42nd Street is a 1933 Warner Bros. musical film which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. The film was directed by Lloyd Bacon with choreography by Busby Berkeley. The songs were written by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics). The script was written by Rian James and James Seymour, with Whitney Bolton (uncredited), from the novel by Bradford Ropes. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 225 × 362 pixelsFull resolution (225 × 362 pixel, file size: 32 KB, MIME type: image/gif) Original 1993 Poster for 42nd Street Source: Filmsite. ... Lloyd Bacon (1889-1955) was a screen, stage, and vaudeville actor and a film director. ... Kaleidoscopic Choreography from Footlight Parade, 1933 Busby Berkeley (November 29, 1895 – March 14, 1976), born William Berkeley Enos in Los Angeles, California, was a highly influential Hollywood movie director and musical choreographer. ... Darryl Francis Zanuck (September 5, 1902–December 22, 1979) was a producer, writer, actor and director who played a major part in the Hollywood studio system as one of its longest survivors (the length of his career being rivalled only by that of Adolph Zukor). ... Hal B. Wallis (September 14, 1898 – October 5, 1986) was an American motion picture producer. ... Actor Warner Baxter Warner Baxter (March 29, 1889 - May 7, 1951) was an American actor. ... Ruby Keeler, born Ethel Hilda Keeler, (August 25, 1909 – February 28, 1993), was an actress, singer, and dancer most famous for her on-screen coupling with Dick Powell in a string of successful early musicals at Warner Brothers. ... Richard Ewing Dick Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American singer, actor, producer, and director. ... Harry Warren (December 24, 1893 - September 22, 1981) was a music composer of many different styles. ... Al Dubin (June 10, 1891 - February 11, 1945) was a Swiss-born lyricist. ... Thomas G. Pratt Thomas George Pratt (February 18, 1804–November 9, 1869) was an American lawyer and politician from Annapolis, Maryland. ... “WB” redirects here. ... is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 1932 in film 1933 1934 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events British Film Institute founded. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... See also: 1932 in film 1933 1934 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events British Film Institute founded. ... “WB” redirects here. ... The musical film is a film genre in which several songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative. ... ©A.M.P.A.S.® The Academy Award for Best Motion Picture is one of the Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to artists working in the motion picture industry. ... Lloyd Bacon (1889-1955) was a screen, stage, and vaudeville actor and a film director. ... Kaleidoscopic Choreography from Footlight Parade, 1933 Busby Berkeley (November 29, 1895 – March 14, 1976), born William Berkeley Enos in Los Angeles, California, was a highly influential Hollywood movie director and musical choreographer. ... Harry Warren (December 24, 1893 - September 22, 1981) was a music composer of many different styles. ... Al Dubin (June 10, 1891 - February 11, 1945) was a Swiss-born lyricist. ...

The film is a fast-paced, backstage musical and was very financially successful. Many decades later, in 1980, it was made into a hit Broadway stage musical of the same name. For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ... 42nd Street was a hugely successful Broadway stage musical, loosely based on the movie of the same name. ...

In 1998, 42nd Street was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". In 2006 this film ranked #13 on the American Film Institute's list of best musicals. The National Film Registry is the registry of films selected by the United States National Film Preservation Board for preservation in the Library of Congress. ... Construction of the Thomas Jefferson Building, from July 8, 1888 to May 15, 1894. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Part of the AFI 100 Years. ...

Plot

It is 1932, the height of the Depression, and Broadway producers Jones (Robert McWade) and Barry (Ned Sparks) put on Pretty Lady, a musical staring beautiful Dorothy (“Dot”) Brock (Bebe Daniels). Dorothy's sugar daddy, industrialist Abner Dillon (Guy Kibbee), is the show's "angel" (financial backer). But while Dorothy is busy keeping Dillon both hooked and at arm's length, she still secretly meets her old vaudeville partner and lover, out of work Pat Denning (George Brent). The Great Depression was a global economic slump that began in 1929 and bottomed in 1933. ... Ned Sparks (November 19, 1883 - April 3, 1957), was a Canadian actor. ... Bebe Daniels (January 14, 1901 - March 16, 1971) was an American actress. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Brent (right) in Experiment Perilous George Brent (March 15, 1904 - May 26, 1979 was an actor in American cinema. ...

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. "This time I'm going to sock it away so hard you'll have to blast to get it out." Actor Warner Baxter Warner Baxter (March 29, 1889 - May 7, 1951) was an American actor. ... A stock market crash is a sudden dramatic decline of stock prices across a significant cross-section of a stock market. ...

