Anita Page (1910-2008) was only 18 when she was cast in The Broadway Melody, having come to notice alongside Joan Crawford in Our Dancing Daughters (1928). She announced her retirement in 1934, having apparently secured Mussolini as her number one fan, and only returned to film-making occasionally during a very long life. When she died, Page was discussed as the last of the silent Hollywood stars.
Page made only one further musical for Metro, playing Buster Keaton’s love interest in Free and Easy.
At the Gleason Music Publishing Company, Eddie Keans performs his latest song [The Broadway Melody]. The number has been written for the Mahoney sisters, one of whom Eddie plans to marry.
Queenie and Hank Mahoney arrive at their New York hotel. Queenie is nervous about their move to the big time, but Hank tells her that, with Queenie’s looks and Hank’s talent, they will be fine. Uncle Jed, their agent, arrives and warns them that it is difficult for a new sister act to be a success in New York. Jed leaves and Eddie arrives. He plans to marry Hank, but he is struck by the beauty of Queenie, whom he has not seen since she was a little girl. Hank says she will marry Eddie once their act is successful. Eddie tells them his new song has been acquired for a new Zanfield show and he is arranging for them to perform it [The Broadway Melody].
Hank (Bessie Love) and Queenie (Anita Page)
Zanfield agrees to look at the Mahoneys’ act. Flo, one of the chorus girls, jokes about the Mahoneys and sabotages their performance [Harmony Babies]. Zanfield is unimpressed. He says he can use Queenie in the chorus, but not Hank. A fight breaks out between Hank and Flo. Queenie asks Zanfield to hire her sister as well, at a two-for-one price. Zanfield agrees and also agrees not to tell Hank about the arrangement. Eddie is impressed by Queenie’s protection of her sister, and kisses her. Queenie tells Eddie he should not kiss her and that she would never do anything to hurt Hank.
On the day of the dress rehearsal, Queenie is very nervous. [The Broadway Melody]. Zanfield decides the number is too slow and cuts the Mahoneys. Queenie is forced to stand in for a scantily-clad chorine who has fallen from an onstage pedestal [Love Boat]. Queenie is a big hit, but Hank is upset because they have always got by on talent rather than showing their legs.
Jaques Warriner, one of the show’s wealthy backers, pursues Queenie and she finally agrees to go out with him, against the wishes of both Hank and Eddie. When Hank gets back to their hotel, she finds that Queenie did not go to the party.
Two weeks later, Warriner is still chasing Queenie, to Eddie’s annoyance. Uncle Jed tries to persuade Hank to go on tour with another girl, because her role in the show is so small, but she wants to keep an eye on Queenie. Then he suggests she give Eddie a break and marry him. Eddie tells Queenie he cannot sleep for thinking about her [You Were Meant for Me]. Hank walks in as Eddie is trying to kiss Queenie, but Queenie pretends they are arguing about Warriner. Later that day, Hank arranges a surprise birthday party for Queenie, but she goes to another party arranged for her by Warriner.
At the party, Queenie is still doing her best to resist Warriner’s advances [Truthful Parson Brown]. They dance, and Warriner gives her a diamond bracelet. He suggests setting her up in a Park Avenue apartment, but Queenie says she will have to think about it. Queenie arrives home drunk in the middle of the night. She shows Hank the bracelet and tells her about all the other things Warriner has promised her.
[The Wedding of the Painted Doll; The Boy Friend].
Hank quarrels with Queenie about presents she is receiving from Warriner, and Queenie almost reveals that she is only seeing Warriner to avoid Eddie. Eddie tells Queenie that he loves her. She replies that she loves him too, and that is why she must go with Warriner.
Hank and Eddie try unsuccessfully to stop Queenie leaving with Warriner. Eddie is so angry that Hank suddenly realises the truth. Hank tells Eddie he must go after Queenie because he loves her. She says that she never loved him and was only using him to help her career. After Hank has chased Eddie from the room, she collapses in tears, and then calls Uncle Jed, agreeing to go on tour with another blonde.
There is a party at Queenie’s new apartment. She is grateful to Warriner, but clearly still unhappy. Eddie arrives as she is trying to break away from Warriner’s embrace. Warriner knocks Eddie to the ground and Queenie turns on him, throwing all his gifts back in his face.
Later, Hank and Uncle Jed welcome Queenie and Eddie back from their honeymoon. Queenie is giving up the stage, but Hank declines an invitation to live with her and Eddie. Hank’s new partner arrives: it is Flo [Harmony Babies]. Hank and Flo leave to catch their train and Eddie tells a weeping Queenie that Hank could never have given up the stage because she is a born trouper. In the taxi, Hank promises Flo she will have them back on Broadway in six months.
