review for Broadway Melody of 1940 on AllMovie

Broadway Melody of 1940 proves that a musical can be first-rate entertainment even with a script that is, to put it politely, "familiar." Ideally, of course, one wishes to have a story that is fresh, a screenplay that is literate and witty, and characters that surprise one with their doings. Melody offers none of this, and by all rights should be consigned to the ranks of the moderately entertaining but not memorable. And yet Melody is memorable, if for nothing else than for the firecracker pairing of the irreplaceable Fred Astaire with the indomitable Eleanor Powell. The two are not a natural match, as Astaire and Rogers were; their styles don't mesh to form one whole, but at the same time they don't clash. What one gets are two forces of nature enjoying a friendly competition with each other, with the audience the clear winner. Melody's most famous set piece is the incredible "Begin the Beguine" sequence, and it is definitely huge and inescapably impressive -- just take a gander at that floor, glimmering like the sheerest black ice. Yet the best number is arguably the quieter but simply captivating jukebox dance sequence, which grows more powerful with each repeated viewing. Cole Porter's scrumptious score also includes the delicious "I Concentrate on You," as well as the infectious "Don't Monkey Around with Broadway" and several others. George Murphy is also on hand to offer bland support, along with some hoofing that is far from bland, and there's also an able assist from the likes of Frank Morgan. Melody sags a bit in between songs, but when it's singing and dancing, it's a doozy.