EASTER PARADE

Why host EASTER PARADE on its 50th anniversary, besides Judy Garland in her radiant prime and the everlasting charm of Fred Astaire? Because it's representative of an endangered species, the Hollywood movie musical. Recent musical storytelling seems to be exclusive property of cartoon lion kings and animated princesses. Nowadays, when a full-scale, live-action song-and-dance routine suddenly blooms (like in “The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit”) it's almost alien in its novelty and joie de vivre. There once thrived a golden age, when classic musicals arrived regularly, sometimes several a year, each almost guaranteed to add more favorites to the American songbook. That was entertainment, and entertainment was the mandate of the Arthur Freed Unit at MGM, the studio behind EASTER PARADE. Set in a fanciful swing-era notion of 1912, it depicts a famous hoofer (guess), abruptly abandoned by his beautiful partner, who randomly selects and grooms a vaudeville chorus girl (Garland) to be his new co-star, even though she's got trouble telling her left foot from her right. No, they don't make them like this anymore. Maybe they just can't. But we will always be glad that they did.