42nd Street (film)

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42nd street
Image:42ndtStPoster.gif
Directed by	Lloyd Bacon
Produced by	Darryl Zanuck (uncredited)
Written by	Bradford Ropes (novel) Rian James James Seymour
Starring	Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels George Brent, Ruby Keeler Ginger Rogers Dick Powell
Music by	Harry Warren (songs)
Cinematography	Sol Polito
Editing by	Thomas Pratt Frank Ware
Distributed by	Warner Bros.
Release date(s)	February 2, 1933 (premiere)
Running time	89 mins
Country	Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States
Language	English
Budget	$439,000 (estimated)
IMDb profile

42nd Street is a 1933 musical film, set on the famous Manhattan street of that name, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. The script was written by Rian James and James Seymour, from the novel by Bradford Ropes. The film was directed by Lloyd Bacon with choreography by Busby Berkeley. The songs were written by Harry Warren with lyrics by Al Dubin.

The film is a fast-paced, backstage movie musical, one that changed the film musical forever and was so financially successful that it saved Warner Bros. Studios from bankruptcy.^{[citation needed]} Many decades later, in 1980, it was made into a hit stage musical of the same name. The film has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. In 2006 this film ranked #13 on the American Film Institute's list of best musicals.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast and crew 2.1 Cast, credited 3 Songs 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Plot

It is 1932, the hight of the Depression, and Broadway producers Jones (Robert McWade) and Barry (Ned Sparks) put on Pretty Lady, a musical staring beautiful Dorthy (“Dot”) Brock (Bebe Daniels). Dorthy's sugar daddy, industrialist Abner Dillon (Guy Kibbee), is the show's 'angel' (financial backer). But while Dorthy is busy keeping Dillon both hooked and at arm's length, she still secretly meets her old vaudeville partner, out of work Pat Denning (George Brent).

To ensure success Julian Marsh (Warner Baxter), harsh and demanding but also the best, is hired to direct. But Marsh is ill, broke, friendless, and bitter as a result of the 1929 Stock Market Crash. “Did you ever try to cash a reputation in a bank?”, he asks. Gambling with health and life, Marsh must make his last show a major hit if he is to have enough money to retire on.

Cast selection and rehearsals begin amidst fierce competition, with not a few “casting couch” innuendos flying around. Innocent newcomer Peggy Sawyer (Ruby Keeler) is duped until two chorines, Lorraine Fleming (Una Merkel) and Ann ”Anytime Annie” Lowell (Ginger Rogers), take her in tow. Lorraine has an 'in' with dance director Andy Lee (George E. Stone), while the show's juvenile lead Billy Lawler (Dick Powell) takes a liking to Peggy and puts in a good word for her with Marsh.

Rehearsals continue for five weeks to Marsh's complete dissatisfaction, until the night before the opening in Philadelphia Dorthy Brock, the star, breaks her leg. Next morning Abner Dillon wants Marsh to cast his new interest, Ann Lowell, as the star, but Annie decides she isn't talented enough. Instead she tells Marsh to use the understudy, Peggy Sawyer. With 200 jobs and his own future riding on the outcome, Marsh rehearses Sawyer mercilessly until an hour before curtain time. Dorthy, soon to be married to Pat, wishes Peggy luck, and the show is on.

Nealy twenty-minutes are devoted to three Busby Berkeley production numbers: Shuffle Off to Buffalo, I'm Young and Healthy, and the tour de force title 42nd Street. The show is a success, but in the final scene Marsh turns wearily away from the brightly lit theatre entrance and sits down on a fire escape in the dark, too tired to savor his triumph.^[1]

[edit] Cast and crew

[edit] Cast, credited

Warner Baxter - Julian Marsh, director

Bebe Daniels - Dorthy ("Dot") Brock, star

George Brent -

Ruby Keeler - Peggy

Guy Kibbee - Abner Dellon, show's angel

Una Merkel -

Ginger Rogers - Ann ("Anytime Annie")

Ned Sparks -

Dick Powell - juvenile lead

[edit] Songs

• "Forty-Second Street"
• "It Must Be June"
• "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" Song Clip
• "Young and Healthy"
• "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me"

[edit] See also

• 42nd Street (musical)
• 42nd Street (2001 musical revival)
• 42nd Street (the street in New York City)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• 42nd Street at the Internet Movie Database
• 42nd Street quotes at MovieWavs.com

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nl:42nd Street (film) ja:四十二番街