Broadway Melody, The

Broadway is auditions, struggle and heartbreak -- where moxie counts above talent and the show must go on. Beloved showbiz scenarios could finally be heard as well as seen in this Academy Award -winning* Best Picture. History's first "All Talking! All Singing! All Dancing!" movie was also All Hit, drawing enough 35-cent admissions to pile up an enormous $4-million box office. The film's sound-technology innovations were revolutionary, the performances had gusto (including Bessie Love's effective turn as a hard-luck older sister), the Arthur Freed/Nacio Herb Brown songs became irresistible standards, and when all was danced, acted and voh-doh-de-oh-dohed, a new American art form emerged: the movie musical!

• musical