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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 ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Come And Hear The Beat Of Dancing Feet On "42nd Street"
"42nd Street" is truly one of the all-time great movie musicals. It was seen when first released, as a gritty back-stage look inside what "really" happens durning the preparations of a Broadway play.
What is truly amazing about this film, is after some 70 years, "42nd Street" is still a dazzler. It still possess such charm and elegance that to be honest, not even the Broadway musical could beat it!
"42nd Street" tells the story of a young novice chorus girl, Peggy Sawyer (Ruby Keeler) whom is trying to get in her first
Broadway play. She dreams of the bright lights of Broadway, and her name flashing high above. Sawyer will go into that play a youngster and has to come back a star. "42nd Street" throws in a lot of sub-plots dealing with most of it's main characters who include; Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers (Before she got her big break that same year in "Flyin' Down to Rio w\ a then unknown Fred Astaire!), Una Merkel, Guy Kibbee and of course Warner Baxter who plays Julian Marsh, the director of the play. But, none of these sub-plots throw the film off-track. They merely give the film more "color". By the end of the film all the sub-plots coincide with one another.
Another star of the movie I forgot to mention is of course the music itself composed by Harry Warren. The songs include; "You're Getting To Be A Habbit With Me", "Shuffle off to Buffalo", "Young & Healthy", and "42nd Street". It's in "42nd Street" that we see Ruby Keeler show us her steps. While many people today might not be impressed with it, there's something about her, that always holds my interest.
If you've never seen this film before, it really is a must. If you've already seen it, there's no harm in watching it again!
Bottom-line:This Oscar nominated musical is one of the best of it's day. Unforgettable songs, wonderful dancing by Ruby Keeler, and all around charm have made this film a classic!

After All These Years, 42nd Street Still Delivers
The breakthrough musical of 1933 is still a light and fun video to watch. Often remembered for being the first musical to incorporate a plot, 42nd Street dazzles with its lavish production numbers, especially the title song plus "Shufffle Off To Buffalo" and "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me." Though the jokes may be corny and the sexual innuendoes stale by 21st century standards, I found myself laughing at loud and thoroughly enjoying the dazzling camera tricks and kaleidoscopic overhead shots. But one of the best treats of all was watching the greats from a bygone era performing at the peak of their careers. Warner Baxter is superb as the director desperate to produce a hit while Guy Kibbee shines as the lecherous producer. Bebe Daniels is memorable as the leading lady who twists her ankle on opening night and Ruby Keeler, in her movie debut, is the spunky girl plucked from the chorus line to save the show. Others in the all-star cast include Ginger Rogers, George Brent, Dick Powell, Allen Jenkins, and more.

42nd Street is definitely a toe-tapping good time that fans of movie musicals will enjoy.

very funny
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.

"Hear the beat of dancing feet..."
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.

This movie is "getting to be a habit with me"!
42nd STREET is an absolutely wonderful film! This landmark in the history of movie musicals remains fresh and timeless. Oscar- winner Warner Baxter leads a magnificent all-star cast as the director of the Broadway production PRETTY LADY. This film was a turning point in the careers of Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers. Ruby Keeler makes a strong impression in her debut and star-making role, but silent film star Bebe Daniels, as the tempermental leading lady who breaks her ankle on the eve of opening night, probably gives the best performance. The screenplay is structured, tight, and overflowing with delightful vignettes and observations about the theatre, while maintaining a perfect balance between comedy and surprisingly powerful drama. Busby Berkeley's stupendous choreography make the three finale numbers classics. Harry Warren's melodies and Al Dubin's lyrics are memorable in such standards as SHUFFLE OFF TO BUFFALO and YOUNG AND HEALTHY. Everything from the set decoration and costumes to the cinematography are perfect. This nostalgic piece of movie magic is among the greatest motion pictures ever produced. ... Read more

