Born to Dance - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia

This musical follows the story of Nora Paige (Eleanor Powell), a dancer, and Ted Barker (James Stewart), a sailor. When Ted meets Nora, he knows that he has fallen in love. But after he rescues a Pekinese dog belonging to rival dancer Lucy James (Virginia Bruce), Ted is caught in a media mix-up when pictures surface of him and Lucy. If Ted wants to clear his image and win the love of his life, he must dance and sing his way back into Noras heart.

Born to Dance (1936) is an American musical film starring Eleanor Powell and James Stewart, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and directed by Roy Del Ruth. The plot of Born to Dance is not much different from the earlier film, or many others of the era—boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, girl puts on a spectacular song-and-dance show.The score is by Cole Porter .

Sailor Ted meets and falls in love with Nora Paige, an aspiring Broadway show dancer, at the Lonely Hearts Club. After Ted rescues Lucy James' Pekinese during a public relations campaign on his submarine, Lucy falls in love with Ted; and Ted's captain orders him to meet Lucy for a date at a night club breaking a date with Nora. When she sees a picture of Ted and Lucy in the newspaper, Nora, who lives with Jenny and her daughter (Jenny's husband is Gunny), no longer wants anything to do with Ted.

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 Powells love interest and Virginia Bruce as the films resident femme fatale and Powells rival. Powells Broadway Melody co-stars Buddy Ebsen and Frances Langford return to provide comedy and musical support. The score was composed by Cole Porter.

Highlights of the film include a rare musical number by Stewart (which the actor later poked fun at in the Thats 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 Powells (and MGMs) most memorable musical numbers, and often featured in retrospectives such as Thats Entertainment!, musical director Roger Edens was often quoted as being embarrassed by the segment.

The film introduced the Porter standards "Youd Be So Easy to Love" (performed by Stewart and Marjorie Lane, dubbed for Powell) and "Ive 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 Stewarts and Marjorie Lanes performance of "Youd Be So Easy to Love."

Cast

Eleanor Powell as Nora Paige

James Stewart as Ted Barker

Virginia Bruce as Lucy James

Una Merkel as Jenny Saks

Sid Silvers as Gunny Sacks

Frances Langford as Peppy Turner

Raymond Walburn as Captain Percival Dingby

Alan Dinehart as James Mac McKay

Buddy Ebsen as Mush Tracy

Juanita Quigley as Sally Saks

Georges as Himself, Dance Speciality (as Georges and Jalna)

Jalna as Herself, Dance Specialty (as Georges and Jalna)

Reginald Gardiner as Central Park Policeman

Barnett Parker as Model Home Demonstrator

The Foursome as Sailor Quartette