"Give a Girl a Break" isn't a big-name and elaborate production that characterized most MGM musicals. But this smaller scale musical has a nice story that features some of the best dancing talent of Hollywood and Broadway in the mid-20th century. The story is set on Broadway. The director and producer of a new musical about to open need a new leading lady when their snooty star quits. With only three weeks until opening, they come up with the idea of promoting an amateur competition to select the new lead. It's a dream made in heaven for girls from the Big Apple to some distance away. Our story centers around three who will vie for the sole spot. The way the story plays out is nice, with three of the leading men each having his eye on one particular of the three girls.
Marge and Gower Champion have top billing. This is just one of three films in which they have that spot or share the leads. Gower made only 20 films in his career, most with Marge when they were married, and she made only 26 films. But the rest of the time, they spent on the stage. Marge eventually began teaching dance, and Gower was the leading choreographer and a leading musical director for two decades on Broadway. He won eight Tony awards and received 15 nominations in his career - some as director and some as choreographer. Had he lived beyond age 59, he doubtless would have won more awards.
But, beside the Champions, another legendary stage dancer, choreographer and director has near top billing in this film. Bob Fosse plays Bob Dowdy, assistant to the director, Ted Sturgis (Gower Champion). Fosse has won an academy award, a BAFTA award and an Emmy for his film and TV work. And he has nine Tony awards for directing and choreography of Broadway musicals.
The rest of the cast in this film are top drawer, the women all with dancing and singing. Debbie Reynolds does modern dance and traditional dance with singing, and Dolly Sharp does classical and jazz dancing.
This film is a tremendous show of dance. The earliest peeks of the Champions with short dance scenes are in "Mr. Music" of 1950, "Show Boat" of 1951, and "Lovely to Look At" of 1952. That year they also starred in their first film, "Everything I Have Is Yours." It's too bad that the Champions didn't make more films. These MGM films were successful at the box office, and both of the players are competent actors. Gower Champion has a likeable persona. But, as with many people who have natural dancing talent, the stage has more allure than film. One can understand that five to seven performances a week for many months would be more attractive to an active dancer than the schedule of filmmaking that might require a few days of repetitive rehearsals to get single scenes down. As opposed to frequent rehearsals and interruptible scene shoots, the live stage affords dancers the opportunity to perform their talents on a regular schedule before live audiences.
This film makes a nice addition to a movie musical or dance library. It's nice to have some other master performers to view on film once in a while, besides the incomparable Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly with their several fantastic female partners.
Marge and Gower Champion have top billing. This is just one of three films in which they have that spot or share the leads. Gower made only 20 films in his career, most with Marge when they were married, and she made only 26 films. But the rest of the time, they spent on the stage. Marge eventually began teaching dance, and Gower was the leading choreographer and a leading musical director for two decades on Broadway. He won eight Tony awards and received 15 nominations in his career - some as director and some as choreographer. Had he lived beyond age 59, he doubtless would have won more awards.
But, beside the Champions, another legendary stage dancer, choreographer and director has near top billing in this film. Bob Fosse plays Bob Dowdy, assistant to the director, Ted Sturgis (Gower Champion). Fosse has won an academy award, a BAFTA award and an Emmy for his film and TV work. And he has nine Tony awards for directing and choreography of Broadway musicals.
The rest of the cast in this film are top drawer, the women all with dancing and singing. Debbie Reynolds does modern dance and traditional dance with singing, and Dolly Sharp does classical and jazz dancing.
This film is a tremendous show of dance. The earliest peeks of the Champions with short dance scenes are in "Mr. Music" of 1950, "Show Boat" of 1951, and "Lovely to Look At" of 1952. That year they also starred in their first film, "Everything I Have Is Yours." It's too bad that the Champions didn't make more films. These MGM films were successful at the box office, and both of the players are competent actors. Gower Champion has a likeable persona. But, as with many people who have natural dancing talent, the stage has more allure than film. One can understand that five to seven performances a week for many months would be more attractive to an active dancer than the schedule of filmmaking that might require a few days of repetitive rehearsals to get single scenes down. As opposed to frequent rehearsals and interruptible scene shoots, the live stage affords dancers the opportunity to perform their talents on a regular schedule before live audiences.
This film makes a nice addition to a movie musical or dance library. It's nice to have some other master performers to view on film once in a while, besides the incomparable Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly with their several fantastic female partners.