Set during the depression, this is the granddaddy of backstage musicals in which the understudy finally gets a chance to shine. It may seem a little cliché now, but in 1933 this was hot stuff. All that behind-the-scenes atmosphere feels very genuine, and the script is more acerbic than you might expect.
A sickly Julian Marsh (Warner Baxter) puts his all into what may be his last show, only to face a disaster when leading lady Dorothy Brock (Bebe Daniels) sprains her ankle. Thank heavens for ingenue Peggy Sawyer (Ruby Keeler), who steps in at the last minute. The vivacious soundtrack includes "Shuffle off to Buffalo," and the still-catchy title tune. Best of all are those extravagant, kaleidoscopic dance numbers by Busby Berkeley, then in his prime. --Rochelle O'Gorman
2.
Splashy Hollywood does splashy Broadway in this behind-the-scenes of a show musical. The leading lady is, as many times before, suddenly unavailable and the understudy chorus line girl is thrust into the limelight. Last minute preparations for opening night with the new star turn the entire production on its ear before the big premiere. Many memorable tunes including: "Forty-Second Street," "Young and Healthy," "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me" and "Shuffle Off To Buffalo."
3.
A Naughty, Gaudy, Bawdy Movie Musical Landmark.
Meet a dewy-eyed ingenue, a gee-whiz tenor, stuck-up stars, hard-up producers, brassy blondes and "shady ladies from the 80s." They're all denizens of 42nd Street, belting out ageless Harry Warren/ Al Dubin songs and tapping out Busby Berkeley's sensational Depression-lifting production numbers.
The put-on-a-show plot spins merrily, full of snappy banter and new faces Ruby Keeler (her movie debut), Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers. The show-stopping numbers (Shuffle off to Buffalo, You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me and the title tune) still dazzle. Looking and sounding its best in years via this new digital transfer from the restores original camera negative and optical audio tracks, 42nd Street shows good times never go out of style.
4.
"The definitive backstage musical" (Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide), showcasing Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Ginger Rogers and dazzling Busby Berkeley numbers, looking and sounding its best ever thanks to an all-new digital video/audio transfer from a restored negative!
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