Spotlight

Spotlight Date: 9-April-06
Spoiler Rating: Low

Easter Parade (1948)

A surge of holiday spirit made me plunk this sucker at the top of my Netflix queue, and while watching it I discovered two things: one, it has virtually nothing to do with Easter, and two, Judy Garland is its sweetest surprise. I had never given the legendary songbird much attention (other than one unfocused viewing of "The Wizard of Oz" at age 20), but my casual knowledge made her seem, I don't know, overblown, like the kind of histrionic person I try to avoid in real life. "Easter Parade" showcases Garland as not only a powerhouse singer but an able dancer, accomplished actress, and likable screen presence. And the movie's goodies don't stop there. Joining her are hoofers Fred Astaire and Ann Miller and hunky Rat Packer Peter Lawford, accompanied by the jaunty tunes of Irving Berlin.

True to form, Astaire plays a successful New York showman named Don Hewes, who is thrown over by his partner/girlfriend (Miller) on Easter Sunday, 1911. Heartsore and ticked off, he decides to pick up the first chorus girl he can find and fashion her into a new partner, which is how he meets corn-fed sweetheart Hannah Brown (Garland). At first Don views Hannah strictly as a business proposition, unlike his intellectual (but hunky) best friend (Lawford). But as their act comes together during the 365 days until next Easter, more than just the lilies bloom.

The rivalries and amorous entanglements of "Easter Parade" are uninspired, but their main purpose is to string together the musical segments and for this they fit the bill. (I must say all of Astaire's on-screen romances look uninspired because he's so phlegmatic. The same air of cool explains the "He makes it look so easy!" response to his footwork.) There are many wonderful song and dance numbers ranging from romantic ballads to traditional tap to vaudevillian comedy to classic Astaire+prop routines, all of it splashed with that MGM technicolor flair. (Phlegmatic or not, ol' Fred could work wonders with his cane.*) As visual frosting, the women's get-up is impressive if not always gorgeous, which contributes to the spectacle of the show. Add this to Garland's tender turn as a simple girl in the big city and the movie only hits one false note: an odd little scene in which a waiter in a hoity-toity restaurant (actual stage performer Jules Munshin) takes four minutes to describe a salad. What the heck is up with that?

No matter; it's easy to ignore the onions when your basket's otherwise filled with treats. "Easter Parade" may not be a true holiday film, but it's certainly fun and festive.

*Get your mind out of the gutter! It's still Lent!

Copyright © 2006 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.