Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935) in Color — Starring Jack Benny & Eleanor Powell

Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935) — Buy This Classic in Color

Buy Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935) in color — MGM’s dazzling backstage musical comedy, professionally restored and colorized in stunning HD quality. This is an instant digital download, DRM-free, ready to stream or save on any device immediately after purchase. Originally filmed in black and white, this high-energy classic film has been carefully colorized frame by frame to bring the glitter and energy of Broadway’s golden age to vibrant life. Own Eleanor Powell’s electrifying star-making debut for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Bert Keeler (Jack Benny) is a fast-talking Broadway gossip columnist whose newspaper column thrives on fabrication as much as fact. When he invents a mysterious French dancing sensation as a publicity stunt, the fiction takes on an unexpected life of its own.

Small-town dancer Irene Foster (Eleanor Powell) arrives in New York with big ambitions and bigger talent — she’s been dancing since she could walk and her tap technique is unlike anything Broadway has seen. Through a series of comic misunderstandings, Irene is mistaken by Bert’s hapless assistant for the very fictional French star that Bert invented. Broadway producer Robert Gordon (Robert Taylor) is simultaneously trying to mount his new production while being manipulated by Bert’s column and entangled in Irene’s unplanned deception.

As identities tangle and romantic complications multiply, Eleanor Powell’s extraordinary tap dancing becomes the film’s center of gravity. Her routines demonstrate the footwork that was about to make her MGM’s biggest musical star — a combination of classical technique, jazz rhythms, and sheer athletic power that audiences had never seen before. Buddy Ebsen adds warm comic dancing energy alongside Powell, and the whole affair builds to a triumphant Broadway opening night that celebrates the American musical tradition with genuine joy and spectacular visual flair.

Cast & Crew

Director: Roy Del Ruth

Cast:

• Jack Benny as Bert Keeler
• Eleanor Powell as Irene Foster
• Robert Taylor as Robert Gordon
• Una Merkel as Kitty Corbett
• Sid Silvers as Snoop Blue
• Buddy Ebsen as Ted Burke
• June Knight as Lillian Brent
• Vilma Ebsen as Sally Burke
• Nick Long Jr. as Basil Newcombe

Release Year: 1935
Runtime: 103 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
MPAA Rating: Approved
Genre: Comedy, Music

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Broadway Melody of 1936 launched Eleanor Powell as a major Hollywood star, and watching this classic film in colorized HD, it is immediately clear why MGM signed her to a long-term contract on the strength of it. Powell’s tap dancing is extraordinary by any era’s standards — rhythmically precise, athletically powerful, inventive in construction, and performed with an ease and joy that makes it look effortless. The big production numbers in this film are among the finest in the classic Hollywood musical canon.

The colorization process uses advanced digital techniques to ensure historically accurate colors while preserving every detail of the original cinematography.

This colorized version preserves the artistry of the original while breathing vivid new life into every frame.

Originally filmed in black and white, this classic film has been professionally restored and colorized to bring the grandeur of MGM’s production values fully to life. The sequined costumes shimmer, the art deco sets glow with period elegance, and the polished dance floors reflect Powell’s footwork with new visual clarity. Color transforms these sequences from impressive black and white performances into something approaching the theatrical experience audiences would have had seeing a real Broadway revue in 1935.

Jack Benny’s dry, fast-talking comedy persona was perfectly suited to the role of the scheming gossip columnist, and his sparring with Sid Silvers as his sidekick provides snappy screwball energy between the dance numbers. Robert Taylor brings matinee-idol charm and romantic sincerity to his role as the idealistic producer caught up in everyone else’s schemes.

This is a classic film that delivers what the best Hollywood musicals always promised: talent, spectacle, romance, and the irresistible belief that the show will always go on. Buy Broadway Melody of 1936 colorized today and experience one of MGM’s finest Golden Age entertainments in vivid, professionally restored color. This classic movie is also available in colour for international audiences.

Technical Details

| Detail | Information |
|——–|————-|
| Title | Broadway Melody of 1936 (1935) Colorized |
| Director | Roy Del Ruth |
| Year | 1935 |
| Runtime | 103 minutes |
| Original Format | Black and White |
| Colorized Format | HD Color |
| IMDb Rating | 6.7/10 |
| MPAA Rating | Approved |
| Genre | Comedy, Music |
| Price | €15.00 |
| Delivery | Instant digital download, DRM-free |
| Format | MP4 (HD 720p) |

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who is Eleanor Powell?
Eleanor Powell is widely considered one of the greatest tap dancers in film history. Her extraordinary footwork combined classical dance training with jazz timing and an almost impossible speed and precision. Broadway Melody of 1936 was the film that established her as an MGM star, launching a career that continued through Broadway Melody of 1938, Rosalie (1937), and her peak achievement Broadway Melody of 1940, where she danced with Fred Astaire in what Astaire himself called the greatest dancing performance he ever saw from a partner.

Is this the first Broadway Melody film?
No — the Broadway Melody series began with The Broadway Melody (1929), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture and was Hollywood’s first sound musical. Broadway Melody of 1936 is the second in the series, followed by Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) and Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940).

What is Jack Benny’s role in the film?
Jack Benny plays Bert Keeler, a sharp-tongued Broadway gossip columnist whose invented stories create the film’s central comic premise. Benny’s signature dry timing and deadpan delivery translate effortlessly from his radio persona to the screen, and he dominates every scene of fast-paced screwball dialogue with relaxed, confident comic authority.

Is this the complete original 1935 film?
Yes. The full 103-minute 1935 MGM original, professionally colorized frame by frame with no cuts. Every tap routine, every comedy scene, every musical number preserved exactly as filmed.

How do I receive my download after purchase?
Your download link is delivered instantly via email after payment confirmation. Click to download your MP4 file — immediate access, no delays, no shipping.

Is this a DRM-free download?
Yes, completely DRM-free. Once downloaded, watch Broadway Melody of 1936 colorized on any device you own with no restrictions, no subscription, and no expiration date.

What devices are compatible with the download?
Any device that plays MP4 files: Windows PCs, Macs, Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, smart TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, and any modern media player.

Related Colorized Classics

• Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937)
• Top Hat (1935)
• The Great Ziegfeld (1936)
• Shall We Dance (1937)