Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
12 used & new from £2.33
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Broadway Melody Of 1940 [DVD]
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images

Broadway Melody Of 1940 [DVD]

DVD ~ Fred Astaire
4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
RRP: £15.99
Price: £2.98 & eligible for Free UK delivery on orders over £5 with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £13.01 (81%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Tuesday, July 14? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
11 new from £2.33 1 used from £2.35
Learn about Lovefilm
Amazon's choice for DVD rental.
With a 14 day FREE trial. Learn more

Frequently Bought Together

Broadway Melody Of 1940 [DVD] + The Barkleys Of Broadway [DVD] [1949] + Easter Parade [DVD] [1948]
Total RRP: £46.97
Price For All Three: £10.64

Some of these items ship sooner than the others. Show details

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Broadway Melody Of 1940 [DVD]
85% buy the item featured on this page:
Broadway Melody Of 1940 [DVD] 4.8 out of 5 stars (5)
£2.98
The Barkleys Of Broadway [DVD] [1949]
5% buy
The Barkleys Of Broadway [DVD] [1949] 4.5 out of 5 stars (4)
£2.98
42nd Street [1933] [DVD]
4% buy
42nd Street [1933] [DVD] 4.4 out of 5 stars (5)
£4.98
Shall We Dance [DVD]
3% buy
Shall We Dance [DVD] 5.0 out of 5 stars (3)
£4.98
Explore similar items

Product details

  • Actors: Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell
  • Directors: Norman Taurog
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: U
  • Studio: Warner Home Video
  • DVD Release Date: 3 April 2006
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000EMI5IS
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 4,688 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    Popular in these categories:

    #5 in  DVD > Musicals & Classical > Musicals & Stage Performances > Stage Shows
    #34 in  DVD > Classics > Musicals
    #64 in  DVD > DVD Bargains > 4 for 3

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Reviews

Synopsis
The class of the Broadway Melody series with the burnished talents of Astaire and Murphy, and the timeless tunes of Cole Porter. The plot, never the point of these exercises, pits two dancers in a friendly rivalry for the attentions of Powell. This was the only screen appearance together of Astaire and Powell and it makes you wish for more.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Barkleys Of Broadway [DVD] [1949]

The Barkleys Of Broadway [DVD] [1949]

DVD ~ Fred Astaire
4.5 out of 5 stars (4)  £2.98
42nd Street [1933] [DVD]

42nd Street [1933] [DVD]

DVD ~ Warner Baxter
4.4 out of 5 stars (5)  £4.98
Easter Parade [DVD] [1948]

Easter Parade [DVD] [1948]

DVD ~ Fred Astaire
4.7 out of 5 stars (7)  £4.68
You Were Never Lovelier [DVD] [1942]

You Were Never Lovelier [DVD] [1942]

DVD ~ Fred Astaire
4.2 out of 5 stars (9)  £5.47
Swing Time [DVD] [1935]

Swing Time [DVD] [1935]

DVD ~ Fred Astaire
4.2 out of 5 stars (5)  £4.98
› Explore similar items

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
Check a corresponding box or enter your own tags in the field below
(4)
(3)
(3)
(2)
(2)
(2)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

5 Reviews
5 star:
 (4)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the best!, 27 April 2006
If you like hollywood musicals then you will be in for treat! As with most musicals the plot is a little thin, however it has an engaging simplicity that sets it appart from most. In the film Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell have a fantastic dance routine to Cole Porter's 'begin the beguine' which it has to be said is one of the most amazing tap dance routines of all time! If you watch it for nothing else you must see this!
The film also has a good supporting cast with George Murphy and a brilliant part for Frank Morgan (you will probably recognise him from the Wizard of Oz).
If you like a happy go lucky musical with great performances this is worth the buy!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A benchmark in dancing choreography., 26 Jul 2007
By R. Gilbert "Cheltenham Rich" (England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This has to be one of the best dance films ever made. Eleanor Powell may not have had the looks of Ginger but judged on this film her footwork was better. Maybe it owes something to the dazzling choreography throughout. I doubt that Fred ever danced better. His male co-star George Murphy is also excellent in a good, though typically uncomplicated storyline. It seems harsh to knock this film but it does have a flaw in that with one notable exception, the songs are not especially memorable. The exception of course is 'Begin the Beguine'. Even so, I still give it 5 stars, its a classic!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Astaire, Powell and Begin the Beguine!, 8 Aug 2007
By C. O. DeRiemer (San Antonio, Texas, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
There's little reason to see this Fred Astaire-Eleanor Powell movie except for the dance numbers--and they provide the best reasons in the world. The plot involves a song-and-dance team (Astaire and George Murphy), a Broadway show with a big star (Eleanor Powell), mistaken identity, true friendship and boy gets girl.