Description

(1931-USA). With BEBE DANIELS, RICARDO CORTEZ, DUDLEY DIGGES, UNA MERKEL, THELMA TODD. Based on a novel by DASHIELL HAMMETT. Here is an extraordinary and rarely-seen movie classic that tells one of the most famous and beloved of all mystery stories. The setting is San Francisco, and the hero is Dashiell Hammets tough-as-nails private eye, Sam Spade (played with a perfect blend of charm and roughness by Ricardo Cortez). Spade is depicted as a dapper ladies man who is one-half of the Spade & Archer Detective Agency. One day, a gorgeous mystery woman who calls herself Miss Wonderly comes to Spades office. Her story is that her sister has run off with a man and she wishes to hire Spade & Archer to track down her sibling. That night, Archer is dispatched to spy on the man and promptly turns up dead. What follows is a thrilling drama involving murder and mayhem and a search by various colorful, but desperate characters for a "a certain ornament" that is a twelve-inch-high black enamel figure of a bird-otherwise known as "The Maltese Falcon." In the end, Spade must wade his way through a cesspool of deceit as he does all in his power to sort out the various frauds and fakers. There is snappy dialogue galore, some of it deliciously risque. The result is a thrilling and endlessly fascinating "must-see" masterpiece. Highly recommended. 79 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Original, Intriguing Film Version of The Maltese Falcon
In 1931 Roy Del Ruth became the first director to bring Dashiell Hammett's THE MALTESE FALCON to the screen. Although it received favorable reviews and did a brisk business at the box office, like many early talkies it was soon eclipsed by ever-advancing technology and forgotten--until television, with its endless demands for late-late show material, knocked on Hollywood's door. Retitled DANGEROUS FEMALE in order to avoid confusion with the highly celebrated 1941 version, it has haunted the airwaves ever since.

DANGEROUS FEMALE is interesting in several ways, and perhaps most deeply so as an example of the struggle that ensued when sound first roared. What had proven effective on the silent screen suddenly seemed highly mannered when voices were added, and both directors and stars struggled to find new techniques--and DANGEROUS FEMALE offers a very vision of the issues involved.

It is a myth that the advent of sound forced directors to lock down the camera, but it is true that many directors preferred simple camera set-ups in early sound films; it gave them one less thing to worry about. And with this film, Roy Del Ruth is no exception: in a visual sense, DANGEROUS FEMALE is fairly static. The performing decisions made by the various actors are also illustrative and informative, particularly re leads Ricardo Cortez and Bebe Daniels. Cortez is still clearly performing in the "silent mode," and he reads as visually loud; Daniels, however, has elected to underplay, and while she is stiff by current standards, her performance must have seemed startlingly innovative at the time. And then there are two performers who are very much of the technology: Una Merkle as Spade's secretary and Thelma Todd as Iva Archer, both of whom seem considerably more comfortable with the new style than either Cortez or Daniels.

The film is also interesting as a "Pre-Code" picture, for it is sexually explicit in ways most viewers will not expect from a 1930s film, and indeed it is surprisingly explicit even in comparison to other pre-code films. Hero Sam Spade is a womanizer who seduces every attractive female who crosses his path--and the film opens with a shot of just such a woman pausing to straighten her stockings before leaving his office. Still later, the dubious Miss Wonderly tempts Spade with her cleavage, lolls in his bed after a thick night, splashes in his bathtub, and finally winds up stripped naked in his kitchen!

It is also interesting, of course, to compare DANGEROUS FEMALE to its two remakes. Directed by William Dieterle and starring Warren William and Bette Davis, the 1936 SATAN MET A LADY would put Hammett's plot through the wringer--and prove a critical disaster and a box office thud. But then there is the justly celebrated 1941 version starring Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor under the direction of John Huston.

Both the 1931 and 1941 films lifted great chunks of dialogue from Hammett's novel, and very often the dialogue is line-for-line the same. But two more completely different films could scarcely be imagined. Where the 1931 film strives for an urbane quality, the 1941 film is memorably gritty--and in spite of being hampered by the production, considerably more sexually suggestive as well, implying the homosexuality of several characters much more effectively than the 1931 version dared.

In the final analysis, the 1931 THE MALTESE FALCON (aka DANGEROUS FEMALE) will appeal most to those interested in films that illustrate the transition between silent film and sound, to collectors of "pre-code" movies, and to hardcore FALCON fans who want everything associated with Hammett, his novel, and the various film versions. But I hesitate to recommend it generally; if you don't fall into one of those categories, you're likely to be unimpressed.

