Lucybespro It is a performances centric movie

PiraBit if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Sameer Callahan It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

Orla Zuniga It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

ksf-2 That Artie Shaw must have been hard to live with! married eight times... and to some big names too! Lana Turner, Ava Gardner, Evelyn Keyes. None of those marriages lasted very long, until the last one. Shaw, Fred Astaire, and Charles Butterworth carry this one. The awesome Paulette Goddard is pretty much wasted in this, as "The secretary". The story is so-so, but it's pretty much an excuse to hear Artie Shaw. Turns out Fred Astaire was one of the producers...one of the few films he produced. So of course, he dances to Artie Shaw's music. and sings. Pretty silly. Entertaining... a chance to see all the big stars and hear some great jazz, and watch Fred A do his thing but its all too silly for words. Showing on Turner Classics. Directed by H.C. Potter. Written by Frank Cavett, who would go on to win TWO Oscars! Nominated for two Oscars for Shaw's music, but didn't win.

Byrdz I really hate to say this but ... "Second Chorus" really IS quite bad. It's a Fred Astaire picture that I had never seen and had not read reviews of and I looked forward to seeing it.Astaire only gives us a few dances and none of them up to his usual style or effort. The fake Russian and the orchestra leader dance are the best of the bunch. The songs range from insipid to stupid. The plot, such as it is, is ridiculous. The fighting, lying, cheating "friends" are not at all appealing OR amusing.Burgess Maredith is miscast in this one. Not funny. Lousy at the fake trumpet playing. Forced. Paulette Goddard is pretty and perky and tries her best at the dancing. There is an incredibly annoying and pointless character played by Charlie Butterworth. Not his fault, it's the character that is awful. Artie Shaw does better with his part and he is not an actor. The musical numbers with Artie Shaw and his Orchestra are the only real reason to watch this one unless it's the only Astaire film you have not yet seen and really HAVE to complete that list.

Scaramouche2004 Second Chorus as a movie is a little disappointing to say the least.Paulette Goddard, despite the great acting ability and the great beauty she possessed, is alarmingly miscast when it came to anything slightly musical.The Characters portrayed by Fred Astaire and Burgess Merideth are both shockingly underused - Astaire is given but two or three dance routines at the most and the odd song, whilst Merideth who was obviously the comic relief was given very poor material and very little to do, especially when both were capable of so much more. Their characters are also dis likable double crossing schmucks who never miss a chance to screw each other over, sometimes in the nastiest ways possible.Artie Shaw however does shine. Okay he wasn't the best actor ever but then he never pretended to be or I'm sure even wanted to be. He was by all accounts portraying a man named Artie Shaw, a clarinet playing band leader and no acting was really required. He was in the film purely to showcase his music and his orchestra and it must be said, he fulfilled his contract perfectly.Only two or three scenes save this already obscure picture from the deeper obscurity it would so otherwise deserve.1) The scene where Astaire having had his Trumpet solo completely rewritten by Merideth for his long awaited, life changing and career defining audition with Artie Shaws band, starts blasting out bum notes and discordant musical passages that foul up the entire song. Hilarious almost pant wetting comedy, expertly acted by the confused Astaire, made even more funny by the fact that he obviously attach's the blame of the bum arrangement to the great Artie Shaw himself before realisation dawns.2)Artie Shaws great if somewhat shortened Concerto for Clarinet which not only proves that he the best clarinet player the world had known before or since, but that his band was truly the premier big band orchestra of the day. It is a shame his music and talent could not be showcased a little more than it was. In this film it seems he talks more than he actually plays.3) Astaire again conducting Shaws band to "Poor Mr.Chisolm" while tapping his merry little head off. Again like Shaw, Astaire was the very best at his chosen craft and this film apart from this moment does little to showcase it.With input from top quality entertainers like Astaire and Shaw this film could have pulled such wonderful feats out of the hat, yet apart from the three scenes mentioned, it failed at almost every single level and every opportunity was missed.The plot was weak, and the dialogue far from clever and as a motion picture alone it fails to stand up, but for lovers of Astaire and fans of Artie Shaws music may find them like I did the saving Grace of a spent force. Definitely one black cloud with two silver linings.

rooprect Attention all musicians (it doesn't matter if you're any good or not), you will LOVE this movie. Everyone else, I'm afraid you may not catch the full effect. Browsing through these reviews, I see a lot of negative posts from people who were expecting Astaire's usual powerhouse dancing numbers. It's a shame that these reviewers missed the musical subtlety of the performance--a slightly different but equally powerful direction for Fred.For example, there's one number where Astaire dances a fabulous romp while conducting a band. Priceless! Anyone who's played in a band (even if it's your high school marching band) should get a thrill out of this routine. The beauty is that most conductors are stereotypically the most lifeless, brooding, nose-in-the-score dead weights you've ever seen. And to see Astaire conducting the band with pirouettes, arabesques and fancy footwork is just classic.Another musical inside joke happens early on when a trumpet solo is sabotaged by a rival trumpeter. The rival scribbles out the proper notes and pencils in the most horrifically atonal arrangement you've ever seen or heard. Again, musicians will recognize (and "hear") what is about to happen just by looking at the butchered score. The hilarious payoff comes at the actual performance. It's a fear all musicians have when blindly sight reading a sheet of music. Once again, CLASSIC!Then there's "poor Mr. Chisholm" and his lazy mandolin. Anyone who's ever played in a band knows about the hanger-on who's not very good at his instrument, but for whatever reasons the band leader doesn't boot him out into the street. (Btw, if you don't know the guy I'm talking about, chances are IT'S YOU.)All in all, this was a fantastic, hilarious & inspiring experience for me, and I'm sure anyone who has dabbled on an instrument may feel the same. It has certainly motivated me to pick up my old trumpet and squeak out a few notes (much to the despair of my upstairs neighbour, I'm sure).Musicians, don't miss this. Other great movies for musicians: Five Pennies (1959), Swing Girls (2004), Eddie and the Cruisers (1983), and of course the mack daddy of them all, This is Spinal Tap (1984).