Broadway Melody of 1938

film by Del Ruth [1937]

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July 16, 2026

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Broadway Melody of 1938 is a 1937 American musical film directed by Roy Del Ruth. It is part of the Broadway Melody series, which were early musical films that helped define the genre. These films often featured elaborate dance numbers and integrated musical performances into their plots.

The film stars Eleanor Powell, a renowned tap dancer known for her powerful style, and Robert Taylor. Powell's performances in films like Broadway Melody of 1938 showcased her unique athletic and assertive tap dancing, which set her apart from other female dancers of the era. The film also features the popular singing duo Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald.12

Musical films like this one were popular in the 1930s, with directors like Busby Berkeley creating spectacular dance sequences. While Broadway Melody of 1938 itself is not as widely cited as other films from the period, it represents the trend of combining music, dance, and narrative in Hollywood productions.23

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Roy Del Ruth
Middle years
…1937: On the Avenue and Broadway Melody of 1938. The former featured a number of Irving Berlin tunes, including “The Girl on the Police Gazette,” and the latter was especially noted for Judy Garland’s rendition of “Dear Mr. Gable (You Made Me Love You).”
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…1937: On the Avenue and Broadway Melody of 1938. The former featured a number of Irving Berlin tunes, including “The Girl on the Police Gazette,” and the latter was especially noted for Judy Garland’s rendition of “Dear Mr. Gable (You Made Me Love You).”
Read More