Backstage and Broadway:The Barkleys of Broadway(1949)

(sharethefiles.com)

Bouncin' the Blues is a number you should enjoy.

You may recognize this from a scene in Rainman(1988) where Dustin Hoffman's

character Raymond is watching this on his portable device.

Josh and Dinah Barkley are a successful husband and wife duo with a hit show and adoring fans. Like their show, the Barkely's marriage has had a great run....except for their constant bickering!Although they've made a "peace pact"and are often referreed by friend and publicist Ezra Millar (played by the eternally grumpy tortured painist, Oscar Levant), the arguements begin to worsen.

 Drama director Jacques Pierre Barredout (Jacques Francois) is attracted to Dinah's talent and (beauty) is on the prowl to persuede her to play Sarah Bernhart in his new play; Josh thinks otherwise and believes that she couldn't make it on stage without him. Dinah has always wanted to play in a drama but she knows to do so would break up her partnership.with her husband. After an encounter with Jaques at a country club gathering, he ends up giving Dinah the script just so she would "consider" the part. Things begin to crumble when Josh finds out; leading them into separation of their act..and marriage. Despite the hurt between them both,Josh(unbeknownst to Dinah at first) coaches her through by telephoning her and using a phony french accent pretending to be Jaques.This results in helping his wife dazzle the crowd on the opening night of her show and of course winning back the love of his life.

The Barkley's of Broadway isn't a big splashy musical, but there are still many enjoyable songs and numbers like "Shoes With Wings On"( which is like Fantasia meets tap shoes) and "My Highland Fling." I also very much enjoyed Ginger's performance as young Sarah. All in all it's just a wonderful honor to watch Fred and Ginger in their first and only technicolor/MGM film and last film together.

Roll 'em,

Neah B