FILM-FORWARD.COMReviews of Recent Independent, Foreign, & Documentary Films in Theaters and DVD/Home Video
EASTER PARADE (1948)
A first time viewer would expect a musical with both Fred Astaire and Judy
Garland to be good but Easter Parade exceeds expectations. With a memorable score by
Irving Berlin, including
songs like “It Only Happens When I Dance with You,” Garland and
Astaire give this vaudeville love quadrangle depth and charm.
Garland’s acting is impeccable. She showcases both her comedic
skills and emotional range as the chorus girl Astaire is trying to
turn into a dance partner to replace Ann Miller, who’s gone solo. Astaire is always
charming, especially in his tap number “Drum Crazy.” The addition of Miller (who dazzles in “Shakin’ the
Blues Away”) and Peter Lawford creates a stunning foursome.
DVD extras: The 110-minute Judy Garland documentary is
excellent, tracing her path from the vaudevillian stage to her tragic death. It includes lots of
Garland’s
own tape-recorded thoughts. “Easter Parade: On the Avenue” is a
thorough look into the making of the picture and includes interviews
with Miller and screenwriter Sidney Sheldon. It is
interesting how different the film was intended to be with Gene Kelly
and Cyd Charisse originally cast in Astaire and Miller’s roles.
In the commentary, Astaire’s daughter offers personal anecdotes, which are more informative
than Garland biographer John Fricke’s secondhand accounts. Much of what he has to say is also
in “On the Avenue.” Unfortunately, Fricke does most of the talking. Lauren Hines
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