MOVIE MUSIC UK

GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Original Review by Craig Lysy

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio was intent on making a new musical to showcase their stars Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. Irving Berlin’s song “Easter Parade,” which inspired the movie, was first sung in his 1933 Broadway revue “As Thousands Cheer” by Marilyn Miller and Clifton Webb. Arthur Freed was place in charge of production with a $2.655 million budget, Charles Walters was tasked with directing, the trio of Sidney Sheldon, Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett were hired to write the screenplay. Judy Garland would star as Hannah Brown, but casting went off the rails when Gene Kelly broke his ankle. Luckily, he was able to coax Fred Astaire to come out of retirement and take the role of Don Hewes. Cyd Charisse had to be replaced as she tore ligaments in her knees, so Ann Miller took the role of Nadine Hale. Joining them would be Peter Lawford as Jonathan Harrow III.

The story is set prior to the beginning of World War I between the Easter Sundays of 1911-1912. Don Hewes and Nadine Hale are a successful dancing team, but she has solo career ambitions and so sets off on her own. Don accepts her decision and finds a new dance partner, Hannah Brown. Don and Hannah create a sensation, which elicits Florenz Ziegfeld to hire them for his Ziegfeld Follies. Don however declines due to the fact that Nadine Hale also dances for the Follies. Don is in love with Hannah, but keeps their relationship restricted to business. This frustrates Hannah who believes that he is still in love with Nadine. Eventually love prevails and Don places a diamond ring on her hand as they march in an Easter Parade. The film was a massive commercial success, earning a profit of $2.148 million. Critical reception was favorable, and the film received one Academy Award nomination for Best Score for a Musical.

The musical would feature classic songs written by the iconic Irving Berlin during the 1910s, which aligned well with the film, which was set in 1911. Included were; “Drum Crazy,” “Everybody’s Doin’ It,” “I Want to Go Back to Michigan,” “Beautiful Faces Need Beautiful Clothes,””I Love a Piano” “Snooky Ookums,””Ragtime Violin,” “When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam’,” “Shakin’ the Blues Away,” “Steppin’ Out with My Baby,” “Drum Crazy,” “The Girl on the Magazine Cover,” “Better Luck Next Time,” “Easter Parade,” “Happy Easter,” and “Call Me Up Some Rainy Afternoon”. Yet Berlin also wrote some new songs for the film including; “A Fella With an Umbrella,” “It Only Happens When I Dance With You,” and “A Couple of Swells”.

MGM assigned the team of Johnny Green and Roger Edens who had acquainted themselves well with musicals, to manage the score. Green and Edens chose to adapt the melodies of Berlin’s songs for intervening scenes between the musical dance numbers to provide a cogent and unifying musical narrative. The melody of “It Only Happens When I Dance With You,” a heartfelt romantic ballad served as Don and Hannah’s Love Theme, while the “Drum Crazy” melody was used to maintain the film’s forward momentum. Lastly, a number of song melodies were transformed into dances and waltzes to provide background ambiance.

“Main Title (Medley)” opens with the MGM Studio logo supported by a crescendo dramatico prelude, which ushers in a mixed chorus rendering of the titular romantic courtship song, which perfectly sets the tone of the film. We flow seamlessly into the film proper with “Happy Easter,” which reveals couples, dressed in the Sunday finest, strolling down the street. We zoom in on a whistling Don Hewes who wishes a number of people ‘Happy Easter’ and then begins singing the happy-go-lucky tune as he sits in a store watching a parade of women wearing Easter bonnets, with each singing a line. Don leaves the store for the street with his servant carrying the bonnet box, and the chorus supports with a strolling rendering of the melody. He visits a flower shop, buys Easter lilies. A diminuendo takes us into a toy store where he spots a pink easter bunny, but a young boy grabs it before he does. “Drum Crazy,” a very entertaining musical and dancing score highlight. The boy will not relent and so Don begins singing the song for the boy, along with some animated drum playing in an effort to convince him to give up the bunny. At 1:04 the melody shifts to an instrumental rendering as he then begins dancing while striking a number of drums with drum sticks and his shoes in a virtuoso performance. At 1:46 child-like martial tin trumpets sound as we upshift to a tap-dancing routine, joined at 2:05 when he begins sequentially playing toy field drums of increasing size with silly, comedic accents. At 2:36 he strikes a xylophone to initiate a toy field drum propelled marcia festivamente, which shifts to a big band supported tap-dancing performance, which allows him to abscond with the bunny!