Most of the dance numbers, however, are extraordinary, with songs by Cole Porter. Powell sings and taps out "I Am the Captain" in a major production number featuring big sets and lots of chorus boys. She shows why she was a great tap dancer and a major musical star who could carry a movie by herself. Astaire and Murphy do "Please Don't Monkey With Broadway," a fine example of a song-and-dance tap act that involves intricate patterns, humor, even a mock duel. "I Concentrate on You" is a great Porter standard written for the movie. "I've Got My Eyes on You" is a first-rate light romantic ballad that is a solid Astaire solo number. He was a good piano player and shows it with this number. He's backstage and dances with a photograph of Powell over and around props and furniture, and at one point uses a small ball which he seems to have mesmerized to do his bidding. He was always great using objects, and he was great because he rehearsed endlessly. He's got that ball's number. The showstopper, of course, is "Begin the Beguine." It's a big production number that starts with Astaire and Powell in costume, then moves to singers, then moves back to Astaire and Powell. This is the portion that gets the raves. She's in a white dress, he's in a white tux. They're tap dancing on a mirror-finish black floor. Off camera Artie Shaw and his orchestra continues with the song. They start tapping together, move to a challenge tap, then come back together in an extraordinary tap routine that involves them circling each other, throwing up their arms in counterpoint to their tapping and to each other. This part is excerpted in That's Entertainment. Sinatra introduces the excerpt by saying that you won't see anything like it again. I don't think anyone would disagree.

Fans of Astaire might consider getting a copy of Arlene Croce's The Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Book. Croce was the dance critic for the New Yorker. She goes through each of the Astaire-Rogers movies explaining the background, how the dance numbers were developed and analysing why Astaire was as great as he was. It's an interesting book.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic
Everything i expected and more,. A classic Fred film, I was not disapointed, i loved the dancing, and all the staging of the different numbers, as i said a truly classic classy... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. A. J. Thrupp

5.0 out of 5 stars Magic
Two great dance pieces in this wonderful film.First -I concentrate on you-surely one of Cole Porter's finest songs, and the unforgettable Begin the Beguine. Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2006 by H. MCDOUGALL

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
classics
tv series 		0 22 hours ago
classics
British Police film. 		12 6 days ago
classics
Vertigo (1958) 		8 12 days ago
classics
AJ CRONIN 		2 13 days ago
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

The Body Shop

The Body Shop - Vitamin C Skin Boost
Protect and boost your glow with The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost.

›Shop The Body Shop

  

Make A Wish

Get what you want with an Amazon.co.uk Wish List Make sure you always get what you want with an Amazon.co.uk Wish List.

›More info on Wish Lists

  

Up to 53% off Braun Series Shavers

Braun Series 3 390cc Clean & Renew System Rechargeable Foil Electric Shaver
Get in touch with your smooth side with Braun Series shavers, now with Gillette blade technology.

›Discover Braun Series at Amazon.co.uk

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
The Girl Who Played with Fire
The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson
4.5 out of 5 stars (75)£3.86
 Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga) by Stephenie Meyer
4.1 out of 5 stars (464)£6.49
 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
4.1 out of 5 stars (165)£3.99
 The Host
The Host by Stephenie Meyer
4.2 out of 5 stars (81)£3.86

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates