Second Chorus (1940)

Directed by H. C. Potter. Starring Fred Astaire, Burgess Meredith, Paulette Goddard, Charles Butterworth, Artie Shaw, Frank Melton, Jimmy Conlin.

Fred Astaire and Burgess Meredith are collegiate(!) musician rivals who both have interests in the same dame (Goddard) and in joining Artie Shaw’s band. Limp as a wet noodle for the lion’s share, this second-rate musical comedy perks up a bit during a couple of brief comedy bits and the music portions, but considering the film stars Astaire and features the real-life Artie Shaw in a supporting role as himself, there’s way too little of that kind of thing going around. Also suffers from Charles Butterworth’s flat portrayal of a stick-in-the-mud schnook, as well as the poor decision to give Astaire only a couple of dance showcases, which are nice, but fall short of his upper-tier efforts. Shaw’s Band trumpeter Billy Butterfield also appears as himself, and did the trumpet solo dubbed in over Meredith’s playing.

49/100