Broadway Melody Of 1940 (1940)

A dance team (Fred Astaire, George Murphy) are down on their luck and reduced to working in a dance hall. A producer (Frank Morgan) catches their act and wants to audition one (Astaire) of them for the lead in a Broadway show. But through a case of mistaken identity, it's the other dancer (Murphy) who's offered the job. Directed by Norman Taurog (BLUE HAWAII), this was the fourth and final entry in MGM's Broadway Melody films (1929, 1936, 1938). It's the usual hokey backstage musical with some wonderful Cole Porter songs. What makes it special is the one and only teaming of Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell, two of the greatest dancers of Hollywood's so called Golden Age. When they dance, magic happens and their Begin The Beguine dance number is a highpoint in film musicals. The film's thin story is padded out with some novelty acts like Trixie Firschke's juggling blonde and comedic soprano Carmen D'Antonio, both of whom are amusing. With Ian Hunter, Florence Rice and Lynne Carver.