Trailer
Plot summary
Broadway dancer Don Hewes loves his dancing partner, Nadine Hale. She is offered the chance to star in a show by herself and has already signed, so the partnership ends and Don is crushed. That night at Pastini's restaurant, he boasts to his friend Johnny and to Mike, who tends the bar, that he can take any girl from the floor show and turn her into a star. He chooses Hannah Brown at random. At rehearsal the next day he finds that she mixes up left and right. He buys her a new wardrobe and bills her under the stage name Juanita, but their first performance goes badly. Don then builds routines that suit Hannah instead of copying Nadine, and the pair, billed as Hannah and Hewes, become a success.
Cast
- John Albrightas Western Union Messenger
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Easter Parade (1948)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- Gene Kelly was originally cast opposite Garland but broke his ankle. The part was then offered to Astaire, who had retired two years earlier; very eager to work again, Astaire consulted Kelly about the offer, and Kelly supported his decision to take the role.
- A seductive performance of "Mr. Monotony" by Garland in a tuxedo jacket, black fedora and black nylons was cut as too risqué for a film set in 1912. Audiences finally saw an edited version in the 1994 compilation film That's Entertainment! III.
- The musical numbers can never be remixed into stereo or surround sound, because the original audio track recordings burned in a fire, leaving only a monaural composite track of dialogue, music and effects and an isolated music-only track meant for international release.
- Cyd Charisse withdrew from the production with torn ligaments in her knee, and Ann Miller replaced her in the role of Nadine Hale, which became her major MGM debut after earlier contracts with RKO and Columbia.
- Eventual fellow Rat Pack member Frank Sinatra was at one point considered for the role of Jonathan Harrow III, the part that went to Peter Lawford.