GFT, Amazon reviewer ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A 5 star gem!!!
I first saw this movie in 1962 and remember rolling in the aisle at the hilarious antics of our bespectacled hero. I ordered it from Amazon 39 years later and time stood still. Running it with the family (now how many movies can you sit with all the family these days) I found my sides being split all over again. The word genius is overused in showbiz – but Harold Lloyd deserves to be called this and more.

Although the commentary is a little patronising (with every word appearing on screen and being read out slowly as well) there is no mistaking class when you see it. Whether he is hijacking a streetcar, driving round with his car in a giant tent or hanging from a clock from a high rise building, Lloyd reminds us what comedy is all about. I defy anyone to sit through this and not laugh. A 5 star gem!!!

Funny as always
The most pure scence of comic interpretation.

Laugs and more laugs, with your family and kids.

Buy it, you will love it ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Barrymore performance transcends conventions
The more theatrical movie acting style of the first half of the 20th century may strike some modern viewers as hopelessly artificial, but for those observers, John Barrymore's performance in "Counsellor-at-Law" may be instructive.

Barrymore wasn't part of the Group Theater/Lee Strasberg school of acting that revolutionized the art by mid-century, but realism isn't always conveyed by the Method.

Watch Barrymore in the scene when he talks to the rebellious son of a old family friend, who has been arrested and beaten for espousing Communism. Listen to his tone of voice as he tries to convince the kid to do things his way. Watch his facial expressions. This is a convincing job of acting, and Barrymore maintains this level of integrity throughout the film.

Bebe Daniels, as his devoted secretary, and Doris Kenyon, as his spoiled wife, are very good, as well. Their portrayals are much more obviously grounded in the conventions of 1930s film acting, yet remain completely effective.

lively Depression-era story
John Barrymore shines in "Counsellor at Law", along with an extremely strong supporting cast in this 1930s-era tale of an ambitious New York lawyer. We meet him in his offices at the Empire State Building, where a procession of clients streams in and out of his extremely busy day. When his sweet immigrant mother appears, we realize his humble roots, so different from "the Mayflower boys" whose professional ranks he has penetrated.

Fast-paced, with witty dialogue, brittle humor, and barbed social commentary, this film transports us back to Great Depression. Barrymore, faced with an ethical dilemma, also finds his marriage is in jeopardy; his wife, a superficial society woman, holds values quite different from his own.

Although in some ways light and frothy, as befitting movies made for 1930s audiences seeking escape, this William Wyler film remains timely with its deeper questions of integrity and what goes into true success and authentic relationships. Barrymore's masterful performance reminds us yet again that as an actor, he was far more than a handsome facial profile. Highly recommended for a step back into another time!

A PRIME JOHN BARRYMORE PERFORMANCE.
An excellent movie, superbly directed by pantheon helmsman William Wyler early in his directorial career. John Barrymore gives one of his finest performances as a Jewish lawyer who works his way to the top of his profession only to have his gentile wife (Doris Kenyon) leave him. At the bustling Manhattan law offices of Simon and Tedesco, highly successful Jewish attorney George Simon, who has risen from the slums of New York, returns to his roots when he bails out Sarah Becker's son Harry, a young Communist who has been brutalised by the police. Simon's socialite wife, Cora, is embarrassed at Simon's notoriety and of his heritage while Simon's secretary Regina "Rexy" (Bebe Daniels, in her final film of any merit) secretly loves him...The dialogue is crisp and snappy additionally aided by Barrymore's spellbinding deliveries. The film was noted to have been made in breakneck speed: Barrymore was letter perfect except he kept flubbing one line which took 52 takes. Paul Muni was originally sought to play the role, but he played the role on stage and didn't want to be typecast a Jew. The film opened to public and critical applause and today, the lightening still crackles through this masterful film.

A warning about the transfer
I love the film, but just a few words about the transfer: I don't think it's as fine as the other reviews would make you think. It's not horrible, but I don't believe the source to be a 35 mm print of the movie, it looks more like vhs, especially for the lack of sharpness (compare it with any of the latest 30's movies Warner releases). Even an older title like 'The love trap' (1929!), another Kino release from the William Wyler Collection, has a much better and sharper transfer, especially the first half of the movie. Just don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.

