Easter Parade (Two-Disc Special Edition)
by Charles Walters
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Actor: Ann Miller, Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Jules Munshin, Peter LawfordDirector: Charles Walters
Brand: Warner Brothers
Cinematographer: Harry Stradling Sr.
Producer: Arthur Freed
Producer: Roger Edens
Writer: Albert Hackett
Writer: Frances Goodrich
Writer: Guy Bolton
Writer: Sidney Sheldon
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 107 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-03-15
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Reviews of Easter Parade (Two-Disc Special Edition)
DVD Review: A girl dancer has to be exotic; she has to be - a peach.
Summary: 1 Stars
I realize that many may love this film for the impressive sounds that both Fred Astaire and Judy Garland create together. I must admit, there was quite a bit of singing and dancing to demonstrate this karmic connection that these two had together. Honestly, I would like to admit that there was just a bit too much singing and dancing in this film. Easter Parade was nothing except a showcase that allowed Astaire to prove himself to audiences again and again, while Garland attempt to counter her Wizard of Oz persona that followed her until her bittersweet end. Musicals are a tough genre to create. You, as a director, need to have a concrete balance between the song/dance routines and the physical plot, which keeps the audience watching until the very end. I have seen musicals fail and succeed because the director had that bond secured. Sadly, Easter Parade's director, Charles Walters, did not have a strong enough grip on the two. Instead of a good story, with emotional characters, and a sincere plot, we are forced to watch Garland and Astaire seemingly attempt to continually outdo themselves on screen. There was no chemistry between the two, there was no logical plot to this story, and finally, there was no emotion. I cared nothing for anyone in these performances because I was bombasted time and time again with dance, song, and meaningless clichés, which seemed to be the overall theme of this film.
Judy Garland and Fred Astaire fans out there are not going to enjoy what I am about to say. This being my first Fred Astaire picture watched, I must admit I was not impressed. Astaire did nothing to develop his character throughout the film. While I do agree that it is the job of the director to create these lines, Astaire should have done something instead of prance around hoping to carry this film on just the weight of his tappy feet. As I watched Easter Parade, I couldn't help but think of Astaire as this manipulator towards his own common good. I saw him as this evil man who wanted nothing more than to be successfully, but was not willing to do it on his own. From the opening scenes in this film, where it is obvious that he loves the camera on him, to the moments where he is on stage proving that he is the top dog in dance and song. Perhaps I misread this film, but I saw Astaire as this guy who had relationship issues. He wasn't interested in actually falling in love, but didn't want to loose his partner again. His character Don was determined to be the best in the business, and he didn't care whom he was partnered with which allowed him to reach that goal. You could see that when he showed minimal emotion towards Nadine when they parted, and how unemotional he because during all of his scenes with Garland. There was absolutely no chemistry between these two actors. I believe the age difference to be the biggest hurdle, but the fact that when they gazed into each other's eyes nothing pulled me, demonstrated how poorly the director chose on this film. You could tell that Walters wanted two big names to anchor this film because he didn't have the glue to keep it together himself. Coupled with the fact that Johnny was the most random character witnessed in cinematic history also hurt the overall emotional effect of the film. What was Johnny's relationship with Nadine? It felt like whatever was available, these two men ran towards, without any emotion or sympathy for anything. It was disastrous.
Not only was the acting enough to be scoffed at, but the plot ... well ... was completely missing. There were minor threads of plot dangling throughout the film like the dysfunctional wardrobe that Garland wore during one of the dance sequences. That dress completely represented the direction of this film. The dress itself was the actual plot, while the falling pieces of fabric represented the audience being tossed about and thrown on the floor in hopes to reconnect with the dress again sometime during the performance. Alas, we never did. Due to the plot, we jumped, literally, from emotion to emotion, never quite sealing a secure moment throughout. One scene we are trying to connect with Johnny and Hannah, the next with Hannah and Don, then there is Nadine and Hannah, or was it Johnny, and what about Don and Nadine? Jump. Jump. Jump. It became obviously clear that Walters knew that this was a flimsy plot and instead of fixing it, pushed more song and dance into the film to attempt to cover the soiled sections. It did not work. Our flimsy characters, no matter how well their singing, could not conceal this broken direction that Walters obviously lost control of.
Finally, there were the songs. Decent numbers, but just too many. What was the infamous "Easter Parade"? You would think that a film that chose to have this as their title would explain the ritual a bit further. Sure, there was a song, but I kept watching Astaire jump around so often that the dizziness caused me to miss the lyrics of the songs. There is no need to break into song so often about absolutely nothing. Walter's needed to take a page from a true musical like Singing in the Rain to show him how to correctly combine a great plot with some great songs!
Overall, I didn't like this film. I needed better characters, stronger stories, and the director to just tighten down on this runaway balloon. I think if you saw Astaire at a bar today, looking like he did in Easter Parade, the first words out of your mouth would be "Glen Quagmire". He looked like an utter sleaze that preyed on young women, but maybe it was Astaire just trying to stay with his character!
Grade: * out of *****
Description of Easter Parade (Two-Disc Special Edition)
ON THE DAY BEFORE EASTER IN 1911, DON HEWES IS CRUSHED WHEN HIS DANCING PARTNER (AND OBJECT OF AFFECTION) NADINE HALE REFUSES TOSTART A NEW CONTRACT WITH HIM. TO PROVE NADINE'S NOT IMPORTANTTO HIM, DON ACQUIRES INNOCENT NEW PROTEGEE HANNAH BROWN, VOWING TO MAKE HER A STAR IN TIME FOR NEXT YEAR'S EASTER PARADE.Bestsellers in DVD
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