Second chorus fred astaire biography
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Shaw would admit that the film put him off acting, so much so that it would 33 years before he would perform in front of the camera again. Producer: Boris Morrows. Clerk
Producer Boris Morros (formerly with Paramount) had originally cast popular bandleader Paul Whiteman, who left to star in MGM’s Strike Up the Band.
He offers Ellen a job as his secretary, recognizing her organizational skills and potential to grow in the music industry. Danny & Hank have both followed Ellen to New York, and are trying to get on with Artie Shaw's band. Artie is impressed by their talent but sees potential issues in their rivalry and lack of professional experience. Charles Butterworth also appears as a lousy mandolin player who finances a big concert for the band.
Fairly enjoyable despite the shortcomings but no great shakes when up against Fred's best work with Ginger.
4uberlibrarian
Nice music, some cute sparring, but not enough Fred dancing!
In this 1940 film, Fred Astaire (Danny) plays a 7th year college student (he was only 41 at the time), who keeps flunking courses so he can stay on in town and play trumpet in a very successful dance band.
Method actor John Garfield was originally slated for the lead role, a suitable choice given the darker, more somber approach to the story.
As Shaw recalled, “It was meant to be a kind of sad story and comment on what jazz was as a growing, evolving art form. Paulette Goddard's presence added to the film's appeal, though some critics felt the storyline did not fully utilize her talents.
Despite the critical reception, "Second Chorus" did not achieve significant commercial success at the box office.
Scrubwoman
REVIEWS
Review by Dan R. VanLandingham (posted on 5-Aug-2007)
1940 saw the return of clarinetist/bandleader Artie Shaw to to the music scene after his much publicized escape from the band business in November of that year.Shaw had been riding high since the summer of 1938 when he found out,quite by accident,a recording he made for RCA,"Begin the Beguine",broke wide open when he and his band were on tour following that date which also included singer Billie Holiday.1939 saw Shaw making more records for Bluebird(RCA's 35 cent subsidiary)and after a nearly fatal blood disease,Shaw made a movie called "Dancing Co-Ed" with Lana Turner whom he married before the year was out.
Release Date: December 3, 1940.
Cast: Fred Astaire (Danny O’Neill), Paulette Goddard (Ellen Miller), Burgess Meredith (Hank Taylor) Artie Shaw (himself), Charles Butterworth (Mr. Film Editor: Jack Dennis. Music: Artie Shaw, Hal Borne, Johnny Mercer.
As a fun fact, Goddard, who was in the midst of divorcing Charlie Chaplin at the time of filming, would fall in love with co-star Meredith, and they would marry in 1944.
In a 1968 interview, Astaire described Second Chorus as “the worst film I ever made”. Receptionist
Astaire's contributions to the genre solidified the film's place in classic Hollywood musical history, despite its initial reception. His efforts pay off, and he impresses Artie Shaw enough to secure a spot in his band. Ellen, however, remains professional and is more interested in helping them succeed in their musical careers than in their romantic advances.
The trio lands a significant opportunity when they meet Artie Shaw (playing himself), a famous bandleader.
A series of mishaps and problems follows, as both men try to win Ellen and a job with the band, while knocking each other out of Ellen's affections. "Second Chorus" was Shaw's second movie and there would be no more after this one was finished.Fred Astaire played a college student named Danny O'Neill who was also a trumpet playing,bandleading college student who should have had his college degree by the end of the roaring twenties.Also featured was Burgess Meredith who also played trumpet and was also a longtime college student.Shaw,after prodding by his managers,the IRS,RCA Records(he owed the label six sides to fulfill his recording contract which he signed in 1938)as well as his fans,organised a new band that had a large bank of strings,great jazz talent and his trumpet soloist Billy Butterfield,played in the soundtrack of the movie alongside cornetist Bobby Hackett,brought in to overdub the second trumpet solo features.Paulette Goddard,who married Meredith in 1944,was the "love interest".Astaire and Meredith's characters were in a constant "battle" over Goddard's character who winds up working for Shaw.In the end,Astaire got Goddard,and an elderly gent named "Mister Chisolm",who was a mandolin player,gets a number written for him by Astaire and is a showcase for Adaire's dancing and vocal talents.It is interesting that Shaw wrote the song "Love of My Life" after the men assigned to that task,failed and Shaw decided to write one.Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics and when Shaw began recording in earnest(in September,1940),his vocalist Anita Boyer did a nice job singing the part which was released late that year.This movie was just a fair one:Goddard wore a number of hats which included a jive talking "hip-kitten" selling prospective bookings of Danny O'Neill's Perennials-Astaire's big band.She could-and did-change hats becoming more cultured to those who were not teenaged big band jazz fans.All in all,a nice bit of fun without the overblown,outlandish plots that usually plagued such big band oriented movies of that time.