Broadway Melody of 1936 -1935

Reportedly, Eleanor Powell did not want to be in this film but was too polite to directly tell MGM executives. She asked for the leading role and an exorbitant salary, and MGM accepted her demands.

Buddy Ebsen's first movie.

When retakes were needed, director Roy Del Ruth was already working on Thanks a Million (1935), so W.S. Van Dyke directed the retakes.

The radio announcer who introduces Jack Benny is Don Wilson, the announcer on Benny's real-life radio program.

The singing voice of Eleanor Powell was dubbed by Marjorie Lane.

Preceded by The Broadway Melody (1929) and followed by Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937) and Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940). Another film in the series was planned, "Broadway Melody of 1943" starring Eleanor Powell and Gene Kelly. However, that project was abandoned, and a dance number filmed by Eleanor Powell was edited into Thousands Cheer (1943).

Cast of Broadway Melody of 1936

Jack Benny as Bert Keeler
Eleanor Powell as Irene Foster
Robert Taylor as Robert Gordon
Una Merkel as Kitty Corbett
Sid Silvers as Snoop Blue
Buddy Ebsen as Ted Burke
June Knight as Lillian Brent
Vilma Ebsen as Sally Burke
Nick Long Jr. as Basil Newcombe
Robert Wildhack as Hornblow
Paul Harvey as Scully
Frances Langford as Herself
Harry Stockwell as Himself