Movie Review: Irving Berlin's Easter Parade (1948)
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What Parents Should Know
Parents should know that this light movie contains no truly
worrisome content. Kids might learn that reinventing yourself
for someone else can be a costly compromise of your
individuality.
Families who see this movie might discuss formula. What is formula? Does this movie follow the typical boy-meets-girl blueprint? Were there any unexpected plot twists?
Common Sense Media Review
Fred Astaire is the star whose partner bails on him. Judy
Garland is the chorus line dancer he vows will fill her tap
shoes. Loaded with great Irving Berlin songs, this 1948
spectacular will grab children with its wholesome,
uncomplicated story and mesmerize adults with its pairing of
superstar talents in their sole screen appearance together.
After Don Hewes (Fred Astaire) loses his partner (Ann Miller) to the lure of a solo career, the renowned dancer spots pretty chorus line member Hannah (Judy Garland) and vows to mold her into Nadine's equal within a year -- in time for the big Fifth Avenue Easter Parade. Hannah needs work, so they work, but their act just doesn't fly. Only when Don stops trying to force his ex-partner's style on Hannah and allows her to be herself do the two form a true creative partnership.
Things get complicated when Don's friend Johnny (Peter Lawford) falls in love with Hannah, because Hannah's in love with Don, and Don, it seems, is still carrying a flame for Nadine. But this is no tragic opera, it's an MGM musical. Things are bound to work out in the end.
"The Happiest Musical Ever Made," EASTER PAREDE's promotional trailer declares, and director Charles Walters appears to have put in plenty of overtime trying to live up to that grand promise. He gives us Oscar-winning musical scoring, inventive choreography, and plenty of Irving Berlin songs -- 17 of them -- about hats, baby talk, guys with umbrellas, you name it. He even throws in the most flamboyant waiter ever to grace the silver screen.
But what really makes this movie sing and dance is the once-in-a-lifetime pairing of Fred Astaire and Judy Garland. Whether cane-twirling to "Steppin' Out with My Baby" or reeling through a toy store pounding on every drum in sight, Astaire is mesmerizing. You literally can't take your eyes off him. Beside him, Judy Garland is absolutely radiant -- and that's not just the Technicolor.
For family entertainment, this is a hard one to beat. It's spirited, easily digestible, and fun. Don't worry about that sticky love situation; it resolves without much fuss, and all in time for the big Easter Parade. Say, maybe this is The Happiest Musical Ever Made.
Hungry for more Fred and Judy? You can never see Astaire's
Royal Wedding or Garland's
The Wizard of Oz too often. You might also try
Holiday Inn,
Singin' in the Rain
, or
Take Me Out to the Ball Game.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
