Second Chorus / That's Dancing!
by H.C. Potter
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Artie Shaw, Burgess Meredith, Charles Butterworth, Fred Astaire, Paulette GoddardDirector: H.C. Potter
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 100 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-04-22
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: PASSPORT VIDEO
Movie Reviews of Second Chorus / That's Dancing!
Movie Review: Disappointing Film-to-DVD Copy
Summary: 1 Stars
Alpha Video is one of those companies that copies film-based movies directly to DVD with no digital remastering of either the video or audio. As a result, the video jumped at times and spots blinked across the screen. Most of the dialogue sounded like people talking inside a large tin can lined with acoustic insulation.
The plot and characters did not age very well. It may have been funny at one time, but having two friends, O'Neill and Taylor (played by Fred Astaire and Burgess Meredith, respectively) lying and conniving against each other for the motives of lust and greed made the entire movie disappointing. Even the one sympathetic character, Mr. Chisholm (played by Charles Butterworth) got drawn into this "comic" device when he decided to use his position as concert sponsor to force his unwanted musical abilities on Artie Shaw.
Paulette Goddard's character Ellen Miller did women a disservice by pretending to put her foot down when she had an opportunity to display common sense and tell the two "friends" she did not want to see them again, after they used her friendship to gain auditions with Shaw and then embarrassed her with their unprofessional antics onstage. Instead, she keeps letting them get her into trouble, almost causing Chisholm to return home with his sponsorship money by making him think Ellen was married to Taylor. They finally almost see the error of their ways and put their lying and conniving to good use by convincing Chisholm that their latest scam was all a misunderstanding and persuading him to recommit to the concert.
Adding to the disappointment is the fact that Astaire had only two dance numbers, one with Goddard (she's no Ginger Rogers) and a solo dance at the end of the movie.
It sort of comes out okay in the end, but the idea that a woman's love can make a bad guy turn good has resulted in many women choosing to remain in abusive and even lethal relationships. Sorry, but I don't find this to be a very valuable theatrical device anymore. At least "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" did not pretend to be other than what it was.
If you want to view the movie, rent a copy until one of the better DVD production companies releases a properly remastered version.
Summary of Second Chorus / That's Dancing!
Second Chorus Fred Astaire stars in this swing musical. He plays a trumpet player in competition with another musician for the affections of their manager (played by the beautiful Paulette Goddard), who fends off their attentions while struggling to get them paying gigs. But who can resist being swept off her feet by the elegant Astaire? Goddard (at the time wife of movie legend Charles Chaplin, who starred with her in the classic comedy Modern Times) dances the light fantastic with Astaire in this delightful treat from the heyday of movie musicals. Songs include the Oscar-nominated "Would You Like to Be the Love of My Life?." A fine musical for all fans of Fred Astaire!Bonus Material: That's Dancing With Fred Astaire Fred Astaire danced with some of the loveliest leading ladies ever to grace the silver screen. Here is a selection of original theatrical trailers that enticed audiences into movie houses during the golden era when Fred Astaire ruled as king of Hollywood's musical stars-- and his partner (whoever she might be) was queen.
Second Chorus has one little gem of a moment that has found its way into many Fred Astaire highlight reels. Astaire sings and taps "I Ain't Hep to That Step but I'll Dig It" then tries to coax Paulette Goddard onto the floor. She declines, twice, then joins him in a joyous dance. The rest of the movie is not as enticing. Astaire and Burgess Meredith portray trumpet players vying for a spot in Artie Shaw's orchestra and for the affections of Goddard. The interplay among the three stars has its charms, and there's plenty of toe-tapping big-band music from Shaw, who plays himself in a substantial part and wrote the Oscar-nominated "Would You Like to Be the Love of My Life" with Johnny Mercer. Filmed in 1940, Second Chorus pales in comparison to the nine-film Astaire-Ginger Rogers partnership that had just ended. Astaire doesn't dance enough, and a tedious subplot involving Charles Butterworth stretches the movie about 15 minutes too long. No great surprise that like Royal Wedding, Second Chorus has slipped into the public domain and is generally available in poor-quality prints. --David Horiuchi
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