Musical

Second Chorus (1940)

Directed by H.C. Potter, Second Chorus is a lively musical comedy that pairs Fred Astaire with Paulette Goddard in a tale of college band rivalry, romantic mischief, and big-band ambition. Released by Paramount Pictures, the film features Artie Shaw as himself and showcases several swing-era musical numbers, including one of Astaire’s most technically daring routines.

Plot Summary
Danny O’Neill (Fred Astaire) and Hank Taylor (Burgess Meredith) are trumpet-playing college students who’ve managed to flunk their way through seven years just to keep playing in their band, O’Neill’s Perennials. When they meet debt collector Ellen Miller (Paulette Goddard), they charm her into becoming their manager. But when Ellen jumps ship to work for bandleader Artie Shaw, Danny and Hank scheme to sabotage her efforts—only to find themselves caught in a web of romantic jealousy, musical ambition, and comic chaos. The film culminates in a concert where Danny tap-dances while conducting his own composition.

Cast Highlights

  • Fred Astaire as Danny O’Neill
  • Paulette Goddard as Ellen Miller
  • Artie Shaw as himself
  • Burgess Meredith as Hank Taylor
  • Charles Butterworth as J. Lester Chisholm
  • Ian Hunter, Frank Melton, and Jimmy Conlin in supporting roles

Behind-the-Scenes Trivia

  • Astaire’s dance number “I Ain’t Hep to That Step But I’ll Dig It” was filmed in one take after intense rehearsals—his last one-take routine ever
  • Astaire was initially skeptical of Goddard’s dancing ability, but she impressed him enough to complete the scene successfully
  • A musical number titled “Me and the Ghost Upstairs” was cut from the film, though rehearsal footage and recordings still exist
  • Dance director Hermes Pan appears on screen as a clarinetist in the college band
  • During production, Ginger Rogers was filming Kitty Foyle, which won her the Oscar. Astaire jokingly sent her a telegram that read simply: “Ouch”
  • Meredith and Goddard later married in real life in 1944, foreshadowed by their on-screen chemistry

Musical Highlights

  • Score contributions by Artie Shaw, Johnny Mercer, and Hal Borne
  • Features swing-era orchestration and big-band performances, with Shaw’s real-life band appearing in several scenes
  • Astaire’s tap-conducting finale is a standout blend of choreography and musical direction

Tags:

Author

Follow Me
Other Articles