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Summary: Stupendous black & white DVD
Review: This entertaining 1933 musical has a fairy tale quality to its story which probably says as much about the Depression as its more realistic details do.The quality of the DVD is top-notch. It's very clean and stark black and white, which is a treat for any B&W film, particularly one of this vintage. The Busby Berkeley dance extravaganzas at the end are of particular note. It's hard to imagine an early thirties film looking any better.
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Summary: very funny
Review: this is one of my all time favorite movies. I think that the humor is wonderful, and the cast, sining and dancing are just fine. Ruby Keeler is simply adorable as Peggy Sawyer, Bebe Daniels is rightly used as the fading star, Warner Baxter, Ned Sparks, and Guy Kibbee make the most of their parts. Una Merkel is ducky as wisecracking Larraine, and a scene stealing Ginger Rogers is a gem. ALthough I loved her in dramatic roles, stright comedy, and with Fred Astaire, there's something about the way she examplifies a wisecracking-secondlead-chorine that is just so wonderful. I believe that this is one of Ginger's best performances, that goes for the whole cast. A similar film with mostly the same cast, (Ginger, Guy, Ned, Ruby, and Dick Powell, and chorus dancers) and the same famous Busby Berkeley overhead shots, watch Goldiggers of 1933. I think that these two are some of the funniest musicals ever made.
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Summary: This Was The Musical That Saved Musicals For 2 Decades!
Review: This was the film that saved musicals, Thanks to Busby Berkeley. This film is certainly a musical classic. This is the film that saved musicals thanks to Busby Berkeley. Won't tell you everything, But I'll tell the highlights. The songs are beautiful, Great musical scores. I don't care what generation your from, if you love good music, this film is it. The attractive Bebe Daniels sings "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me". Ruby Keeler does some good dancing for that era I guess, most people today wouldn't think much of it today, but that era loved it, because she was the first tap dance star, its not Eleanor Powell or Ginger Rogers dancing but its good. This movie basically is about what truly goes on behind the curtains of broadway and they certainly had the right people to be in the movie, because all were in Broadway so it was easy for them to betray it. A tempermental almost abusive director Mr. Marsh(Warner Baxter). A tempermental star who breaks her ankle by being drunk then Peggy Sawyer gets to replace Ms. Dorothy Brock, but before she gets to be a star Mr. Marsh who practices her to death 5 hours before the show, she almost gives up but in Mr. Marsh own way tries to persuade her to do it. I like the scene where Mrs Burke walks in on Peggy Sawyer(Ruby Keeler) people think she's going to hurt her but she doesn't, she actually wants her to do good, and tells her "You Go Out There and Be So Grand, That It'll Make Me Hate You." Another Great scene is before she goes on stage Mr. Marsh tells her "You're Going Out A Youngster But You'll Come Back A Star" words to live by.
Great songs sung by Dick Powell "Young and Healthy". Ruby Keeler sings Shuffle off to Buffalo, and she sings and taps to 42nd Street. Great Dancers, Beautiful Platinum Blondes, and Great Million Dollar Legs. Broadway really hasn't changed much since then. The ending of the movie is great when Mr. Marsh the director goes outside at the end of the show where the people are leaving, and with a cigarette he acts like a bum or is acting like he's waiting for somebody, but really he's listening to what people is saying about his show under disguise, he hears great reviews, and after all the people leave, he sits down and look like he's really satisfied and no other scene could end the movie better. Movies back then knew how to tell stories with looks, and as Barbara Stanwyck put it told stories with their eyes, If words were spoken it would of messed up the ending, a lot of films are destroyed by spoken words instead of showing the eyes, feelings, and the surroundings. This film wouldn't of been complete without Ginger Rogers(Anytime Annie) and Una Merkel(Loretta) with their screwball, zany, free-spirited, sassy attitude. Ginger Rogers doesn't do much dancing, she doesn't get top billing, but is seen and heard, I wonder why she didn't get the leading part that Ruby Keeler played, she would of really made it a smash, but this is before the Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire years. Ruby Keeler went on to do other great musicals Golddiggers of 1933, Footlight Parade, Dames, Flirtation Walk-These films had Busby Berkeley magic touch also, but first see 42nd Street it was her first film, and not too many actress with no acting experience has a smash movie with their first, but see this first, then see the next one, and the next one, you gotta go in order, before any of those films, each film gets better and better, but 42nd Street you have to see first, then you'll understand Ruby Keeler's acting and what she's capable of. Each movie is better with more beautiful girls, great songs, great dance scenes, but you gotta start with the first. Ruby Keeler won the hearts of millions after this film even though her singing wasn't the greatest, and her dancing wasn't breath-taking. But she had something, and she'll always be remembered as the first tap-dancing star. Hope my review helped you, Won't tell you everything, it'll spoiled for you.
