Review of Two Girls on Broadway

Joan Blondell runs a dance academy for children, with young sister, Lana Turner, in this remake of the Oscar-winning Best Picture, The Broadway Melody. Joan is engaged to George Murphy, who went off to New York for his big break into show business, but with a gimmick of singing canaries. But guess what. They're only a means of showing off what he can do, sing and dance. In fact, the songs and the musical talents of the stars make up most of the movie's appeal. This movie is an good example of what you might call a movie doomed from the start, because of a no-win situation. Let me explain: When George meets young Lana for the first time, he obviously takes a liking to her, and her vice versa. (Why they never met before, is confusing to me.) All this happens, despite the fact we know that Joan is madly in love with George. And, there is no other suitor for Joan. **SPOILER** Joan in turn sacrifices her love for George to go back home, their small town, and lets George and Lana live happily ever after. What a totally downbeat ending for Joan! No matter how noble it may appear, you can tell she hates it, really. But, because Lana is young and sexier, is she supposed to get her man, even if it's her sister's man first? The first 45 minutes or so of this short film is upbeat with good musical numbers, but the explosion of the love triangle blows up in their faces and we are left holding the bag and Joan has a one-way ticket home. You've been warned.