Easter Parade is a 1948 American musical directed by Charles Walters that stars Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford, and Ann Miller.
Don Hewes (Astaire) and Nadine Hale (Miller) are a successful dance team. Nadine unexpectedly dumps Don to go solo (and pursue Don's best friend Johnny Harrow (Lawford)), so Don hires chorus girl Hannah Brown (Garland) to prove that he can make any girl a star.
The film also stars Jeni Le Gon, Jules Munshin, Clinton Sundberg, and Jimmie Dodd.
It was released on June 30, 1948.
Tropes for the film:
- Actor Allusion:
- Don and Hannah audition for the Ziegfeld Follies, which had been recreated on film a few years prior, starring both Fred Astaire and Judy Garland.
- This is the second time that a character says to Garland: "Why didn't you tell me I was in love with you?" in a film. The first was in For Me and My Gal.
- All Love Is Unrequited: At least until about a half hour before the end, Hannah loves Don, Don loves Nadine, Nadine loves Johnny (for his money), and Johnny loves Hannah. Then, of course, Don loves Hannah ("Why didn't you tell me I was in love with you?"), Johnny gives his blessing, and everyone forgets about Nadine.
- Creator In-Joke: The shedding feathered gown worn by Garland when she dances with Astaire in one number is an inside joke reference to Ginger Rogers' problematic gown in Top Hat. An ostrich feather broke loose from her elaborate gown and stubbornly floated in mid air around Astaire's face.
- "Eureka!" Moment: Nadine tells Don that Hannah is simply copying her. This gives him the idea to instruct Hannah to simply be herself.
- Fashion Show: The number "The Girl on the Magazine Cover".
- I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Johnny confesses his love to Hannah but she turns him down because she loves Don. Instead of being jealous, Johnny consoles her over Don still having feelings for Nadine. At the end of the movie he subtly nudges Hannah and Don back together after their fight.
- May–December Romance: Fred Astaire was 49 years old at the time, while Judy Garland was 26 and Ann Miller was 25. The character's ages are not relevant to the plot, likely because a semi-retired Astaire replaced Gene Kelly, then 36, during pre-production.
- Pretty in Mink: There are several fur wraps, including a long white ermine stole that Don shops for, and Nadine wears later on.
- Pygmalion Plot: Don brags that he can make a star of the next dancer he meets. He randomly picks Hannah out of a chorus line to be his new partner.
- "Shut Up" Kiss: Don invites for dinner Hannah at his place that turns out to be a rehearsal. This causes her to rant about how he only sees her as an aid. When she guesses that he doesn't know her colour, he kisses her and correctly says her eye colour.
- Stage Names: Don encourages Hannah to adopt an exotic stage name "Juanita". Once he encourages her to be herself, she reverts to her old name.
- Umbrella of Togetherness: The song "A Fella with an Umbrella", as Johnny falls in love with Hannah while they walk in the rain under the umbrella from a fruit cart, completing the film's Love Dodecahedron.