“It Only Happens When I Dance With You” offers a beautiful romantic musical highlight. It reveals Nadine unreceptive to Don’s gifts as she relates she has a job offer that she wants to pursue instead of joining him for a show in Chicago. The composer team softly supports under the dialogue with a tender exposition of the song’s melody, from which is borne Don’s vocals as he woos her by singing with female choral support, the yearning romantic ballad. At 1:14 we shift to an instrumental rendering of the melody as she walks away, yet Don pulls her into his arms and they begin a danza romantico, to which she softens and begins to surrender. His singing interrupted as they join in a kissing embrace, which is also interrupted by the arrival of Johnny.

(*) “Don and Nadine Quarrel” the song melody returns softly under the dialogue as Nadine states that she does not want to be just a ballroom dancer, has signed a contract, and that is that. She hopes Don will understand, but he departs in a huff. Afterwards Nadine clearly reveals her attraction to the younger and more attractive Johnny, but he makes a quick exit, much to her dismay. At a saloon Don drowns his sorrows as a piano player plays in the background. Johnny joins as a chorus line takes the stage supported by the festive melody of “Everybody’s Doin’ It Now” and begins dancing. Yet he departs, when he is unable to persuade Don to make up with Nadine. Afterwards the dancer Hannah catches Don’s eye, he propositions her to join his show for $150/week, and gives her his card. He departs, she tears up the card but is flummoxed and a comedic prelude opens “I Want To Go Back To Michigan (Down On Th Farm)” when Mike advises her that he was the famous Don Hewes. She then takes the stage and launches into the song’s carefree nostalgia. At 1:34 she joins the orchestra and her arms rests on a trombonist shoulder as he takes up the melody to support her singing.

(*) “First Rehersal” The next day Don waits with Marty, his piano player at his studio and is ready to lave, believing Hannah has stood him up. As he departs, Hannah bolts in apologizing for being late. They begin her rehearsal with Don mentoring her as Marty plays a gentle piano tune on the piano. Afterwards, as they walk to lunch, she tries to get out of the contract saying she isn’t good enough, while he asserts that she is. As they walk the streets on Easter Sunday, church bells ring and a mixed chorus voices a reprise of the titular song in “Happy Easter Reprise #2”. “Making Faces (Medley)” reveals Hannah spotting the beautifully dressed Nadine Hale wearing Don’s gifted Easter Bonnet and walking her dogs carried by a strolling rendering of the tune “Everybody’s Doin’ It Now”. She struts past them and Don makes Hannah a promise, that in one year she will be the celebrity that people notice walking down the street, not Nadine. Later at a high-end shop, Don buys Hannah a beautiful outfit with accessories. Resuming their walk, Don advises that she will now use the exotic stage name “Juanita’, and asks her at 0:50 to walk ahead carried by the melody of “Beautiful Faces Need Beautiful Clothes” to see how she turns men’s heads. She does, but unknown to Don, only due to making faces.

The next day we are offered a stage performance of “Beautiful Faces Need Beautiful Clothes,” which features Don and Juanita gracing the stage supported by a flowing danza elegante. However, the performance is marred and becomes comedic due to her clumsiness. In “This Is The Life (Dog Act)” there is polite applause, and back stage he gives her some pointers before sending her off to change for dinner. A live dog act is performing on stage supported by a playful and energetic rendering of the song. “Along Came Ruth/Call Me Up Some Rainy Afternoon” reveals the next day at a restaurant luncheon date, where Johnny again tries to dampen Nadine’s romantic aspirations. When Don arrives, he makes a hasty exit, which allows the two to catch up. The scene is supported by the strolling, dance-like gentility of the two songs. She again rebuffs his efforts to have her return to the act, and then takes offence at his new girl imitating her. Don, has an epiphany, and excuses himself, much to her displeasure.

