SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Musical with music by George Gershwin and Vernon Duke and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. Movie producer Oliver Merlin (Menjou) overhears two women criticising a film he is making. He decided to hire one of them, Hazel (Leeds), to provide him with the popularist view naming her ‘Miss Humanity’. He falls in love with her but she falls in love with Danny (Baker), a hamburger cook turned film star. In one sequence Oliver asks Hazel her opinion of a dance version of Romeo and Juliet which is portrayed as a feud between ballet dancers (Capulets) and jazz tap dancers (Montagues). Hazel replies that she prefers a happy ending where the lovers live and their families are reconciled - this version (choreographed by Balanchine) is shown. In the final scene there is banter about Shakespeare, Charlie making a joke about Shakespeare being boring.

Language

English

Country

United States

Medium

Film

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Year of release

1938

Duration

115 mins

Credits

Director

George Marshall; H.C. Potter

Producer

Samuel Goldwyn

Cinematographer

Gregg Toland

Writer

Ira Gershwin

Screenplay

Arthur Phillips; Ben Hecht; Sam Perrin

Music

George Gershwin; Vernon Duke

Costume

Omar Kiam

Art Direction

Richard Day (2)

Choreographer

George Balanchine

Cast

Adolphe Menjou	Oliver Merlin
Andrea Leeds	Hazel Davies
Charlie McCarthy	McCarthy, Charlie
Kenny Baker	Danny Beecher
Vera Zorina	Olga Samara

Additional Details

Production type

Operas and Musicals

Plays

Romeo and Juliet

Keywords

dance; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes

Available on DVD region 1 only (3/2007).

General

Balanchine planned to choreograph a ballet based on Gershwin’s An American in Paris for the film and spent weeks rehearsing the number and planning every camera move. Goldwyn walked out of the first screening announcing that the number was being cut because it was too ‘artistic’ and ‘the miners in Harrisburg wouldn’t understand it.' Balanchine tried to change Goldwyn’s mind, even pointing out that there were no miners in Harrisburg, but to no avail. It would be 13 years before AN AMERICAN IN PARIS would make it to the screen in director Vincente Minnelli’s Oscar-winning film for MGM.

Awards

Academy Award nomination for Best Score and Best Interior Decoration.

Production Company

Name

Samuel Goldwyn Company

Online Retailer

Name

amazon.com

Web

http://www.amazon.com External site opens in new window