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. Ruby Keeler, born Ethel Hilda Keeler, (August 25, 1909 – February 28, 1993), was an actress, singer, and dancer most famous for her on-screen coupling with Dick Powell in a string of successful early musicals at Warner Brothers. ... Una Merkel (December 10, 1903, Covington, Kentucky – January 2, 1986, Los Angeles) was a Tony Award winning and Academy Award nominated American film actress. ... Ginger Rogers (Virginia Katherine McMath, July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an Academy Award-winning American film and stage actress and singer. ... George E. Stone (b. ... Richard Ewing Dick Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American singer, actor, producer, and director. ...

Rehearsals continue for five weeks to Marsh's complete dissatisfaction, until the night before the opening in Philadelphia, Dorothy Brock, the star, breaks her ankle. 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 untried, green, 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.

Nearly 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 song 42nd Street. The show is a success, but in the final scene Marsh turns wearily away from the brightly lit theatre entrance and slumps down on a fire escape in the dark, too tired to savor his triumph.^[1]

Production

42nd Street was Ruby Keeler's first film, and the first time that choreographer Busby Berkeley and songwriters Harry Warren and Al Dubin had worked for Warner Bros. Director Lloyd Bacon was not the first choice to direct - he replace Mervyn LeRoy when LeRoy became ill. LeRoy was dating Ginger Rogers at the time, and had suggested to her that she take the role of "Anytime Annie".^[2][3] Mervyn LeRoy (October 15, 1900 - September 13, 1987) was an American film director, producer and sometime actor. ...

Actors who were considered for lead roles when the movie was being cast include Warren William and Richard Barthelmess for the role of "Julian Marsh", eventually played by Warner Baxter; Kay Francis and Ruth Chatterton instead of Bebe Daniels for the role of "Dorothy Brock"; Loretta Young as "Peggy Sawyer" instead of Ruby Keeler; Joan Blondell instead of Ginger Rogers for "Anytime Annie"; Glenda Farrell for the role of Lorraine, played by Una Merkel, and Frank McHugh instead of the dimuitive George E. Stone as Andy, the dance director.^[3] Warren William (2 December 1894 - 24 September 1948) was a Broadway and Hollywood actor, born Warren William Krech in Aitkin, Minnesota. ... Richard (Dick) Barthelmess (May 9, 1895 - August 17, 1963) was a silent film star. ... Kay Francis (January 13, 1905 – August 26, 1968) was an American actress who, after a brief beginning on Broadway in the 1920s, moved to film and achieved her greatest success between 1930 and 1936. ... Ruth Chatterton Ruth Chatterton (December 24, 1893 - November 24, 1961) was an American actress. ... Loretta Young in 1935 Loretta Young (January 6, 1913 – August 12, 2000) was an Academy Award-winning American actress. ... Blondell in Nightmare Alley (1947) Rose Joan Blondell (August 30, 1906 - December 25, 1979) was an Oscar-nominated American actress. ... Glenda Farrell (June 30, 1904 – May 1, 1971) was an American film actress. ... Francis Curray McHugh (May 23, 1898 - September 11, 1981) was an American film and television actor. ...

42nd Street began production on 5 October 1932 and shot for 28 days at the Warner Bros. studio in Burbank, California. The total cost of making the film has been estimated to be $340,000-$439,000.^[4][5] For other uses, see 5th October (Serbia). ... See also: 1931 in film 1932 1933 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events Shirley Temples film career begins Disney released Flowers and Trees their first cartoon in three-strip Technicolor film. ... For the community in Santa Clara County, California, see Burbank, Santa Clara County, California. ...

The film premiered in New York on 9 March 1933 at the Strand Theatre, and went into general release two days later, becoming one of the most profitable films of the year, bringing in an estimated gross of $2,300,000. It received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Sound Recording for Nathan Levinson, and was named one of the 10 Best Films of 1933 by Film Daily.^[6][2][7] 42nd Street was also voted the 13th movie musical of all time by the American Film Institute.^[8] is the 68th day of the year (69th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... See also: 1932 in film 1933 1934 in film 1930s in film years in film film // Events British Film Institute founded. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ...