(*) “Rain!” reveals Hannah eating lunch at a small drugstore eatery, supported by the melody of the previous scene. When she exits the store, she discovers it’s raining and that she has no umbrella. Bubbling woodwinds and frenetic strings initiate a comedic musical narrative as Johnny joins her under the store awning for cover. He takes a fancy to her and the music assumes a more romantic expression. Frenetic strings propel him as he runs and buys a street vendor’s umbrella and then returns to escort her to her appointment. She is flustered that he has wormed out of her personal information, and says to him, I do not know anything about you, which ushers in the sunny, aspirational love song “A Fella With An Umbrella”. At 2:18 they arrive at Don’s residence and racing strings of urgency carry her in as she is late, with poor Johnny left holding the umbrella. Inside Don tells her to shed Juanita, and forget the mannerisms he taught her, insisting that she just be herself. He goes to his player piano and ask her to sing the “I Love A Piano,” which abounds with buoyant happiness;

At 0:57 we shift to an instrumental rendering as a danza felice as he takes her hand and they begin to dance. At 1:27 we shift to them performing on stage with a big band supporting the performance. We conclude at 1:46 with her singing. We flow into another stage performance with “Vaudeville Montage: Snookey Ookums,” which abounds with romantic playfulness. The montage of performances continues with “Vaudeville Montage: The Ragtime Violin”. We open with a vibrant rendering of the song, which is sung by Don, a violin mime by Hannah, in which he also dances with Hannah. “When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam’” continues the performance montage with festive fanfare supporting a New Amsterdam Theater billboard display; “Hannah and Hewes audition for Mr. Ziegfeld”. The couple offer a high octane, vibrant and celebratory song and dance performance

Afterwards in unscored scenes, the stage manager advises that Mr. Ziegfeld wants to see them in his office to offer a contract. A regal and condescending Nadine enters and smugly welcomes Don and Hannah to “Her Show”. Afterwards Hannah asks why he never brought her up, and he hesitates. When she asks if he loved her and he again hesitates, she runs off the stage aggrieved. Outside she calls a taxi as Johnny arrives. When he finds out she is Hannah Brown, and she finds out he is like a brother to Don, she accepts his dinner invitation. Later, a contrite Don visits Hannah in her hotel room. She is stunned when he discloses that he turned down the contract. He says he will not share billing with Nadine, adding that she cannot compare to you. Johnny arrives and an awkward moment arises when Don realizes that Johnny and Hannah have a dinner date and makes an embarrassed departure, not willing to be a third wheel.

“Mixed Greens” reveals Johnny and Hannah dining at an elegant French restaurant. The scene offers a highly enjoyable and entertaining comedic performance by as François, the maître d’. The scene is supported by a free-flowing Berlin instrumental rendered as a balletic valzer elegante, which provides a sumptuous ambiance with tender, playful and regal interludes. Afterwards she reveals mixed feelings about Don, making a number of inquiries. Johnny politely accommodates, but eventually turns the conversation about, saying that it is time to talk about us, which leads him to disclose that he has fallen in love with her. She breaks his heart when she says that she is in love with Don, but then admits that he does not fulfill the romantic fantasy of the man she has always dreamed of. Her disclosure serves to make both sad as they silently realize that he (Johnny) is the man for which she has always dreamed of. François the Matre D’ watches with a wry grin as once again they depart without eating.

“That International Rag (Fanfare And Montage-Ziegfeld Follies)” reveals a brilliantly lite theater billboard declaring opening night for Nadine Hale, which is supported by grand fanfare, which ends in a flourish as we see Don entering for the show. “Shakin’ The Blues Away” reveals Nadine offering the energetic and sassy song and dance performance of the Berlin classic. At 1:34 we shift to a big band sound for the melody, which supports her swirling and vibrant virtuoso tap dancing. At 2:42 The Mel-Tones and Lyttle Sisters take up the song as Nadine continues her dance tour de force.

In an unscored scene, we see in the audience, that Don is awed by her performance. The next day Hannah calls Johnny, concerned that Don has disappeared. He asks if she is cancelling their dinner date, but she sets the phone down to answer the door, and in pops a bubbling Don who discloses the great news, that Dillingham has agreed to create a new touring show that centers around them. She is ecstatic, and he invites her to his apartment tonight and departs, saying he has to arrange the logistics of the tour. She then realizes Johnny is on the phone, is embarrassed when she realizes that he heard everything, and that he suggests they cancel their dinner date. She agrees and a sad musical narrative follows as Johnny then calls Nadine to confirm dining with her tonight.

