30 Years of Brilliance: 1930-1959
"42nd Street (1933)" is a behind the scenes musical story of life on Broadway. It was nominated for a Best Picture (and Sound Recording) Oscar and features all the stars of the day including Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Guy Kibbee, Una Merkel, Ned Sparks, Allen Jenkins, and Ginger Rogers in all their glory. It is fast moving, refreshing and a sheer joy to watch.
The theme song, appropriately titled '42nd Street' is #97 on AFI's 100 Top Movie Songs of All Time. Baxter's inspiration line to Keeler "Sawyer, you're going out a youngster, but you've got to come back a star!" is #87 on AFI's 100 Greatest Movie Quotes list. #13 on AFI's 25 Greatest Movie Musicals list.
Although the movie is about the Depression and set during the Depression 42nd Street has a message of optimism and hope. It is the quintessential film about those who dream of becoming a star on the world's biggest stage. It actually helped save Warner Brothers from bankruptcy and was a contributory force to its growth into a major studio. Call it dated, but it's aged to perfection, and the final twenty minute sequence will leave you tapping your toes, with a smile on your face and a song in your heart. Hollywood movies--never mind musicals--just don't get any better than this. 42nd Street is an absolute gem.
42nd Street starts with Andy Lee, the dance director auditioning kids for the chorus of 'Pretty Lady'. The show's writers, Bert and Maggie, are pleased with what they see on stage, but they warn the dancers that the seats are expensive and the audience will demand some spectacular dancing. Peggy Sawyer (Ruby Keeler) has missed the audition and Billy, the romantic lead, tries to help her see the producer, Julian Marsh. He has no patience for latecomers and Peggy rushes off the stage. Meanwhile, Bert and Maggie try to encourage Julian about the show's prospects of success. He is worried about some of the cast, especially Dorothy Brock, the leading lady. Her last hit was ten years earlier, but her sugar daddy, Abner Dillon, is backing the show.
Realizing that she has forgotten her purse, Peggy returns to the stage. Maggie invites her to lunch with three of the girls. The five dance off stage. As they settle in at the Gypsy Tea Kettle, the girls are amused by Peggy's naïvete. They follow with an amusing account of the Broadway facts of life, and dance back to the theater. This number evolves into an audition for Peggy. When Julian walks in he is angry to see Peggy disrupting things again, but he is struck by her remarkable talent. He orders everyone back to work and tells Andy to hire Peggy for the chorus.
Dorothy and Billy begin their rehearsals. The love scene they are rushing through comes under the scrutiny of Abner. He objects to it and handshakes are substituted for kisses.
Peggy, weak and overcome by an exciting day, faints on stage. She is carried to Dorothy's dressing room where Pat Denning, Dorothy's real boyfriend, is waiting. Dorothy walks in, and misreading what she sees, thinks that Pat is two-timing her. Julian suggests that Pat leave town.
Word arrives that the Atlantic City run of the show has been cancelled and that Philadelphia has been substituted. The company packs up for the Arch Street Theatre.
Dress rehearsals begin in Philadelphia. Julian congratulates the kids on a number well done and sends the cast off to relax. They throw a party and Peggy asks Julian if he is coming. Captivated by her charm, Julian decides to go. Dorothy, who misses Pat, has drunk a bit too much, and tells Abner to take his money and leave. Abner is ready to close the show, but the kids are able to talk him out of it.
'Pretty Lady' opens spectacularly with We're In the Money. Then Dorothy rushes onstage to lead the Act I finale. She is accidentally knocked down by Peggy and can't get up. A furious Julian fires Peggy and cancels the rest of the performance.
Act II opens with a doctor telling Julian that Dorothy's ankle is broken. Fear and panic spread through the cast. Julian says he will close 'Pretty Lady' for good, but the cast won't give up. The cast thinks that Peggy can save the day. Julian finally agrees that Peggy might be able to take over for Dorothy. Peggy has already left for the train station and Julian rushes after her. Julian convinces Peggy to return.
Peggy has exactly 36 hours to learn 25 pages, 6 songs and 10 dance numbers. As Julian says, by the next evening, he'll have either a live leading lady or a dead chorus girl!
At long last the Broadway curtain opens on 'Pretty Lady'. The show is a fabulous hit and Peggy Sawyer is a sudden sensation. Julian reprises the glory of "42nd Street." Ahh, a happy ending.
