The Broadway Melody Ballet

***The Broadway Melody Ballet*** is a 13 minute musical song from the musical *Singin' in the Rain*. It was performed by Gene Kelly and previously by Charles King.

## Lyrics

* Original Version
* 1952 Movie Version
* Charles King Version
* Broadway Melody with two versions

Don't bring a frown to old Broadway

Ah, you got a clown on Broadway

Your troubles there, are out of style

'Cause Broadway always wears a smile

A million hearts beat quicker there

A million lights, they flicker there

No clouds are gray on that great white way

That's the Broadway Melody!

[instrumental]

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Broadway rhythm,

It's got me, ev'rybody dance

Broadway rhythm,

It's got me, ev'rybody dance

Out on the gay white way and each merry café

Orchestras play taking our breath away

Broadway rhythm,

It's got me, ev'rybody sing and dance

Oh, that Broadway rhythm...

Oh, that Broadway rhythm

When I hear that happy beat

I feel like dancin' down the street

To that Broadway rhythm writhing, beating rhythm

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

[instrumental]

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

That's the Broadway Melody!

Don't bring a frown to old Broadway

Ah, you got a clown on Broadway

Your troubles there, are out of style

'Cause Broadway always wears a smile

A million lights, they flicker there

A million hearts beat quicker there

No skies are gray on that great white way

That's the Broadway Melody!

[instrumental]

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Broadway rhythm,

It's got me, ev'rybody dance

Broadway rhythm,

It's got me, ev'rybody dance

Out on the gay white way and each merry café

Orchestras play taking our breath away

Broadway rhythm,

It's got me, ev'rybody sing and dance

Oh, that Broadway rhythm...

Oh, that Broadway rhythm

When I hear that happy beat

I feel like dancin' down the street

To that Broadway rhythm writhing, beating rhythm

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

[instrumental]

When I hear that happy beat

I feel like dancin' down the street

When I hear that happy beat

I feel like dancin' down the street

When I hear that happy beat

I feel like dancin' down the street

[instrumental]

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

That's the Broadway Melody!

(Spoken)

Broadway, you magic street

River of humanity

I have trudged my weary feet

Down your Gay White Way

Dreaming a million dreams of fame

Yearning for you to know my name

Broadway, you have heard the story

Of a lot of tears and glory

But you always are the same

Always playin' at the game

Noisy, hurried, with your bustle

Scrambling, dizzy, full of hustle

Jazzy, silly, brassy, frilly,

Broadway singing, Broadway music

That's the Broadway Melody!

(Song)

Don't bring a frown to old Broadway

Ah, you got a clown on Broadway

Your troubles there, are out of style

'Cause Broadway always wears a smile

A million lights, they flicker there

A million hearts beat quicker there

No skies are gray on that great white way

That's the Broadway Melody!

* Broadway Melody
* Broadway Rhythm

Don't bring a frown to old Broadway

Ah, you got a clown on Broadway

Your troubles there, are out of style

'Cause Broadway always wears a smile

A million lights, they flicker there

A million hearts beat quicker there

No skies are gray on that great white way

That's the Broadway Melody!

Don't bring a frown to old Broadway

Ah, you got a clown on Broadway

Your troubles there, are out of style

'Cause Broadway always wears a smile

A million lights, they flicker there

A million hearts beat quicker there

No skies are gray on that great white way

That's the Broadway Melody!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Broadway rhythm,

It's got me, ev'rybody dance

Broadway rhythm,

It's got me, ev'rybody dance

Out on the gay white way and each merry café

Orchestras play taking our breath away

Broadway rhythm,

It's got me, ev'rybody sing and dance

Oh, that Broadway rhythm...

Oh, that Broadway rhythm

When I hear that happy beat

I feel like dancin' down the street

In that Broadway rhythm writhing, beating rhythm

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Gotta dance!

Broadway rhythm,

It's got me, ev'rybody dance

Broadway rhythm,

It's got me, ev'rybody dance

Out on the gay white way and each merry café

Orchestras play taking our breath away

Broadway rhythm,

Broadway rhythm

Broadway rhythm,

It's got me, ev'rybody sing and dance!

## Plot

Eddie Kearns (Charles King) sings "The Broadway Melody", and tells some chorus girls that he brought the Mahoney Sisters vaudeville act to New York to perform it with him in the latest revue being produced by Francis Zanfield (Eddie Kane). Harriet "Hank" Mahoney (Bessie Love) and her sister Queenie Mahoney (Anita Page) are awaiting Eddie's arrival at their apartment. Hank, the older sister, prides herself on her business sense and talent, while Queenie is lauded for her beauty. Hank is confident they will make it big while Queenie is less eager to put everything on the line to become a star. Hank declines the offer of their Uncle Jed (Jed Prouty) to join a 30-week traveling show but consents to think it over.

Eddie, who is engaged to Hank, arrives and sees Queenie for the first time since she was a girl and is instantly taken with her. He tells them to come to a rehearsal for Zanfield's revue to present their act. A blond woman sabotages their performance by placing a bag in the piano, which causes a fight with Hank. Zanfield isn't interested in it, but says he might have a use for Queenie, who begs him to give Hank a part as well, saying both will work for one wage. She also convinces him to pretend that Hank's business skills won him over. Eddie witnesses this exchange and becomes even more enamored of Queenie for her devotion to her sister. During a dress rehearsal for the revue, Zanfield says the pacing is too slow for "The Broadway Melody" and cuts Hank and Queenie from the number. Meanwhile, another woman is injured after falling off a set prop and Queenie is selected to replace her. Nearly everyone is captivated by Queenie, particularly notorious playboy Jacques "Jock" Warriner (Kenneth Thomson). While Jock begins to woo Queenie, Hank is upset that Queenie is building her success on her looks rather than her talent.

Over the following weeks, Queenie spends a lot of time with Jock, of which Hank and Eddie fervently disapprove. They forbid her to see him, which results in Queenie pushing them away and the deterioration of the relationship between the sisters. Queenie is only with Jock to fight her growing feelings for Eddie, but Hank thinks she's setting herself up to be hurt. Eventually, Eddie and Queenie confess their love for each other, but Queenie, unwilling to break her sister's heart, runs off to Jock once again.

Hank, after witnessing Queenie's fierce outburst toward Eddie and his devastated reaction to it, finally realizes that they are in love. She berates Eddie for letting Queenie run away and tells him to go after her. She claims to never have loved him and that she'd only been using him to advance her career. After he leaves, she breaks down and alternates between sobs and hysterical laughter. She composes herself enough to call Uncle Jed to accept the job with the 30-week show.

There's a raucous party at the apartment Jock had recently purchased for Queenie, but he insists that they spend time alone. When she resists his advances, he says that it's the least that she could do after all he's done for her. He begins to get physical, but Eddie bursts in and attempts to fight Jock, who knocks him through the door with one punch. Queenie runs to Eddie and leaves Jock and the party behind.

Sometime later, Hank and Uncle Jed await the return of Queenie and Eddie from their honeymoon. The relationship between the sisters is on the mend, but there is obvious discomfort between Hank and Eddie. Queenie announces she's through with show business and will settle down in their new house on Long Island. She insists that Hank live with them when her job is over. After Hank leaves with her new partner and Uncle Jed, Queenie laments the fact that she wasn't able to help her sister find the happiness she deserves. Ironically, Hank's new partner is the blond who tried to sabotage the act when the sisters first arrived in New York. The final scene shows Hank on her way to the train station. She promises her new partner that they'll be back on Broadway within six months.

## Trivia

* **The Broadway Ballet** song was to be short on stage so that was a 6 minute song.