Tuesday, May 28, 2013
"The Broadway Melody" (1929)
I've already seen some of the later early-musicals that run a similar plot pattern, but this one claims to be one of the originals. Within it, you can see traces of the earlier vaudeville acts, cameras shots as if just filming theater scenes, and inter-titles for some of the time and place changes. The novelty of sound also demonstrates itself in this: the very beginning includes a cacophony of sounds happening simultaneously (different rehearsals in different rehearsal rooms). The movie showcases some of the intriguing things silent films couldn't show: hearing and seeing the feet of tap/tap-ballet dancer(s), stuttering, the clatter of something suddenly dropping. The movie is also very 20s; besides the fashions, there are some risque' bordering shots. The 2 lead females spend a lot of time in bathrobes in their apartment and undressing. The story also puts the lead of the female deemed "gorgeous" on top of a literal pedestal. Ukulele was mimed, but just with the leads. The other live instrumentalists were the real deal. The ending was kind of mixed.
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I feel like there's an ideological connection between the pedestal-putting of women in film from this era and the frequent depictions of these women dressing and undressing. Reminds me of Rape of the Lock, which opens in Belinda's dressing room and then goes on to riff on the idea of women on pedestals. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think there's definitely a connection. I didn't think about the "Rape of the Lock" tie in; maybe was too busy trying to decide why one sister was "gorgeous" and the other sister wasn't when she seemed equally so to me. The only time anyone gets dressed (instead of undressing) is the lead guy--and I don't think that it's any accident that it's when the romantic tension is building (that is, when he's starting to get upset, never mind the pretense is for the show). The fact the "gorgeous" sister was named "Queenie" echoes her pedestal state.
DeleteOne thing I didn't mention above is that the two sisters are also VERY chummy. That's harder to read--to know if they're just that close (cultural practice) or if there is something more intended. The name of the other sister? "Hank".
SPOILER ALERT: The ending: Queenie gets the guy. Hank gets dumped with "permission" and gets called a "real trooper"/tramp.