“It Only Happens When I Dance With You Reprise” offers an evocative score romantic highlight where of Garland’s voice, song melody, and lyrics achieve a sublime confluence. It reveals that Don has setup an elegant dining table for two in his apartment, which Edens supports with pleasantries. When she arrives, a soft instrumental rendering of the song melody plays under the dialogue. When he says they need to go over the dance routines, she becomes aggrieved and furious, saying that she thought this was a date, but that all he will ever be to her is a pair of dancing shoes! She then fires another volley saying she does not feel like a girl with him, but instead just a prop! He realizes that she loves him, and diffuses her fury with a kiss. She agrees to stay, sees the piano booklet “It Only Happens When I Dance With You” and sings to him, the yearning romantic ballad.

“Fanfare and Montage – Globe Theatre” reveals a brilliantly lite theater billboard declaring opening night for Hannah Brown and Don Hewes in “Walking Up The Avenue”. Edens supports with grand fanfare that usher in a festive musical narrative full of excitement, which ends in a flourish. “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” reveals a tour de force musical and dance performance highlight. The curtain opens with a vibrant Swing tune empowering several couples dancing at a festive party. At 0:17 male chorus begins singing the song. At 0:39 a dapper Don enters the stage via a door and the music shifts down in energy to support his singing and tap-dancing performance. A swing fanfare joins at 1:44 and usher in The Lyttle Sisters singing the song as Hannah joins and she and Don begin dancing. Hannah exits side stage and at 2:28 an alluring woman dancer joins Don carried by a saxophone seducente, and the two begin dancing as the music assumes a more sultry and risqué jazz iteration. At 3:38 a new gal moves in and the two are propelled with a very energetic, up tempo rendering of the song melody. At 4:07 a swirling vortex of strings support the return of his cane from off-stage and he resumes his virtuoso dancing solo. The couples join dancing behind him, propelled by the energetic song melody, yet there is a temporal variance as Don is seen dancing front stage as if in slow motion, while the couples are dancing rear stage in real time. Hannah watches with amazement side-stage and at 5:45 Don’s dance tempo realigns with that of the dance troupe and we a dazzled by his peerless virtuosity as we conclude with a horn flourish!

“A Couple Of Swells” reveals the next act with Don and Hannah performing as a couple of street hobos. They sing and dance to the playful, yet irrepressible down on your luck song. At 3:09 an instrumental exposition of the song supports a dance interlude, then they resume singing and dancing to complete the performance. “Roof Garden (Drum Crazy Reprise)” reveals Don taking Hannah to a post-performance party to celebrate their opening night success. Edens supports the ambiance with a vibrant reprise of the “Drum Crazy” song melody. Applause greets their arrival and after taking a bow of gratitude they sit at a stage front table. In “The Girl On The Magazine Cover” the curtains part to reveal tenor Dick Beavers who sings the Berlin’s classic aspirational love song with chorus. At 1:26 a montage of famous magazine covers, which feature beautiful women dressed immaculately follows, supported by men’s chorus singing. At 2:43 Nadine enters and begins dancing among a retinue of adoring male dancers, supported by a romantic rendering of the song melody. We conclude at 3:17 with Dick joining her and singing with choral support. We conclude with a grand flourish as Nadine basks in adulation center stage.

Afterwards, in “New Amsterdam Roof (It Only Happens When I Dance With You Reprise)” Nadine shamelessly, and with clearly intended provocation, takes Don by the hand and asks him, for old times’ sake to dance one of their best numbers; “It Only Happens When I Dance With You”. He attempts to decline, but crowd pressure causes him to accede. He joins Nadine for a big band instrumental rendered dance of the romantic ballad as Hannah stews. Afterwards he returns to the table to discover Hannah has left, and he frantically runs out after her. In “Better Luck Next Time” she returns to her old stomping ground, Pastini’s restaurant, and reacquaints with Mike. She is clearly depressed and Mike tries to cheer her up by reciting a poem dear to him. Hannah takes up the rest of the song and sings with heartache of a love that could not be. After the last word she drops her head in despair and begins sobbing. Later, she returns to the hotel and finds Don waiting outside her door. The sad string borne melody of “Better Luck Next Time” plays under the dialogue as he tries to explain to her, but she will have none of it, and tells him to go back to Nadine. She enters her room, but his earnest pleas and testament of love moves her to reconsider. However, hotel security arrives, directs him to leave, and when she opens up the door, she believes he gave up and left. In the morning Johnny visits and informs her he spent the night with Don, who has apparently moved on as he auditioned a new girl. This upsets Hannah who declares that he loves her, but Johnny counters that Don related that you were no longer fond of him.