Barrymore & Wyler Rule in Counsellor-At-Law
At last, one of the major omissions of the video revolution has been rectified with this dvd (and vhs) release of William Wyler's first major directoral effort. And if anybody ever questioned why John Barrymore was so highly regarded in his day, this film will resolve any controversy in Mr. Barrymore's favor. This release restores a true classic to general circulation (The Movie Channel ran it a few times several years ago.)

Universal balked at paying Barrymore's typically huge salary and hired him at the rate of $25,000 per week for a total of two weeks' employment. Despite fast work by Wyler and Barrymore, (all other non-Barrymore scenes were filmed after the star was off the payroll) more time was needed and Barrymore ended up working one more week. These terms were a come-down for Barrymore who had enjoyed multiple-film deals with Warners ($200,000 per film, for five films), MGM and RKO only a short time before.

John Barrymore had been a star in films since 1914 (well before his "Hamlet" in the theater) and was virtually the only film star of his vintage who successfully transitioned to "talkies." But by 1933, years of alcohol abuse were taking their toll on the 51 year old actor and producers began to distrust him.

Ironically, no longer offered long term agreements with major studios, this one-shot deal at Universal and another at Columbia in February 1934, (the screwball comedy, "Twentieth Century") turned out to be the best two films Barrymore ever made. Counsellor At Law shows Barrymore as the finest dramatic actor of his generation and launched Wyler on a remarkable career; Twentieth Century (long available on VHS) shows him as the finest farceur of his era and launched Hollywood's cycle of screwball comedies (it didn't hurt the career of director Howard Hawks either).

Alas, Barrymore himself would not be a beneficiary of either film and would be reduced to supporting roles by the mid 1930s, ending up spoofing himself on radio right up to his death in 1942. But then this is the stuff that legends are made of. The fine KINO VIDEO transfer for the dvd version captures the vividness of the film when it was new and makes 1933 seem as though it wasn't so long ago. Bravo! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

SURPRISINGLY ENTERTAINING.
An interesting early talkie, this film will give viewers a rare glimpse of the vivacious 48 year-old Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. In the same hotel, two separate parties are being held: one for a wealthy society named Vivian Benton an amateur aviatrix, the other a recognition dinner for successful stockbroker Larry Day. Amusing romantic issues ensue concerning the above duo. A superstar of silents, Fairbank's career in the movies waned with the advent of talkies: his voice isn't bad, just cartoon character-like. Another big star of the silents was Bebe Daniels: she to would see her career quickly fade by 1935. Directed by Englishman Edmund Goulding (DARK VICTORY), this 1931 feature remains a fascinating curio for those in the mood. Curiously enough, Fairbanks made a 1917 silent with the same title, of which this isn't a remake.

Reaching for the Moon is Great Fun!
This 1931 romantic comedy is top notch entertainment! It's only 62 minutes, but it is so well paced and totally envolving, you'll think the movie was 2+ hours and you will still hate to see it end!

It has some of the best, CLASSIC 1920's dance scenes and CLASSIC 20's costumes. 1920's era film buffs should study this flick!

For those of you out there thinking about a play to put on at the High School: this could be a real crowd pleaser and money maker!

Here's a brief synopsis:

It takes place right before the stock market crash. Doug is a tycoon, Larry Day. He has never been succesful in affairs of the heart. He's been a real dud.

A beautiful girl comes into his office to talk to him about a problem. Doug can't solve the problem, but falls head-over-heels in love with this girl. He hears she's going to Europe by boat and chases after her. She's headed to Europe to get married. He boards the ship also and chases after her on board.

Meanwhile the market crashes and he is wiped out.During a big scene, she embarrasses him while her friends hide in a life boat while he confesses his love to her. Later, after they marry, she helps him regain his wealth and status. ALSO: a young Edward Everet Horton plays a butler in this flick on board the ship. And you'll be surprised when Bing Crosby appears!!

Now if this film were ever redone: could you imagine Jim Carey as Larry Day? Who would you elect to play the leads in this film?

