MovieChat Forums > The Broadway Melody (1929) Discussion > Worst Best Picture film EVER

Worst Best Picture film EVER


I am a huge TCM fan, but this film was UNWATCHABLE! At least there were a few laughs with the "fey" costume designer.

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Well, it certainly isn't one of the better films to ever win the Best Picture Oscar, but I would rather watch this than CRASH any day.

If nothing else, Broadway Melody is interesting for the historical importance and the adorable performance by ANITA PAGE.

Not very good, but not the worst ever.

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I also hated Crash and this film is virtually unwatchable, but Anita Page is damn cute. Most talking films from 1929 are pretty bad, I can't think of any as being worthy of an Oscar.



Don't make me laugh, your kung fu is so so.

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Forgot about CRASH. Thanks for reminding me what Braodway Melody...Gold Diggers of 1933 was so much better. I know that was 4 years later, but THAT film as a musical was SO superior in every way. How could Bradway Melody win an Oscar and Gold Diggers go unrecognized?

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I generally don't like musicals, except the saucy ones from the pre-code era & Gold Diggers of '33 is the best. Lots of fun and they sure knew how to showcase beautiful women.


Don't make me laugh, your kung fu is so so.

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[deleted]

The transition to the sound period is probably a difficult period for modern moviegoers to grasp. Yes - The earliest talkies were often static, silly, and dull, but they provided the novelty of something new that film audiences couldn't get enough of. "The Broadway Melody", made in 1928, and released in early 1929, was a sensation, because it started the musical genre with an original popular score, created a narrative that would be used over and over again for years to come, and it was an experiment that was done for the first time. The Backstage Musical became a staple in Hollywood following 'The Broadway Melody". In 1929, when silent films were still being made, talkies were something exciting for the masses. As for other musicals made in 1929, including Lubitsch's The Love Parade", Vidor's "Hallelujah", Mamoulien's "Applause" and the many revues that presented many studio stars in talkies for the first time (Hollywood Revue of 1929, Paramount on Parade, etc.), I defy anyone to name a talking film from 1929 that was the least bit better than any of those named. 1929 gave birth to mostly stilted, stagey, static, and awkward films and performances. It was the beginning of an era, and without the things moviemakers learned from this period, the evolution into an era of fluid talking films like "All Quiet on the Western Front", "Grand Hotel", "Love Me Tonight" and onward would never have happened.

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^^Yes! Films must be judged in the context of the times and not against modern best picture winners. I personally love watching these older films but it is easy to see the struggle of making a sound picture like this. The sound quality was poor but emerging.

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[deleted]

Have any of you watched Alibi? The Hollywood Revue? In Old Arizona? 1928-29 was a putrid year for movies. The Patriot had to be better, sadly we will never know. Personally, I would have given the Best Picture to White Shadows in the South Seas. But given a choice, I would have went for TBM over Alibi, The Hollywood Revue (gag) or In Old Arizona.

Yes, TBM was one of the worst Best Picture winners, but it was just an off year for movies.


That girl reminds me of Paul Revere's Ride. A little light in the belfry.

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I think Cavalcade, Crash, An American In Paris, The Greatest Show On Earth, Million Dollar Baby, Around The World In Eighty Days, and Tom Jones are worse.

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Not even close....

The Broadway Melody is nowhere close to a great movie but not even close to the worst Oscar winner

Out Of Africa
The Hurt Locker
Unforgiven
Lawrence of Arabia
West Side Story

Those 5 were much worse

Oliver!
My Fair Lady
Cimmarron

These 3 are on par with The Broadway Melody....all I'd rank 5 / 10

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ROFLMAO...I'm on the fence as to whether your post is genuine or sarcasm listing those particular 5 films as the worst oscar winners ever. One site ranks your worst 5 as #43, #33, #11, #5, #17. 5th best for one of the ones you though was one of the 5 worst. I looked at a few online lists and aside from West Side Story showing up as #50 on a "50 worst" list, I don't even see a mention of those films on any lists.

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