rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 1933
Directed by Lloys Bacon; produced by Darryl F. Zanuck; written by Ryan James, James Seymour
Starring Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Ruby Keeler, Guy Kibbee, Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers
'42nd Street' reminds me of how much fun the 1930s musicals really are. It is not the best of the bunch (I would go for 'Top Hat') but it's entertainment from start to finish. The musical numbers, song and dance, are a delight to watch, and the dialogue always sounds fresh. The main story is not original at all (new Broadway girl gets her big chance in major production), but subplots bring enough originality.
All the subplots form something close to a soap opera. There is the director (Warner Baxter) of the play, called "Pretty Lady". The main star is Dorothy Brock (Bebe Daniels), getting her part in return for some favours to an older man named Abner (Guy Kibbee). She has an affair with Pat (George Brent). The girl who will take her chance in the major production is Peggy (Ruby Keeler), sort of befriending showgirls Ann (Ginger Rogers) and Lorraine (Una Merkel). They seem to be there for one-liners most of the time. Leading actor Billy Lawler (Dick Powell) is introduced as a possible love interest for Peggy, although she also seems to like Dorothy's Pat.
Of course all this is an excuse to go backstage on a Broadway production before showing those magical musical numbers. Choreographed by Busby Berkeley and directed by Lloyd Bacon, the images created during the dance routines are best remembered. Choreography is very important, but don't forget where and how Bacon sends his camera to capture all those marvelous things. The final number is one the most delightful bits I have seen in any film. After '42nd Street' the musical would never be the same again.