Film Spotlight: The Broadway Melody (1929)

MGM's first all-talking picture, and the first sound film to win the Best Picture, Oscar. The first musical to use playback of the musical soundtrack during filming and to be conceived and written specifically for the screen.

The top-grossing film of 1929 starred Charles King, Anita Page, and the lovely Bessie Love who was deserving of a nomination for the Best Actress Academy Award. A pair of sisters from the vaudeville circuit try to make it big time on Broadway, but matters of the heart complicate the attempt.

It was written by Norman Houston and James Gleason from a story by Edmund Goulding, and directed by Harry Beaumont. Original music was written by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, including the popular hit "You Were Meant for Me". The George M. Cohan classic "Give My Regards to Broadway" is used under the opening establishing shots of New York City, its film debut.

The remake, Two Girls on Broadway (1940) starred George Murphy, Lana Turner, and Joan Blondell.The sequels all bore the title of the original. Also, the first musical to spawn three more sequels.

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