on a show biz career on broadway.  They meet up with Eddie Kerns (Charles King) who is a song and dance man.  He promises to get them in the Zanfield Revue, for which he wrote the music.  Hank is in love with Eddie and at first Eddie is in love with her.  However, Eddie begins to fall in love with Queenie, who spurns Eddie's advances because she knows that Hank is in love with Eddie.  Queenie meets a rich supporter of the theatre named Jacques Warriner who woos her and lavishes her with expensive gifts.  Queenie thinks she is in love with him because he gives her such expensive gifts, plus she wants to part from Hank and Eddie because she knows she has feelings for Eddie and doesn't want to hurt her sister Hank , who has done so much for her.  Hank doesn't want Queenie to be with Jacques because she knows what Jacques is after.  Eddie doesn't want Queenie to be with Jacques either because he wants Queenie for himself.  A huge argument between Hank and Queenie erupts with Eddie getting involved.  Queenie says she hates Eddie (after having told him she loved him earlier) and storms off to be with Jacques.  Hank realizes that Eddie is in love with Queenie and decides to give him up for the sake of her sister.  She then makes Eddie feel like a ham and lies to him, saying that she was just using him.  She then shames him into going after Queenie.  Eddie saves the day and he and Queenie end up getting married.  Hank partners up with another girl and continues with show business, which is her passion.

I really enjoyed this movie.  It was corny and dated, but it was fun!