Second Chorus | FRED ASTAIRE | Classic Musical | Comedy | Paulette Goddard

Twice Nominated for an Oscar: Second Chorus - When perennial college students Danny O'Neill and Hank Taylor are forced to make it on their own, the competitive pair get jobs with Artie Shaw's band and reunite with ex-manager Ellen Miller.

Second Chorus (1940)
Director: H.C. Potter
Writers: Frank Cavett(original story), Elaine Ryan(screen play), Ian McLellan Hunter(screen play)
Stars: Fred Astaire, Paulette Goddard, Artie Shaw
Genre: Comedy, Musical, Romance
Country: United States
Language: English
Release Date: 3 December 1940 (USA)
Duration: 84 min
Filming Location: Occidental College - 1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California, USA

Storyline:
Danny and Hank are surprised when Artie Shaw hires competent manager Ellen away from their college band. The two trumpet players scheme to get into Shaw's outfit themselves, each trying to trump the other's plays.

Reviews:
"Attention all musicians (it doesn't matter if you're any good or not), you will LOVE this movie. Everyone else, I'm afraid you may not catch the full effect. Browsing through these reviews, I see a lot of negative posts from people who were expecting Astaire's usual powerhouse dancing numbers. It's a shame that these reviewers missed the musical subtlety of the performance--a slightly different but equally powerful direction for Fred.

For example, there's one number where Astaire dances a fabulous romp while conducting a band. Priceless! Anyone who's played in a band (even if it's your high school marching band) should get a thrill out of this routine. The beauty is that most conductors are stereotypically the most lifeless, brooding, nose-in-the-score dead weights you've ever seen. And to see Astaire conducting the band with pirouettes, arabesques and fancy footwork is just classic.

Another musical inside joke happens early on when a trumpet solo is sabotaged by a rival trumpeter. The rival scribbles out the proper notes and pencils in the most horrifically atonal arrangement you've ever seen or heard. Again, musicians will recognize (and "hear") what is about to happen just by looking at the butchered score. The hilarious payoff comes at the actual performance. It's a fear all musicians have when blindly sight reading a sheet of music. Once again, CLASSIC!

Then there's "poor Mr. Chisholm" and his lazy mandolin. Anyone who's ever played in a band knows about the hanger-on who's not very good at his instrument, but for whatever reasons the band leader doesn't boot him out into the street. (Btw, if you don't know the guy I'm talking about, chances are IT'S YOU.)

All in all, this was a fantastic, hilarious & inspiring experience for me, and I'm sure anyone who has dabbled on an instrument may feel the same. It has certainly motivated me to pick up my old trumpet and squeak out a few notes (much to the despair of my upstairs neighbour, I'm sure).

Musicians, don't miss this. Other great movies for musicians: Five Pennies (1959), Swing Girls (2004), Eddie and the Cruisers (1983), and of course the mack daddy of them all, This is Spinal Tap (1984)." -Written by rooprect on IMDb.com

Also Known As (AKA):
(original title) Second Chorus
Argentina Amor de mi vida
Austria Swing-Romanze
Belgium (French title) Romance en swing
Brazil Amor da Minha Vida
Canada (English title) Second Chorus
Denmark To Mænd og een Kvinde
Finland Tanssin tapaan
France Swing Romance
Greece (transliterated title) Pes pos m' agapas
Hungary Második lehetöség
Hungary Második lehetőség
India (Hindi title) Second Chorus
Italy Follie di jazz
Japan (Japanese title) セカンド・コーラス
Mexico Amor de mi vida
Netherlands Swing it
Norway Dans etter noter
Poland Druga zwrotka
Portugal O Par Ideal
Soviet Union (Russian title) Второй хор
Spain Al fin solos
Sweden Dans efter noter
UK Second Chorus
USA Second Chorus

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