Enjoy! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The 1920's soap opera king
CB DeMille hit pay dirt as far as I am concerned with this one. It is a soap opera and as soap operas go a very good one. I still in my young mind can not phatom how Gloria Swanson became such a big star under the tuotoship of CB. She is a OK actress though much better than in shifting sands (1918) This will appeal to you if you want to see what a young Gloria looked like before Sunset Blvd. But I wish someone would tell me what was her magnetism. I still prefer Pola Negri to her any ole time

Witty, Cynical Film But Poor Picture Quality
THE AFFAIRS OF ANATOL is one of the great but elusive silents from the early 1920s that turn up only as tantalizing photos in film books. So it is a real joy to discover a tinted and toned print on DVD with a serviceable new music score. The film also provides an opportunity to view the sophisticated work of Cecil B. DeMille when he was still very much of a creative film-maker and before he settled into the "cotton candy" purveyor of comic book-type films of the sound era.

Perhaps the spendid visual quality of some recent DVD silent film releases has spoiled me, but as all silent film buffs know, the flesh tones in silents are crucial. When the actors all look as though their make-up is white flour, you know you're watching a print a few generations removed from a good original. Since the liner notes claim that ANATOL was taken from a 35 mm. original - hence the elaborate stenciling, tinting and toning - I was shocked at the rather muddy pictorial quality and dead white faces of the actors. It's still a wonderful film but the disapponting visual quality will limit its appeal to established silent film buffs. It's tough sledding for others.

THE AFFAIRS OF ANATOL!
Directed by the immortal CECIL B. DeMILLE! Starring the dazzling GLORIA SWANSON! A tawdry little tale of the JAZZ AGE! Swanson plays Vivian, the wife of Anatol DeWitt Spencer, played by WALLACE REID! They are a young married couple who end up CHANGING their HEARTS along with their PARNTERS once they are seduced by the DECADENT PLEASURES of New York City! Featuring BEBA DANIELS as the wickedest woman in the Big Apple, Satan Synne! The story might not be much but the COSTUMES and the SETS are pure DEMILLE! "The Affairs of Anatol" is based on a novel and play by Arthur Schnitzler! In DeMille's hands it becuase a SOPHISTICATED FARCE! This SILENT film is presented with its original COLOR TINTING! This would be a good one to check out before watching GLORIA in "Sunset Blvd"!

Watch out for Satan Synne
The Affairs of Anatol, although concerned with adultery, is really quite a moral film. Anatol de Witt Spencer has the best of intentions with regard to the three women, other than his wife, who he is involved with. His affairs, at least in terms of what is seen, don't amount to more than a lustful look and a kiss. Nevertheless the film depicts a world which Hollywood would soon be unable to show. Later censorship would not allow a character called Satan Synne who is obviously a prostitute and it certainly would not allow us to see her invite Anatol into her bedroom.

The episode concerning Satan Synne is the best of the film. This is partly because she is played by Bebe Daniels. Anyone who has seen 42nd Street will recognise Daniels as the star who sprains her ankle. She was an important silent actress and her beauty allows her to convincingly portray a temptress known as 'The wickedest woman in New York.' Satan Synne is a wonderful character and fascinating not because of her supposed wickedness, but because Demille shows her in such a sympathetic light. Thus although Demille's film is moral it does not moralize. It does not condemn the world it shows.

The film, as a whole, is entertaining and very interesting, but it does not quite attain greatness. Anatol comes across as just a little too naïve to be completely believable, while his wife, played by Gloria Swanson, lacks understanding and is seen to be simply spiteful. The viewer is left wondering what her problem is, and thus at times her actions lack motivation and justification. This means that she is a less sympathetic character than she ought to be.

The Affairs of Anatol is a good film, but one of the main reasons to see it is that the print presented on the DVD is quite superb. It is unusual to see a print which shows such elaborate colouring techniques. Not only are there a large number of tinted scenes, but also at times the print has been coloured in such a way that different parts of the negative show different colours. Furthermore, the titles are inventive with coloured drawings and even on occasion animated scenes. The spectacle of the film is thus heightened and the viewing experience becomes unforgettable.

