The Broadway Melody (Special Edition) [DVD]

I am so glad to own this piece of history in a pristine copy. The movie is fun both as an early musical and a pre-code drama.

It must have been impressive when it was released in the very early days after sound was introduced in film. Alas, the musical numbers are mostly dull (and just how many times do we have to hear the title tune?). The story may have been original when released, but now it feels clichéd. A decent-to-good performance from Bessie Love as the older sister boosts the production. But watching the two sisters perform together - well, you'd never believe that they would ever be successful. Still, the transfer in the Blu-ray is impressive for a film this old.The extras are a mixed bag; corny jokes, odd songs (I guess the one song in the first short is called "Frankfurter Sandwiches" if that gives you any idea). OMG... the one short with the dogs, is painful. I'm sure it had 'em rolling in the aisles back then. Just wrong now...Certainly one the weaker Best Picture winners. If you're trying to see them all, it's worth watching from a historical standpoint.

Sure, it's dated and schlocky and a real relic... but it's also the prototype for the MGM musical, in that it was a "story musical", with the numbers arising from situations in the narrative. Of course, it helps that the narrative is a backstage musical, where two sisters (Anita Page and Bessie Love), fresh from the country, come to New York City to make it on Broadway. Along the way, they encounter heartache and betrayal and tests on their sisterhood, but that way happens to be paved with numbers like "The Wedding of the Painted Doll", "You Were Meant for Me" and "The Broadway Melody". This was the big one for MGM: the all-singing, all-dancing, all-talkie musical which wowed 'em at the box office, and wound up with the Academy Award as Best Picture. To think this is a good movie by any stretch of the imagination takes more imagination than most people would care to give, but it is entertaining, and paved the way for "The Broadway Melody of 1936", "The Broadway Melody of 1938", "The Broadway Melody of 1940" and, finally, "Two Girls on Broadway" (1940), the remake that cast Lana Turner and Joan Blondell as stand-ins for Anita Page and Bessie Love. Though klunkier than any of the others, "The Broadway Melody" has an authentic show biz atmosphere which is certainly nostalgic. And the klunkiness of the numbers must be seen to be believed: the parodies in "Singin' in the Rain" are far more polished than anything in the original.

At last, the FIRST great musical of the silver screen is captured on DVD, to be enjoyed over and over again. Okay --so the story is cliched ---- but this film did it FIRST!... and opened the doorway for " 42nd Street " to elevate the status of the film musical four years later. Okay -- so the dance routines look a little flat and strange --but then we watching something that happened 75 years ago. But it's great to see all those 20's/30's fashions; hear the Jazz Age slang; study the dancing styles and techniques of that era -- and of course hear THOSE SONGS again ( and again and again), some of which have become US Standards.But with all its defects, the story moves rapidly. We are also " treated" to some 1929 attitudes towards gay men and women, which although not complimentary is in keeping with the almost vaudevillian, outlook towards gay cliches. It is a pity that the 2-strip Technicolour musical sequence is missing, even though Technicolour is listed in the credits. Overall however this is a worthwhile, and important film in the development of US Cinema, although it may not have the "artiness", or the quality of the great silent films and some other early sound films. However, it was an MGM production and the values were high. The acting performances are in tune with the story and the times amd again we are transported back to when our grandparents or great grandparents were " playing up" and rebelling, just as we did, and future generations will continue to.The DVD transfer is a little grainy and " messy " in parts, but the sound quality is superb.The features are of great historical and entertainment value, although I felt a little embarrassed by the dressed up" talking " dogs ... but again that was great entertainemnt" in those days ". The MGM musical revue shorts are just wonderful.... vaudeville acts, with overly made up men, who wiggle and flap their hands around..and dainty maidens standing in a group with big bow sashes. But great examples of an industry trying to master and perfect the new sound techniques.If you love Film , or have a passion --or a quiet interest -- in musical films, this HAS to be part of your collection. Another film that will never die... I bought this DVD and love it. Have played it 3 times already --- have only had it for 3 days. Buy it and enjoy...... why not give Granny and Grandpa a real suprise, and let them see it and wander down Memory Lane.. ?

This DVD that I paid $14.41 (including tax) for was unplayable from scene 14 through 27, so I returned it with a detailed explanation, hoping for a replacement, but was only offered a refund (of $9.05), so somebody has $3.36 of my money for the privilege having a brief look at a bad disk. They have now raised my price (including tax) to $18.46. So having promised the DVD for $14.41, they now say I can have it if I give them another $4.05, so I have lost from $3-4 depending whether I buy a good disk, and get to guess whether the replacement will be free of flaws. Pretty sleazy.

Winner of the 1929 Academy Award Best Picture-- silly & funny --rags to riches plot; with a showstopper "Broadway Melody" tune and chorus line tap routine. A fun antique for film students and musical fans to ponder; when pan -shots and closeups weren't yet quite perfected-- and directors didn't know when to cut out extraneous dialogue-- Still fun!

I'm trying to complete a collection of best picture Academy Award winning movies. I wish it was available on blu-ray.

Pour cinéphiles , film musical , musiques reprises dans d'autres films ,j'apprécie ces anciens films. Merci.

sono contento perchè ho finalmente trovato il DVD di questo film che fa parte della mia collezione (era l'ultimo che mi mancava) dei film che hanno vinto l'Oscar come miglior film. La consegna è avvenuta qualche giorno prima di quello previsto e quindi tutto OK.

Tal vez la peorcita de las ganadoras del Óscar a mejor película, pero la calidad del DVD es muy buena, la caja es de buena calidad y me encantó la portada.

For its age this movie is extremely watchable and very entertaining. Its worth having just for the position it takes within the history of the American musical. the first musical actually written for the screen, all talking, singing and dancing, with the first proper musical film score, it is a fascinating movie with lots to recommend it.Sure, some of the acting is typically wooden, as were many of the early talkies, but Bessie Love's acting is superb, easily out-shining the other members of the cast, and the songs are tuneful and well presented (particularly the title tune and @you were meant for me'). Any movie buff serious about their musicals just HAS to own a copy of such an important movie.Brilliant extras too: particularly the short film 'Dogway Melody', if only for it being completely outlandish, with its dogs singing and dancing to their own version of the main feature.Worth having.

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