“A Broadway Tune from 1929” is a film that came out almost a hundred years ago. One of the first films to offer plots that would seem trivial to today’s viewer. I advise you to be sure to discount the age of the film and the peculiar novelty of the approach to both the narrative and the story itself.
The classic situation is a love triangle that arises between the main characters: the sisters Hank and Queenie and a guy named Eddie. Eddie, by the way, intends to marry Hank. However, meeting her sister completely changes his plans when the guy falls in love with Queenie. And herein lies the first flaw of the project. There’s no way I can believe such a drastic change in a guy. Unless he was even truly in love with his fiancée. This sudden decision by Eddie is even discouraging. However, I do make a substantial allowance for the necessity of such a situation in the script to make the story more interesting.
Despite the fact that another member of this “love triangle” named Jock Warriner, played by Kenneth Thomson, appears in the film, it is the three main characters who make the story memorable. The acting by Bessie Love, Anita Page and Charles King is impressive. The trio is excellent in the frame, creating that very 1920’s atmosphere. Each of the characters lives a new hope for life to turn out well.
The film clearly shows how expectations can sometimes be deceptive. Broadway, high hopes, bright colors – all this will be possible in real life. After all, only a few people achieve success and fame. And the picture is intended to remind with this story that the great glory is available not for everyone, but only for those who managed to get through and to whom, probably, at least a little bit, but luck.
The film can hardly be compared to a musical in its modern sense. There is not much music, and there is essentially no choreography usual for musicals of our time. But the picture is good, what the creators presented to us for immersion in this interesting story. And here it should be noted that the movie still takes elements of melodrama, but not musical numbers.
The project turned out to be important for its time. That cannot be taken away from it. The film is still watchable today with interest. The successful realization: the emotional dialogues, the musical numbers, the variety of bright colors – all this allowed to create a memorable project, which took the Oscar as the best film.
“A Broadway Tune in 1929” rightfully takes its prominent place among the Oscar winners. An interesting story and memorable acting make the picture lively, a little funny, often controversial because of some script decisions, but without a doubt important for the whole cinematography.
