Broadway Melody of 1940

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All right, Chinatown. Let's go to

Chinatown and the Bowery.

- Just leaving. A trip through Chinatown.

- Go away. Go away.

Here, here! Tonight's the night, folks.

Tonight's the night!

It's wedding night at Dawnland.

We're not only giving away the bride but

four rooms of furniture and $50 cash!

This way to the bridal night

at Dawnland.

Miss Martin, meet up with Mr. Jones.

Go on.

Ladies and gentlemen,

it is my privilege to officiate...

...at another one of Dawnland's

weekly happy events.

Through the courtesy

of the Dawnland Ballroom...

...many a young couple has embarked

successfully on the sea of matrimony.

- Johnny.

- Yes, sir?

There's a guy been here

looking for your partner.

- Where is he?

- He said he'd be back.

You better scrape up some dough,

or he'll take your pal's suit.

- Yeah?

- Better put on your number...

...before he shows up again,

or it might turn into a striptease.

Yes, sir.

- Now, look, King...

- Wait, Johnny. Let me speak.

I had a chance to get rid of a girl,

so I saw her off on the train.

Yeah? It was your turn

to call for the bride.

This is the third time

I've covered for you.

Okay. I'm sorry.

I'll take the next three.

- Who do you love?

- You, you silly... Go on. What a guy.

And we came to New York

to get on Broadway.

- At least we're in the right town.

- Yeah, but who knows it except us?

Just a couple of taxi dancers, pushing

around a lot of female lonely-hearts...

...at 5 cents a dance.

And doing a specialty act...

...without pay. What a career.

- You don't feel like going on, do you?

Oh, sure. I can hardly wait.

If there's anything I enjoy,

it's doing a specialty for no dough.

And all those agents you keep telling

me about being in to see us.

I suppose they'll all be out there.

Agents love to come to a dump like this.

They expect to find so much.

All right,

suppose we don't go on tonight?

Yeah. You're getting more and more

discouraged all the time.

You're letting the act down,

and that's no good, King.

Say, listen, we may never get anywhere,

but if we don't think so...

- I'd rather break it up now.

- Well, maybe I'm weakening.

Maybe I'm holding you back.

Maybe you ought to get another partner.

Maybe you're right.

Who you gonna get?

- Bill Sanderson.

- Bill's a good boy...

...if you can still call him a boy.

He's been around a long time.

Hey, that's us. Come on.

We'll give these people a show.

- Okay, boy.

- And remember, you never know...

...who may be out there. So give!

- Right.

We now give you that talented

dance team, Shaw and Brett.

Let's give them a big hand.

Wait a minute. That's all.

Always leave them wanting.

He's wonderful! He's sensational!

He, he, he, he's good, isn't he?

I like singers, Mr. Casey.

Oh, you do? You like singers,

Mr. Casey.

Listen, Pearl, he's... I can see it:

Casey and Matthews Present...

...whatever his name is. I'll show

Matthews who's the brains of this firm.

Why, this is the greatest discovery

of my life. I'll... Here, boy.

- Was you addressing me?

- Yes.

I wanted to talk to that young man

who was just dancing here.

You know, the one on the end there.

It's important business.

- Please get him right away, will you?

- Sure.

Thank you. Now, you see why

I come to a place like this?

You never can tell where talent hides.

It's apt to be in the lowest konky-tonk,

konk, tonky... The lowest dive.

I wish you wouldn't keep rubbing

that cape, it... You'll wear it out.

There's a gent outside

wants to see one of you guys.

- An agent!

- Sit down. Be right out.

Come on! What are you waiting for?

The guy's liable to get away!

That's no agent. Look at that.

- Got any dough?

- Not enough.

Suit, you're about to return

to your maker.

Wait a minute. Wait here.

- Hey, young man, you!

- Me?

- Yes. Where have you been hiding?

- Where have you been looking?

Everywhere! I, no, that isn't...

What's your name?

- King Shaw.

- King Shaw. I must remember that.

I'll be right back. Here... You...

- Come on, don't high-hat me, sister.

- Okay, brother, no hard feelings. Shake.

Sure.

I once knew the cutest little

Japanese banker.

- Well?

- I just saved your life.

- I told him I was you.

- Why are you me?

Because if a guy had a summons

for King Shaw...

...and handed it to Johnny Brett,

it wouldn't be legal.

Say, why didn't we think

of that before?

If you'd stop trying to corner the market

on blonds, we might keep the suit.

Are you sneaking out again tonight?

Come on, come clean. Tell Kingsie.

Where do you go every night?

- I've told you, I take dancing lessons.

- Dancing lessons. Who is she?

Why, King, I'm surprised at you.

Would I let a girl get under my skin?

Do you think I could be charmed

by a smile or a pretty face?

Look at me.

Am I the kind of a guy...

...a woman can twist around her

little finger? Now I ask you, am I?

- I don't know, are you?

- I certainly am.

Good evening.

Oh, sorry.

So sorry, sir.

- Your hat, sir.

- Oh, no.

Thank you.

- Good night, George.

- Good night, Johnny.

Hello.

Come in.

Well, well, hello.

Hello. Busy?

No, no, Casey.

We're holding open house.

- Oh, that's fine.

- Clare, darling.

I'm sorry I wasn't able

to catch the show tonight.

I'm sure that Bert saw to it

everything went all right.

- Everything didn't go all right.

- You can use good news...

...and I've got it.

I've got a great surprise for you.

It's... Oh, no, it's not you.

Excuse me. This is Miss Pearl Delange.

- How do you do?

- Hello.

Bert, our troubles are over. I made

the greatest discovery of my life.

Just what we've been hoping for.

I have found Clare's new partner.

- Well, what's his name?

- Well, I wrote it down. Here it is...

...Peggy Britton, Columbus 6...

Oh, no, that's something else.

- King Shaw. Wait till you see him.

- King Shaw? Never heard of him!

- Well, you will, Bert. You will.

- We've got to have a name, Casey!

Clare didn't have a name

when I discovered her!

- Why, I certainly did.

- What?

- Bridget Callahan.

- Yes, that's right.

And what were you? Nothing

but a great big baritone when...

When I told you how to fix

the second act of your show.

Yes. No! Well, you did...

It was just a suggestion.

You made a fortune

out of that suggestion.

There's gratitude.

Didn't I make you my partner?

- Well, you needed a young man...

- What?

- You were getting old.

- Old?

My hair was as white as it is now

when I was 17, 15...

...well, I was pretty young.

- Bob, he's just jealous of you.

- Of course he is.

When are we going to see

your discovery?

I'll have him in Bert's office

tomorrow morning at 11:00.

Come on, Pearl, darling.

Let's take this home.

It's been so nice

having this little chat with you.

Yes. Well, come on,

my little chatterbox.

I think you get more people back here

than we get out front.

Oh, I'm sorry

you were interrupted, Bert.

Tell me something.

Why do you always propose...

...three days before

the close of a show?

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