Easter Parade!

 MGM released Easter Parade in 1948,

starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire.

Gene Kelly was originally supposed to star,

but an injured ankle made him bow out...

they had to persuade Fred to come out of retirement,

which he did many times,

to take Kelly's place.

 Here's Fred, Ann Miller and Peter Lawford

working on those "Easter" songs with 

composer Irving Berlin.

 Ann Miller was also a last minute fill-in,

replacing Cyd Charisse who had to bow out of the show.

It was Ann's debut with MGM.

 "We're a Couple of Swells..."

and they were!

The "Mr. Monotony" number was dropped from the movie

when Judy's outfit was deemed "too risque"...

Just two years later, she'd wear the same thing in Summer Stock,

without a quibble! 

Go figure...

Included in the film were 17 musical numbers by Berlin:

10 standards, and 7 original to the film.

The movie proved so popular (and profitable) that

MGM quickly paired Garland and Astaire for The Barkleys of Broadway.

This time, however, Garland bowed out, and her role went to Ginger.