Was The Broadway Melody the first major Hollywood franchise? I’m not exactly sure, but I can’t think of another example of a series of three sequels which were all reliable blockbusters. This is the first “sequel” of sorts to the 1929 best picture winner The Broadway Melody. Of course it’s not really a sequel, the story is completely unrelated, so the title is more like a brand name than anything. I found the film itself to be a dated snooze, much like the original Broadway Melody.

Broadway Melody of 1936 was the second of four Melodys, each with a slender plot but massive musical numbers. This one begins with a spectacular take on Got a Feelin' You're Foolin set in an Art Deco hotel suite where pianos rise up through the floor. Eleanor Powell stars: her sensational solo tap sans accompaniment and climactic routine are other major highlights. But while this 1935 instalment is great fun, it took another four years for the series to strike the perfect balance between music, plot, comedy and romance.

Any movie that involves Eleanor Powell dancing is worth seeing.