Silent films are often shown in black and white even when they were originally coloured. It is rare indeed to see a film which shows the variety of colouring techniques which existed in the silent era. It is for this reason that The Affairs of Anatol should be added to any silent film fan's collection. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Come And Hear The Beat Of Dancing Feet On "42nd Street"
"42nd Street" is truly one of the all-time great movie musicals. It was seen when first released, as a gritty back-stage look inside what "really" happens durning the preparations of a Broadway play.
What is truly amazing about this film, is after some 70 years, "42nd Street" is still a dazzler. It still possess such charm and elegance that to be honest, not even the Broadway musical could beat it!
"42nd Street" tells the story of a young novice chorus girl, Peggy Sawyer (Ruby Keeler) whom is trying to get in her first
Broadway play. She dreams of the bright lights of Broadway, and her name flashing high above. Sawyer will go into that play a youngster and has to come back a star. "42nd Street" throws in a lot of sub-plots dealing with most of it's main characters who include; Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers (Before she got her big break that same year in "Flyin' Down to Rio w\ a then unknown Fred Astaire!), Una Merkel, Guy Kibbee and of course Warner Baxter who plays Julian Marsh, the director of the play. But, none of these sub-plots throw the film off-track. They merely give the film more "color". By the end of the film all the sub-plots coincide with one another.
Another star of the movie I forgot to mention is of course the music itself composed by Harry Warren. The songs include; "You're Getting To Be A Habbit With Me", "Shuffle off to Buffalo", "Young & Healthy", and "42nd Street". It's in "42nd Street" that we see Ruby Keeler show us her steps. While many people today might not be impressed with it, there's something about her, that always holds my interest.
If you've never seen this film before, it really is a must. If you've already seen it, there's no harm in watching it again!
Bottom-line:This Oscar nominated musical is one of the best of it's day. Unforgettable songs, wonderful dancing by Ruby Keeler, and all around charm have made this film a classic!

After All These Years, 42nd Street Still Delivers
The breakthrough musical of 1933 is still a light and fun video to watch. Often remembered for being the first musical to incorporate a plot, 42nd Street dazzles with its lavish production numbers, especially the title song plus "Shufffle Off To Buffalo" and "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me." Though the jokes may be corny and the sexual innuendoes stale by 21st century standards, I found myself laughing at loud and thoroughly enjoying the dazzling camera tricks and kaleidoscopic overhead shots. But one of the best treats of all was watching the greats from a bygone era performing at the peak of their careers. Warner Baxter is superb as the director desperate to produce a hit while Guy Kibbee shines as the lecherous producer. Bebe Daniels is memorable as the leading lady who twists her ankle on opening night and Ruby Keeler, in her movie debut, is the spunky girl plucked from the chorus line to save the show. Others in the all-star cast include Ginger Rogers, George Brent, Dick Powell, Allen Jenkins, and more.

42nd Street is definitely a toe-tapping good time that fans of movie musicals will enjoy.

very funny
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.

"Hear the beat of dancing feet..."
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.

This movie is "getting to be a habit with me"!
42nd STREET is an absolutely wonderful film! This landmark in the history of movie musicals remains fresh and timeless. Oscar- winner Warner Baxter leads a magnificent all-star cast as the director of the Broadway production PRETTY LADY. This film was a turning point in the careers of Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers. Ruby Keeler makes a strong impression in her debut and star-making role, but silent film star Bebe Daniels, as the tempermental leading lady who breaks her ankle on the eve of opening night, probably gives the best performance. The screenplay is structured, tight, and overflowing with delightful vignettes and observations about the theatre, while maintaining a perfect balance between comedy and surprisingly powerful drama. Busby Berkeley's stupendous choreography make the three finale numbers classics. Harry Warren's melodies and Al Dubin's lyrics are memorable in such standards as SHUFFLE OFF TO BUFFALO and YOUNG AND HEALTHY. Everything from the set decoration and costumes to the cinematography are perfect. This nostalgic piece of movie magic is among the greatest motion pictures ever produced. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

