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Born To Dance

         My old movie for this week is Born To Dance from 1936, black and white, starring Jimmy Stewart. Stewart sings and dances in this one. He plays a sailor about to leave the military and enter civilian life along with two other guys in NYC. It starts out with a big musical number by the sailors aboard ship. By today's standards, the opening number is stiff and too staged.

         The whole musical part of it is a good example of how musicals got a bad reputation. There are a few familiar songs, but they are not rendered in a fashion with which we are familiar. The costars are Eleanor Powell, Virginia Bruce, and Buddy Ebsen. 1936: we're talking about a very young and lithe version of each actor. Buddy Ebsen's bones just seem to be liquid, his face a constant comical contortion. He resembles very little of Jed Clampett. Stewart does less dancing and singing after the story is under way. There's lots of tap dancing, jazz, and big show fanfare.

         The commander of the ship is totally inept, forgetful, and unbelievable, but manages some very funny exchanges with some of his sailors. The best story line was actually that of a married couple who'd been separated for 4 years by the navy, neither character being played by one of the big stars. In the end, all the boys get the girls, and everyone lives happily ever after.

         It was interesting, if only to see these young stars. It's not hard to believe they've never remade this movie, like most movies are. The music would need newer formats or replacements. The dancing would have to change. The story lines would need greater touch with reality, and the humor would have to be more consistent, not just occasional. Don't put this one on your "must see" list, unless you're a student of dancing. For the rest of us, it's just a history lesson.