(*) “Get Dressed!” reveals Johnny exhorting her to don her best Easter dress and let Don know she loves him. Pizzicato strings felice dance with anticipation as she bolts to the bedroom to change. At Don’s apartment his servant Sam accepts flowers, an Easter top hat, a Happy Easter pillow, and a bunny rabbit supported by the playful melody of “It Only Happens When I Dance With Him”. Don answers a knock on the door and in walks Hannah who reminds him that they have a date for the Easter Parade. After he dons his jacket, we flow into “Easter Parade (End Title)” where she sings as they dance intimately together. At 1:46 we switch to them strolling on the street and Don takes up the song. The camera lifts upwards to see a bustling city street and we end gloriously, soaring with a flourish beginning at 2:05 when chorus joins in singing.

I appreciate that Rhino Movie Music has digitally remastered the Academy Award winning musical “Easter Parade,” and I am thankful to have the album as a collector. However, I am constrained to say that the Amazon Prime Video version I watched for the review, offered superior audio quality. What makes this enjoyable and very entertaining musical is the confluence borne of Judy Garland’s peerless contralto vocals, Irving Berlin’s iconic songs, and Fred Astaire’s virtuoso dancing. In scene after scene cinematic brilliance is achieved with Green, Edens, and Salinger providing a cogent musical narrative by masterfully arranging, and weaving together the various song and dance performance vignettes. The decision to use the melody of Berlin’s timeless romantic ballad “It Only Happens When I Dance With You” as a Love Theme for Don and Hannah was well conceived and executed, informing the audience that their love affair will come to fruition. Folks, this is a classic and timeless Hollywood musical in its finest traditions. I highly recommend you take in the digitally mastered and restored film on a streaming service to fully appreciate the storytelling, music, dancing, and brilliant performances.

For those of you unfamiliar with the score, I have embedded a YouTube link to the Main Title; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7XuRAs4ZyQ

Buy the Easter Parade soundtrack from the Movie Music UK Store

Track Listing:

• Main Title (Medley) (1:19)
• Happy Easter (2:30)
• Drum Crazy (4:00)
• It Only Happens When I Dance With You (2:44)
• Happy Easter Reprise #1 (Outtake) (0:39)
• Everybody’s Doin’ It Now (2:34)
• I Want To Go Back To Michigan (Down On The Farm) (1:24)
• Happy Easter Reprise #2 (1:36)
• Making Faces (Medley) (1:24)
• Beautiful Faces Need Beautiful Clothes (1:17)
• This Is The Life (Dog Act) (1:07)
• Along Came Ruth (1:05)
• Call Me Up Some Rainy Afternoon (1:30)
• A Fella With An Umbrella (2:31)
• Vaudeville Montage: I Love A Piano (5:44)
• Vaudeville Montage: Snookey Ookums
• Vaudeville Montage: The Ragtime Violin
• Vaudeville Montage: When The Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves For Alabam’
• Mixed Greens (3:09)
• That International Rag (Fanfare and Montage-Ziegfeld Follies) (0:23)
• Shakin’ The Blues Away (3:17)
• It Only Happens When I Dance With You Reprise (1:53)
• Fanfare And Montage – Globe Theatre (0:47)
• Steppin’ Out With My Baby (6:00)
• Mr. Monotony (Outtake) (3:12)
• A Couple of Swells (4:33)
• Roof Garden (Drum Crazy Reprise) (1:05)
• The Girl On The Magazine Cover (4:00)
• New Amsterdam Roof (It Only Happens When I Dance With You Reprise) (1:59)
• Better Luck Next Time (Premiere Extended Version) (4:00)
• Easter Parade (End Title) (2:42)

Running Time: 69 minutes 00 seconds

Rhino Movie Music R2-71960 (1948/1995)

Music composed by Johnny Green and Roger Edens. Conducted by Johnny Green and Georgie Stoll. Original songs by Irving Berlin. Orchestrations by Conrad Salinger, Leo Shuken, Nathan Van Cleave, Sidney Cutner, Bob Franklyn and Paul Marquardt. Recorded and mixed by XXXX. Score produced by Johnny Green. Album produced by Marilee Bradford and Bradley Flannagan.