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Rating: 4 out of 5
Damn, was this film hard to find. I thought it was one of the films I would have to rent because it never appeared on any streaming platform for years. Then the skies opened, and the streaming service Tubi answered my prayers. Shout out to Tubi for being the place where the old school classics appear. Honestly, let me give it up for Tubi. If you haven’t, please set up an account with the streaming service. It is free, and they have some of the latest films to show.
Let’s give some RESPECT to the second winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, but the first sound film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. It holds the distinction of being one of the early musicals to feature a Technicolor sequence. Seeing film in color was mind-blowing, and this was revolutionary for the film industry back in 1929-1930.
I have read a few reviews, and Rotten Tomatoes gave this film a 42%. That somewhat swayed my opinion about watching this film. Who wants to watch a low-scoring film? I went into this film with an open mind and tried to put it in its proper perspective. It was filmed in 1929, not 2025. Storytelling was completely different back then. Honestly, after watching this film, I was invested in the story and the drama. I was surprised by the sexualization of the main characters. I see you, 1929.
The Broadway Melody, also known as The Broadway Melody of 1929, was directed by Harry Beaumont, and Norman Houston and James Gleason wrote the screenplay. Let me give you the lowdown on this film. Eddie Kearns (King) is doing his thang and singing “The Broadway Melody” at a recording studio in the bright lights of New York City. Eddie excitedly tells some of the chorus girls that he booked the Mahoney Sisters vaudeville act to perform with him in the latest revue. Que the Mahoney Sisters. Harriet “Hank” Mahoney (Love) and her sister Queenie Mahoney (Page) arrive and wait for Eddie at their hotel apartment on 46th Street. Even though the film came out in 1933, they must don’t know about that 42nd Street. Hank is the older sister and is the business mind of the sisters, and believes in her talent. Queenie, on the other hand, has the looks. Homegirl is FOINE! Hank believes the pair will make it big, while Queenie has reservations about that goal. Their Uncle Jed (Prouty) offers them a 30-week traveling show if they don’t make it. Hanks said she is good but will take it into consideration.
How about we start the craziness of this drama that is about to unfold? Eddie is engaged to Hank, but when he sees Queenie for the first time since she was a little girl, Eddie thinks she is FOINE. Eddie takes the girls to a rehearsal for Zanfield’s revue to present their act. At the theater, the girls are about to perform but a blond woman sabotages their performance which causes Hank ready to put her paws on the girl. Zanfield, seeing enough, says he isn’t interested in the pair but might have a use for Queenie, who in turn begs him to give the pair a job while working on one wage. She also says to play it cool and pretend that Hank’s business skills won him over. Eddie sees how Queenie hustles and falls in love even more with her.
During a rehearsal, Zanfield makes more changes as he hates the show’s pacing. What does homeboy do? He cuts Hank and Queenie out. This is where things get a little interesting. A woman playing some character turns and falls off the prop. Don’t know how she fell, but she fell. Queenie is selected to replace her, and everyone in the crowd says DAMNNNNNNN with her look and outfit. Wealthy playboy Jacques “Jock” Warriner (Thomson), is like, I need that girl and pursues Queenie. As Queenie’s star starts to rise, this upsets Hank as she thinks Queenie is building her success on her looks rather than her talents.
The film’s second half is where the drama is, and I want to tell you that it is good. Oh damn, seeing the two sisters argue is so freakin good and filled with drama. Queenie starts spending a lot of time with Jock. Hank and Eddie don’t like it one bit. They start acting like her parents and telling her she is forbidden from seeing him. What does this do? Pushes her more into wanting to be around jock. Queenie and Hank get into an explosive argument, which deteriorates the relationship between the sisters. It’s all strange because the only reason Queenie is hanging with Jock is that she has major feelings for Eddie. Hank thinks it’s all bad news. Suddenly, Eddie and Queenie confess their love for each other, but she doesn’t want to hurt her sister’s feelings as she is engaged to Eddie. This is some Jerry Springer-type drama. The drama continues when Queenie gets pissed at Eddie for not fighting for her. She dips out to go to a party with Jock. Hank gets pissed at Eddie for not going after Queenie even though they are in a relationship.
This is why I give this film a higher rating than others. The drama and back-and-forth between the sisters was interesting to watch. Queenie acted like a brat, but was a new girl in a new city. She was having fun and sure did cash in on her looks. Nothing is wrong with that. I also see where Hank was coming from. She was trying to protect her sister even if she was pushy. Eddie was all over the place with his feelings while courting one sister and then switching to the other sister.
As far as this being a “musical,” this only had one musical number and nothing more. It was one song that was performed during rehearsal. As far as that, the film was more of a story around a musical. Did this take away from the film? No, not really. The film focused on the drama and the deterioration of the sister’s relationship. It all comes ahead in the end. Let me say this quickly. Eddie, you couldn’t take a punch to save your life. How are you going to roll up at someone’s place only to get punked? At least you got the girl. The whole ending with Hank was okay and sad. To see her ex-fiancé run off and get married to her sister is pretty messed up. When they return, Hank must go on the road with the person who first sabotaged their number. It was all crazy drama.
The performances of Anita Page and Bessie Love helped this movie move forward and made it worthwhile to watch. Anita Page as Queenie Mahoney was fun to watch, and her performance was good. She played Queenie as someone high on life and got a little mixed up with the wrong crowd, only to find her way back. Bessie Love as Harriet “Hank” Mahoney was the best with her performance. She was a calm and loving sister who wanted the best for Queenie. She wanted to use her talents rather than her looks. Bessie showed that Hank was a strong person when her ex-fiancé ran off with her sister and teamed up with someone to hit the road and say she was coming back a star. Bessie was nominated for an Oscar for this role.
The Broadway Melody is a good film. If you are looking for a musical, this is not it. It has one song. If you are looking for a movie where you have two sisters fight and it is all about drama, this is it. This film impressed me as it was the second-ever film to win Best Picture. Give this film a chance. You might enjoy it.
