Broadway Melody of 1940


Broadway Melody of 1940 [video art]

A Musical Comedy Film
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Screenplay by Leon Gordon and George Oppenheimer, based on a book by Jack McGowan and Dore Schary

A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Release
(February 1940; 102 minutes; B & W)
Produced by Jack Cummings
Directed by Norman Taurog
Photography by Oliver T. Marsh and Joseph Ruttenberg
Editor: Blanche Sewell
Music Direction by Alfred Newman
Art Direction by Cedric Gibbons
Choreography by Bobby Connolly


Broadway Melody of 1940 [movie poster]

Cast

Fred Astaire (Johnny Brett)
Eleanor Powell (Claire Bennett)
George Murphy (King Shaw)
Frank Morgan (Bob Casey)

Douglas McPhail (Masked Singer), Ian Hunter (Bert C. Matthews), Florence Rice (Amy Blake), Lynne Carver (Emmy Lou Lee), Ann Morriss (Pearl), Trixie Firschke (Juggler) and Carmen D'Antonio and her vocal group
 


I Concentrate on You [sheet music]

Musical Numbers
 

  • "Please Don't Monkey With Broadway" - Johnny and King
  • "Between You and Me" - King
  • "I've Got My Eyes on You" - Johnny
  • "I Concentrate on You" - Masked Singer
  • "Begin the Beguine" [from Jubilee]




     


Cut Songs

  • "I Happen to Be in Love"[unused; intended for Eleanor Powell]
  • "I'm So in Love With You" [unused; alternate lyrics for "I've Got My Eyes on You"]


Broadway Melody of 1940 [soundtrack album]

Soundtrack Recordings

Broadway Melody of 1940
Original Film Soundtrack

  • LP, 1980 [Classic International
    Filmusicals C.I.F. 3002 (mono)]
    (40:00 mins.)
  • Selections

    • Opening Titles
      • "Don't Monkey With Broadway" - George Murphy and Fred Astaire
    • ["I am the Captain (Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep)" - Eleanor Powell and Chorus] (Not a Cole Porter composition)
    • "Between You and Me" - George Murphy
    • "I've Got My Eyes On You" - Fred Astaire
    • Juke Box Dance - Eleanor Powell and Fred Astaire
    • "I Concentrate On You" - Douglas McPhail, Fred Astaire
    • "Begin the Beguine" - Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell with Chorus
      • "I Got My Eyes on You" - Fred Astaire, Eleanor Powell, George Murphy and Vocal Chorus
      • Finale and End Titles


    Contemporaneous Recordings

    "Between You and Me" - Mitchell Ayres and His Fashion in Music

    • 78 RPM, 1940 [Bluebird BB-10585]

    "Between You and Me" / "I've Got My Eyes on You" / "I Concentrate on You" / "I Happen to Be in Love" - Mary Healy

    • 78 RPM, 1940 [Columbia DB-1927]

    "I Concentrate on You" / "Between You and Me" - Dick Jurgens and His Orchestra

    • 78 RPM, 1940 [Vocalion 5442]

    "I Concentrate on You" / "I Happen to Be in Love" - Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra [vocal: Stanley Worth]

    • 78 RPM, 1940 [Columbia 35369] Charted on September 28, 1940; peaked at #25

    "I Concentrate on You" - Casa Loma Orchestra

    • 78 RPM, 1940 [Dcca 3008]

    "I've Got My Eyes on You" / "I Concentrate on You" - Les Brown and His Orchestra

    • 78 RPM, 1939 [Bluebird B-10551]

    "I've Got My Eyes on You" - Artie Shaw

    • 78 RPM, 1939 [Victor LPT-6000]

    "I've Got My Eyes on You" - Dinah Shore

    • 78 RPM, 1939 [Bluebird B-10592]

    "I've Got My Eyes on You" - Frankie Masters and His Orchestra

    • 78 RPM, 1939 [Vocalion 5352]

    "I've Got My Eyes on You" - Gene Krupa

    • 78 RPM, 1940 [Columbia 36361]

    "I've Got My Eyes on You" / "I Concentrate on You" - Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra [A-side vocal: Alan DeWitt / B-side vocal: Anita Boyer]

    • 78 RPM, 1940 [Victor 25470] A-side charted on February 17, 1940; peaked at #6 / B-side charted on April 6, 1960; peaked at #20

    "I've Got My Eyes on You" - Bob Crosby and His Orchestra [vocal: Marion Mann]

    • 78 RPM, 1940 [Decca 2991] Charted on April 6, 1940; peaked at #8



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