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Easter Parade

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Easter Parade DVD
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Easter Parade on DVD


Fred Astaire had announced his retirement before the cameras began to roll on Easter Parade, but he decided to accept the film's leading role when its original star Gene Kelly became incapacitated. The thinnish plot, which finds Astaire trying to turn chorus girl Judy Garland into a star in order to show up his former partner Ann Miller, is hardly what keeps the audience's eyes riveted to the screen. All that truly matters are the 17 musical numbers, all written by Irving Berlin (ten were standards, while seven were new to this film). Among the many highlights are Astaire's slow-motion version of "Steppin' Out," the Astaire/Garland duet "We're a Couple of Swells," the opening rendition of "Happy Easter," and the closing performance of the title number. So successful was Easter Parade that plans were immediately drawn to reteam Fred Astaire and Judy Garland in The Barkeleys of Broadway; this time, however, it was Garland who withdrew, to be replaced by Astaire's most famous vis-a-vis, Ginger Rogers. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
  • Sound By: Dolby Digital Mono
  • Released By: Warner Home Video
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Commentary by Fred Astaire's Daughter Eva Astaire McKenzie and Judy Garland Biographer John Fricke

Judy Garland Trailer Gallery

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  • Easter Parade DVD
Easter Parade DVD

Editorial Reviews

Easter Parade crams seventeen songs into 103 minutes and, even at that, still struggles to find enough plot to fill out its length. Fortunately, the musical numbers are very good, and the wait between them is seldom long enough for the story to become tedious. Stars Judy Garland and Fred Astaire find a strong first-time chemistry, to Irving Berlin's music set to the Oscar-winning adaptation of Roger Edens and Johnny Green. Choreographer Charles Walters nominally performs in the director's chair. He's competent in getting the singing and dancing on film, but, as in much of his work, he shows little interest in the story that surrounds the music. The film maintains a fun, wholesome, upbeat tone and has the classy look common in MGM films of this era. ~ Richard Gilliam, Rovi