Year of Release: 1948Country of Origin: USA
Director: Charles Walters
Cast: Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford, Ann Miller
Plot outline: On the day before Easter, Don Hewes is crushed when his dancing partner (and object of affection) Nadine Hale refuses to start a new contract with him. To prove she is not important to him, he acquires innocent new protegee Hannah Brown, vowing to make her a star in time for next year's Easter parade (IMDb).
Easter Parade is a decent musical that is winsome only in its many Irving Berlin numbers. Fred Astaire was a replacement for Gene Kelly, who broke his ankle playing ball with his family while the movie was in production. Astaire uneasily teams with Judy Garland (they seemed awkward together, though the much older Astaire said he enjoyed working with her). The music is not great but it's spirited and agreeable, with such lively numbers as the curious show stopper "A couple of Swells." The others include Astaire's "Steppin' Out with My Baby," his engaging opening number "Happy Easter" which is followed by his inventive "Drum Crazy," and finally there's Ann Miller's flashy "Shakin' the Blues Away." Even Peter Lawford sneaks by with his barely acceptable attempt at singing in tune "A Fella with an Umbrella." The title song is gloriously sung by Garland in the finale, and presents a nostalgic picture of a New York back in 1912 when the wealthy carriage-crowd paraded up and down 5th Avenue in their finest outfits. (DS)
My judgement: ** out of 4 stars
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