Rating: 
Summary: The First of the Great Movie Musicals
Review: Here it is, the ledgendary 42nd Street, the 1933 musical which defined Hollywood musicals from then on. Kalaidoscope dance effects, Production numbers to end all production numbers, and a score filled with great songs. Prior to 42nd St. film musicals were mostly just songs or skits linked together, with little or no story line at all. In fact, much of the time, due to early techniques, they were crude by comparison to non-musical films, the dificulty in recording such large casts onto film at the time. While 42nd St. can be a bit hard to listen to, advances in sound techniques at the time solved much of these problems, and this release of 42nd St. is by far the best sounding release I've ever heard of this film. The picture quality is outstanding also, with extremely sharp contrasts, and a luminous quality similiar to the old silver screens. I'ts wonderful. A treasure of a film, and one you will enjoy over and over.
Rating:
Summary: silver screen at its very best
Review: I AM A SUCKER FOR ANYTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH BUSBY BERKELEY AND HIS DELICTABLE CHORUS OF BEAUTIFUL LADIES.UNFORTUNATELY "42ND STREET" IS THE ONLY DVD THAT I CAN GET HOLD OF WITH REFERENCE TO BUSBY BERKELEY.TWO OF HIS "THE GOLDIGGERS FILMS" HAVE ELUDED ME THUS FAR - MAYBE SOME OF THE REVIEWERS OUTTHERE IN AMAZON.COM LAND COULD HELP ME OUT WITH DETAILS OF WHERE I CAN GET THE GOLDIGGER FILMS.42ND STREET IS BY FAR (IN MY OPINION) ONE OF BUSBY'S BEST MOVIES, WITH POSSIBLY THE FIRST GOLDIGGER COMING A CLOSE SECOND.THE MAN WAS WAY, WAY AHEAD OF HIS TIME IN DANCE ROUTINES AND THE SPECTACULAR STYLE OF HIS SETS.IT'S A CRYING SHAME THAT HE DIDN'T GET THE RECOGNITION HIS SO RICHLY DESERVED SO THEREFORE I AWARD HIM THE "JIMBO" FOR SERVICES TO MOTION PICTURES.I BET HE'S DANCING THE LIGHT FANTASTIC WITH ALL HIS GALS - UP THERE IN HEAVEN.IF ONLY THERE WAS ANOTHER BUSBY - I SUPPOSE ONE CAN DREAM !!!1JAMES BYRNE
Rating:
Summary: LOOKS LIKE IT JUST CAME OUT THE BATH
Review: I don't know how the restoration has been achieved but when you know the negative dates from 1931 it's very hard to understand how it remains so clean. The DVD is an amazing print from a timeless movie that has surely not looked as good since it was first shown. Is this a case of digital enhancement? Now let's have the others: FOOTLIGHT PARADE, DAMES, GOLDDIGGERS of any old year. Fabulous!
Rating: 
Summary: "Hear the beat of dancing feet..."
Review: I just saw this movie last night. It is one of the best musicals I have ever seen. The songs are fantastic (except for 'I'm Young and Healthy') and the dances are mesmorising. I love the plot and how it shows the backstage life of Broadway plays. The plot does, however, fall short at times. The only thing that bothered me about this film was how abrupt the ending was. It just ends and leaves so many questions unanswered. Otherwise, this is a great movie.
Rating:
Summary: My Two Cents
Review: I love old movies. Can't get enough of them. That being said I was impressed by this film. The plot is merely a vehicle for the songs(which I can't stop singing)and the dance numbers. But what is most remarkable is the picture quality on this DVD, it is stunning for a 1933 film. And the sound for a mono is pretty great also. The extras are fun, like watching the old film processing methods & seeing the song writer playing his own material. Just great fun. The stunning transfer to DVD rates this one 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: A Musical Kaleidoscope
Review: I've never been a fan of musicals. People spontaneously breaking into song doesn't do much for me. So I watched 42nd Street because I knew it was an important early musical and the musical numbers were directed by the legendary Busby Berkeley. In other words, it had historical value. And if only for that reason, I would recommend others watch it, too. But I actually liked the movie more than I was expecting. There's not much to the story, but the backstage action is fun to watch. The musical numbers really are an eyeful, and I can see why Berkeley has the reputation he has. There are some great lines (most supplied by Ginger Rogers as "Anytime Annie"), and the acting really isn't important, so there's not much to say. I enjoyed the title song, plus a few others. I have one complaint: Ruby Keeler. It's a real stretch for the imagination to believe that Broadway would have cheered her as a great new star. She was a clunky dancer, and not exactly a vocal wonder, either. But that aside, the movie is entertaining, and it really is fascinating to look at the kind of movie Hollywood produced in the early Thirties after sound came in. It might surprise some people.
Rating:
Summary: Best Broadway Musical: 42nd Street!
Review: If you only ever see one Broadway play in your life, it'd better be 42nd street! It's jam-packed with tap dancers, songs, and oodles of pretty girls! This story of the production of the play 'Pretty Lady' is a snapshot of a few things that acctually happen to make a show run.This musical is for kids ages 8-80!!
Rating:
Summary: "Come and meet,,those dance'n feet!"
Review: It doesn't matter if it's 1933 or 2002 this is the grand daddy of all musicals and the beginning of some Broadway hits like "42nd Street" and "Dames At Sea". "42nd Street with it's excellent classic music, corney and funny story of a girl landing the lead in a Broadway musical. This movie which is timeless is just pure fun.The most amazing thing about this DVD is the remarkable transformation. It's pretty flawless in picture quality. The sound for it's time still can hold it's own and has some great bass sound. I wonder how this would sound if it was rechanneled to 5.1 using todays technology.All in all this is a masterpiece of a film, the production numbers from the master and the wonderful talent of Ruby Keeler, Warner Baxter and Bebe Daniels are priceless. The extras on the DVD is a wonderful historical bonus.
Rating:
Summary: "Come and meet,,those dance'n feet!"
Review: It doesn't matter if it's 1933 or 2002 this is the grand daddy of all musicals and the beginning of some Broadway hits like "42nd Street" and "Dames At Sea". "42nd Street with it's excellent classic music, corney and funny story of a girl landing the lead in a Broadway musical. This movie which is timeless is just pure fun.The most amazing thing about this DVD is the remarkable transformation. It's pretty flawless in picture quality. The sound for it's time still can hold it's own and has some great bass sound. I wonder how this would sound if it was rechanneled to 5.1 using todays technology.All in all this is a masterpiece of a film, the production numbers from the master and the wonderful talent of Ruby Keeler, Warner Baxter and Bebe Daniels are priceless. The extras on the DVD is a wonderful historical bonus.
Rating:
Summary: "Hear the beat of dancing feet..."
Review: It took awhile for me to locate this movie, but it was well worth it. How can you not miss with Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler and the ensemble cast? When the director (Warner Baxter) loses his show's leading lady (played by silent film star Bebe Daniels), because she breaks her ankle on the evening of opening night, a wide-eyed chorus girl (Keeler) is thrust into the role. This is a soaring spectacle of sights, sounds, and songs, including the famous "42nd Street". It is the definitive backstage musical - and the film that introduced it to the world. The Busby Berkeley choreography is elaborate and kaleidoscopic. A marvelous addition to any video library!!
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