Judy Garland stars as Hannah Brown in the movie version of Irving Berlin’s “Easter Parade.”
Released in 1948, Easter Parade is an MGM Technicolor musical directed by Charles Walters. Garland plays Hannah, a waitress and aspiring performer who becomes the new dance partner of Don Hewes, played by Fred Astaire, after his former partner Nadine Hale leaves him.
The film was built around songs by Irving Berlin, including “Easter Parade,” “Steppin’ Out with My Baby,” “We’re a Couple of Swells,” and “Shaking the Blues Away.” Garland’s performances with Astaire helped make the movie one of the most successful musicals of the late 1940s.
A common mix-up is confusing Hannah Brown with Nadine Hale, the glamorous performer played by Ann Miller. Another nearby fact readers often ask about is Fred Astaire’s role: he plays Don Hewes, Hannah’s mentor and eventual romantic partner. Easter Parade was released in July 1948, despite its Easter theme, because production delays prevented an earlier release.