Dick Powell cavorts with chorines

Una Merkel, Ruby Keeler
and George E. Stone in 42nd Street

Warner Baxter as hard-nosed director "Julian Marsh" in 42nd Street

Richard Ewing Dick Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American singer, actor, producer, and director. ... Una Merkel (December 10, 1903, Covington, Kentucky – January 2, 1986, Los Angeles) was a Tony Award winning and Academy Award nominated American film actress. ... Ruby Keeler, born Ethel Hilda Keeler, (August 25, 1909 – February 28, 1993), was an actress, singer, and dancer most famous for her on-screen coupling with Dick Powell in a string of successful early musicals at Warner Brothers. ... George E. Stone (b. ... Actor Warner Baxter Warner Baxter (March 29, 1889 - May 7, 1951) was an American actor. ...

Cast

• Warner Baxter as Julian Marsh, director
• Bebe Daniels as Dorothy ("Dottie") Brock, star
• George Brent as Pat Denning, Dorthy's old vaudeville partner
• Ruby Keeler as Peggy Sawyer, the newcomer
• Guy Kibbee as Abner Dillon, the show's backer
• Una Merkel as Lorrain Fleming, chorine
• Ginger Rogers as Ann ("Anytime Annie") Lowell, chorine
• Ned Sparks as co-producer Barry
• Dick Powell as Billy Lawler, the juvenile lead
• Allen Jenkins as Mac Elroy, the stage manager
• Edward J. Nugent as Terry, a chorus boy
• Robert McWade as co-producer Jones
• George E. Stone as Andy Lee, the dance director

Cast notes: Actor Warner Baxter Warner Baxter (March 29, 1889 - May 7, 1951) was an American actor. ... Bebe Daniels (January 14, 1901 - March 16, 1971) was an American actress. ... Brent (right) in Experiment Perilous George Brent (March 15, 1904 - May 26, 1979 was an actor in American cinema. ... Ruby Keeler, born Ethel Hilda Keeler, (August 25, 1909 – February 28, 1993), was an actress, singer, and dancer most famous for her on-screen coupling with Dick Powell in a string of successful early musicals at Warner Brothers. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Una Merkel (December 10, 1903, Covington, Kentucky – January 2, 1986, Los Angeles) was a Tony Award winning and Academy Award nominated American film actress. ... Ginger Rogers (Virginia Katherine McMath, July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an Academy Award-winning American film and stage actress and singer. ... Ned Sparks (November 19, 1883 - April 3, 1957), was a Canadian actor. ... Richard Ewing Dick Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American singer, actor, producer, and director. ... Allen Jenkins (April 9, 1900 – July 20, 1974), originally Alfred McGonegal, was a character actor born on Staten Island, New York. ... George E. Stone (b. ...

• The film's uncredited cast included Guy Kibbee's brother, Ruby Keeler's two sisters, Louise Beavers, Lyle Talbot and as two songwriters, Al Dubin and Harry Warren, who wrote the film's songs).

Louise Beavers (March 8, 1902 - October 26, 1962) was a prolific African-American film actress. ... Lyle Talbot as Commissioner Gordon in the 1949 Batman and Robin serial. ... Al Dubin (June 10, 1891 - February 11, 1945) was a Swiss-born lyricist. ... Harry Warren (December 24, 1893 - September 22, 1981) was a music composer of many different styles. ...

Musical numbers

• "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"

Youre Getting to Be a Habit with Me is a popular song. ...

Quotes

Director Julian Marsh (Warner Baxter) to green chorine Peggy Sawyer (Ruby Keeler) just before she makes her first entrance to replace the star of the show:

"Sawyer, you listen to me, and you listen hard. Two hundred people, two hundred jobs, two hundred thousand dollars, five weeks of grind and blood and sweat depend upon you. It's the lives of all these people who've worked with you. You've got to go on, and you've got to give and give and give. They've got to like you. Got to. Do you understand? You can't fall down. You can't because your future's in it, my future and everything all of us have is staked on you. All right, now I'm through, but you keep your feet on the ground and your head on those shoulders of yours and go out, and Sawyer, you're going out a youngster but you've got to come back a star!"

(The final line in this speech "Sawyer, you're going out a youngster, but you've got to come back a star!" was voted as the #87 movie quote of all time by the American Film Institute.)^[9]

See also

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

42nd Street was a hugely successful Broadway stage musical, loosely based on the movie of the same name. ... For the film of this name, see 42nd Street (film). ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...

Notes

External links

• 42nd Street at the Internet Movie Database
• 42nd Street at the TCM Movie Database
• 42nd Street at AllMovieGuide
• 42nd Street at Rotten Tomatoes
• 42nd Street at Filmsite.org
• 42nd Street movie posters at MoviePosterDB.com

• 42nd Street quotes at MovieWavs.com

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