Come And Hear The Beat Of Dancing Feet On "42nd Street"
"42nd Street" is truly one of the all-time great movie musicals. It was seen when first released, as a gritty back-stage look inside what "really" happens durning the preparations of a Broadway play.
What is truly amazing about this film, is after some 70 years, "42nd Street" is still a dazzler. It still possess such charm and elegance that to be honest, not even the Broadway musical could beat it!
"42nd Street" tells the story of a young novice chorus girl, Peggy Sawyer (Ruby Keeler) whom is trying to get in her first
Broadway play. She dreams of the bright lights of Broadway, and her name flashing high above. Sawyer will go into that play a youngster and has to come back a star. "42nd Street" throws in a lot of sub-plots dealing with most of it's main characters who include; Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers (Before she got her big break that same year in "Flyin' Down to Rio w\ a then unknown Fred Astaire!), Una Merkel, Guy Kibbee and of course Warner Baxter who plays Julian Marsh, the director of the play. But, none of these sub-plots throw the film off-track. They merely give the film more "color". By the end of the film all the sub-plots coincide with one another.
Another star of the movie I forgot to mention is of course the music itself composed by Harry Warren. The songs include; "You're Getting To Be A Habbit With Me", "Shuffle off to Buffalo", "Young & Healthy", and "42nd Street". It's in "42nd Street" that we see Ruby Keeler show us her steps. While many people today might not be impressed with it, there's something about her, that always holds my interest.
If you've never seen this film before, it really is a must. If you've already seen it, there's no harm in watching it again!
Bottom-line:This Oscar nominated musical is one of the best of it's day. Unforgettable songs, wonderful dancing by Ruby Keeler, and all around charm have made this film a classic!

After All These Years, 42nd Street Still Delivers
The breakthrough musical of 1933 is still a light and fun video to watch. Often remembered for being the first musical to incorporate a plot, 42nd Street dazzles with its lavish production numbers, especially the title song plus "Shufffle Off To Buffalo" and "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me." Though the jokes may be corny and the sexual innuendoes stale by 21st century standards, I found myself laughing at loud and thoroughly enjoying the dazzling camera tricks and kaleidoscopic overhead shots. But one of the best treats of all was watching the greats from a bygone era performing at the peak of their careers. Warner Baxter is superb as the director desperate to produce a hit while Guy Kibbee shines as the lecherous producer. Bebe Daniels is memorable as the leading lady who twists her ankle on opening night and Ruby Keeler, in her movie debut, is the spunky girl plucked from the chorus line to save the show. Others in the all-star cast include Ginger Rogers, George Brent, Dick Powell, Allen Jenkins, and more.

42nd Street is definitely a toe-tapping good time that fans of movie musicals will enjoy.

very funny
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.

"Hear the beat of dancing feet..."
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.

This movie is "getting to be a habit with me"!
42nd STREET is an absolutely wonderful film! This landmark in the history of movie musicals remains fresh and timeless. Oscar- winner Warner Baxter leads a magnificent all-star cast as the director of the Broadway production PRETTY LADY. This film was a turning point in the careers of Dick Powell and Ginger Rogers. Ruby Keeler makes a strong impression in her debut and star-making role, but silent film star Bebe Daniels, as the tempermental leading lady who breaks her ankle on the eve of opening night, probably gives the best performance. The screenplay is structured, tight, and overflowing with delightful vignettes and observations about the theatre, while maintaining a perfect balance between comedy and surprisingly powerful drama. Busby Berkeley's stupendous choreography make the three finale numbers classics. Harry Warren's melodies and Al Dubin's lyrics are memorable in such standards as SHUFFLE OFF TO BUFFALO and YOUNG AND HEALTHY. Everything from the set decoration and costumes to the cinematography are perfect. This nostalgic piece of movie magic is among the greatest motion pictures ever produced. ... Read more

Description

Here is an original compilation of highlights from the comedies of silent film legend Harold Lloyd, including some that have never before been available on video. Sixteen different films are represented, illustrating how Lloyd's comic personaevolved from the Chaplinesque prankster of 1918 to the distinctive, optimistic go-getter of 1920-1921. The compilation begins with the one-reel rarity Hey There! (1918) and winds up with his first feature-length comedy, A Sailor-Made Man (1921).Original organ score by Bob Vaughn. ... Read more