Anniversary Alert! “With All the Frills Upon It:” The 70th Anniversary of “Easter Parade.”

By Michael Lyons

Ah, classic Hollywood Musicals from MGM.  Only there, could a popular song become an entire film!

In 1948, the Studio used one of songwriter Irving Berlin’s most classic holiday songs, “Easter Parade,” as the basis for a full-blown, feature-length, song and dance musical starring none other than Fred Astaire and Judy Garland.

While the idea of a song turned into a film would be a staple at MGM (1952’s “Singin’ in the Rain” is a perfect example), “Easter Parade” stands out as a favorite among fans.

With the holiday weekend approaching, coupled with the film’s 70th anniversary this year, now is the perfect time to celebrate “Easter Parade.”

The film tells a very simple, “Pygmalion”-like story of a Broadway star named Don Hewes (Astaire) who hires a young, unknown singer named Hannah Brown (Garland) to be his partner in his act and what starts as a relationship that makes Don’s previous partner and best friend jealous, develops into a romance between Don and Hannah.

And that?  Pretty much the entire plot.  But, a movie like “Easter Parade” is really an excuse to link musical numbers together.  And some of those in this film rank as some of MGM’s most memorable.

There’s the opening number, “Happy Easter,” where Astaire does an amazing tap dance in a toy shop that looks as if it was all filmed in one, continuous shot.  Peter Lawford, who plays Don’s best friend Jonathan, sings the hummable ballad “A Fella with an Umbrella” and “Steppin’ Out with my Baby,” features not only some more fancy footwork from Fred, but some of the most creative camerawork and effects to come out of the studio’s musical heyday.

There’s also “A Couple of Swells,” in which Astaire and Garland play “hobos” in their act.  Watching the two of them have so much fun in this scene, it’s easy to see why they were counted as the top talent and stars of their day.

And, of course, the title song, “Easter Parade,” which concludes the film in grand style.  The song, which had been produced by Berlin in 1933 and already featured in “Holiday Inn” (1942) is given the “MGM treatment” here, as Garland and Astaire perform it toward the end of the film, with beautiful shots of the Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue in New York City and a soaring chorus in the background.

Released on June 30, 1948, “Easter Parade” is like candy found in an basket on Easter Morning: a light, colorful confection that’s a wonderful indulgence and oh-so-sweet!

Happy Easter Everyone!

Sources: IMDb

Wikipedia