Rating:
Summary: Musical classic
Review: Well, for a movie made in 1933, this looks great. All those lovely ladies in Busby Berkley's elaborate dance sequences as well as a fairly good story and some very good acting. The sound is mono and the picture is black and white. The menu's are basic and the box is a snapper (that's the bad news). The extras include cast & crew (with a mini bio of Busby) and four short films. The first is a musical doco of the person who wrote the songs (Harold Warren I think) and goes for about 8 minutes It's OK. Then we get A Tour of the Hollywood studies. Ten minutes of how the major studio's looked in 1933 with some fascinating bits on the 'state of the art' sound technology. Excellent. Next is a series of Hollywood newsreels cobbled together. Ten minutes of VERY disturbing voice overs and pic's of the latest stars of 1933. Then we have a trailer at 2 minutes which is OK.
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Summary: I've Been for You Ever Since You Walked in on Me in My BVDs
Review: Wow, if that isn't the most romantic line ever run on a gal, I don't know what is! Dick Powell to Ruby Keeler as they admit their love for one another in the great "42nd Street". This is one of my favorite movies, for a variety of reasons. Probably first and foremost, is Warner Baxter, playing the ruthless director Julian Marsh, who lost all his dough in the Crash and has got to have one last hit show before he either cracks up or drops dead. He stomps around the stage and hurls invective at the ensemble, and not being there myself, I love every minute of it. Then there's star Bebe Daniels and her boytoy George Brent, who are pulling the wool over the eyes of numbskull Broadway show backer Guy Kibbee. In the ranks of the chorus are Ginger Rogers and Una Merkel, two platinum blondes made of brass. Dick Powell is also a-one as the Juvenile Lead. So who's not so hot? Why, Ruby Keeler of course, only the ingenue star of the movie. Oy, just try to look around her, and you'll be okay. Harry Warren's score is fabulous, with the famous title song as well as "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" and "Getting to be a Habit with Me", as well as some nice instrumental work. And of course there's the maniacal choreography of Busby Berkely, with living kaleidoscopes galore. If you love snappy old dialogue with a touch of Pre Code, plus chorines, you're bound to love "42nd Street". Just the opening montage of all the old street corner signs on the different avenues intersecting 42nd Street revs me up!
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Summary: No talent dancer Ruby Keeler: answer to reviewer "hardly b"
Review: Your review #29 suggests that Ruby Keeler was unimpressive as a tap dancer & was "Less" artistic than other dancers.
Juat a quick note to let you know that you comment on ruby keeler's tap dancing , Ruby's "Style" was from a school of tap that did not have metal taps on the heels or toes of the shoe, Ruby had wood soles across the entire bottom of the shoe,hence the "clunkley" style. As such, it is a bit tough to perform the fast paced lighter styles. This was the accepted style up to that time. Ginger Rodgers and others came along and did wonders with what they invented too! Ruby was one of the first to bring tap to it's zenith & deserves to be recongnized for her efforts.
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