Born to Dance

For the 2015 New Zealand film of the same name, see Born to Dance (2015 film), For the TV series, see Born to Dance (TV series)
Born to Dance
theatrical release poster
Directed by Roy Del Ruth
Produced by Jack Cummings
Screenplay by Jack McGowan
Sid Silvers
Story by Jack McGowan
Sid Silvers
Buddy G. DeSylva
Starring Eleanor Powell
James Stewart
Virginia Bruce
Music by Cole Porter
Cinematography Ray June
Edited by Blanche Sewell
Production
company
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
 November 27, 1936 (US)
Running time
 106 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Born to Dance is an American musical film starring Eleanor Powell and James Stewart, directed by Roy Del Ruth and released in 1936 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The score was composed by Cole Porter.

Cast

Soundtrack

  • Rolling Home (1936)
  • Rap, Tap on Wood (1936) (Also called "Rap-Tap on Wood")
    • Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
    • Sung and danced by Eleanor Powell and The Foursome; Eleanor Powell's vocals dubbed by Marjorie Lane
    • Also danced by Eleanor Powell at a rehearsal
  • Hey, Babe, Hey (1936)
  • Entrance of Lucy James (1936)
  • Love Me, Love My Pekinese (1936)
    • Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
    • Sung by Virginia Bruce and male chorus
    • Danced by Eleanor Powell
  • Easy to Love (1936)
    • Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
    • Played during the opening credits and as background music
    • Sung by Eleanor Powell and James Stewart, Frances Langford, danced by her and Buddy Ebsen
    • Mock conducted by Reginald Gardiner as the Central Park Policeman, who spoofs conductor Leopold Stokowski, incorporating his long hair and dramatic gestures
    • Reprised by the cast at the end
    • Eleanor Powell's vocals dubbed by Marjorie Lane
  • I've Got You Under My Skin (1936)
    • Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
    • Danced by Georges and Jalna
    • Sung by Virginia Bruce
    • Played also as background music
  • Swingin' the Jinx Away (1936); (Also called "Swinging the Jinx Away")
    • Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
    • Played during the opening credits
    • Sung by Frances Langford, Buddy Ebsen, The Foursome and male chorus
    • Danced by Buddy Ebsen and Eleanor Powell
  • Sidewalks of New York (1894)
    • Music by Charles Lawlor
    • Lyrics by James W. Blake
    • In the score during the "Rolling Home" number
  • Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean (1843)
    • Written by David T. Shaw
    • Arranged by Thomas A. Beckett
    • In the score during the "Rolling Home" number; Also in the score during the "Swingin' the Jinx Away" number and partially sung by the chorus
  • The Prisoner's Song (If I Had the Wings of an Angel) (1924)
    • Music and Lyrics by Guy Massey
    • In the underscore when 'Gunny' Saks is shown in the brig[1]

Production

The film stars dancer Eleanor Powell and was a follow-up to her successful debut in Broadway Melody of 1936. The film co-stars James Stewart as Powell's love interest and Virginia Bruce as the film's resident femme fatale and Powell's rival. Powell's Broadway Melody co-stars Buddy Ebsen and Frances Langford return to provide comedy and musical support. Highlights of the film include a rare musical number by Stewart (which the actor later poked fun at in the That's Entertainment! retrospective), and a bombastic finale called "Swingin' the Jinx Away". Set amidst a pre-Second World War naval backdrop, the Depression-era "feel good" number (which runs nearly 10 minutes) makes topical references to the economy and political leaders (with a "shout out" to Cab Calloway thrown in for good measure) sung by Powell, adds in an eccentric dance routine by Ebsen, and ends in a flurry of tap dancing by Powell culminating in a patriotic salute, and finally a blast of cannon fire. This finale was also lifted in its entirety and re-used in another Powell film, I Dood It, co-starring Red Skelton. Although considered one of Powell's (and MGM's) most memorable musical numbers, and often featured in retrospectives such as That's Entertainment!, musical director Roger Edens was often quoted as being embarrassed by the segment.

The film introduced the Porter standards "You'd Be So Easy to Love" (performed by Stewart and Marjorie Lane, dubbed for Powell) and "I've Got You Under My Skin" (performed by Bruce), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song. It was the first film in which Stewart sang.

Some of the musical numbers were recorded in stereophonic sound, making this one of the first films to utilize multi-channel technology. Rhino Records included the stereo tracks in its soundtrack album, released on CD, including Jimmy Stewart's and Marjorie Lane's performance of "You'd Be So Easy to Love."[2]

Accolades

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:

References

  1. ↑ Born to Dance (1936) - Soundtracks
  2. ↑ "Born to Dance (1936 Movie Soundtrack) (Rhino Handmade): Cole Porter, Eleanor Powell: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-01-17.
  3. ↑ "AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs Nominees" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-07-30.
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