Fred Astaire had the ability to make his films come alive. His movies with Ginger Rogers, Rita Hayworth and Cyd Charisse, make dancing look completely natural. He holds his own with Bing Crosby in Holiday Inn, helping to make it a classic. It would seem to be only natural that being paired with Judy Garland, would work. The partnership doesn’t quite work.
The songs are Irving Berlin’s. He was a very good friend of Astaire. Garland and the master of dance, do their best performing the musical numbers. They aren’t the problem. Its just that the duo doesn’t quite click. They are both masters at their craft. They just never seem to be a couple falling in love. It could be Astaire’s age difference. It may be the delivery of the lines. Their is also a love triangle involving Garland, Astaire and Peter Lawford. It doesn’t entertain and even a casual viewer of this type of movie, knows the outcome.
Fred Astaire plays Don Hewes. He is part of a stage act with Nadine Hale, (Ann Miller), in 1911. Nadine is lured to Broadway, breaking up the act. Hewes decides he can get anyone to take Nadine’s place. He meets a waitress, Hannah Brown, (Judy Garland). Hewes takes her under his wing, and they become an act. Hannah is at first awkward and shy, but with Don’s tutelage, becomes a pro. They start out slowly with small towns and become broadway sensations.
The movie takes place between Easter 1911-1912. Their is a feel for the time frame. In between there is the aforementioned love triangle. Jonathan Harrow III, (Peter Lawford) stands between the entertainers and true love. The actor started young, but just isn’t able to break through in this movie. The character should be a real threat to Don Hewes’ happiness, but never is.
The one thing that entertains in this movie are the songs, Steppin’ Out With My Baby, A Fella With an Umbrella, A Couple of Swells, Shakin’ the Blues Away and Easter Parade. Fred Astaire is incredible performing Steppin’ Out With My Baby. Garland and Astaire are very good as hobo’s performing A Couple of Swells. Ann Miller is great performing the song, Shakin’ the Blues Away. Songs like Easter Parade were Berlin standards. A Couple of Swells and Fella With an Umbrella, were written specifically for the film.
MGM was famous for their musicals. They signed Fred Astaire for this movie, and he did several more for the studio. Easter Parade isn’t White Christmas. That movie has a better look and feel to it. Easter Parade may have a weak script, but it can be enjoyed for Judy Garland and Fred Astaire’s ability to mesmerize with their singing and dancing skills.