Back in 1933 when sound on film was just beginning to be accepted a choreographer by the name of Busby Berkley left his mark of movie musical with his well-staged and well-photographed musical numbers. That year he choreographed several films but perhaps none more notable than 42nd STREET. With Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell along with Warner Baxter and Ginger Rogers the film was a hit and a classic example of the early movie musical.
It was no wonder that the film about Broadway would later become a Broadway musical itself. The stage musical came out in 1980 and had a lengthy run on Broadway. In 2017 the play had a revival that did equally well. That production made its way to a taped version of the show which is now available on disc from MVD.
The story revolves around a Broadway production being staged by famed director Julian Marsh (Tom Lister). Marsh has been forced to include aging actress Dorothy Brock (Bonnie Langford) in the lead role to get financing for the production from her wealthy beau Abner Dillon (Bruce Montague). Enter Peggy Sawyer (Clare Halse), fresh off the bus from Allentown, PA and hoping to audition except she arrived too late. Feeling for her a few of the chorus girls take her to lunch. They encourage Peggy to show them a dance routine and Marsh catching her doing do decides that he needs her to be in the chorus.
Then things get a little complicated. Abner is not happy that his girlfriend is going to be kissing another actor in the play and pulls his money unless the show is changed, which it is. During a rehearsal Peggy faints and is taken to Dorothy’s dressing room by Pat Denning (Matthew Goodgame), the man Dorothy is secretly having an affair with. When she finds them in the dressing room together she throws a fit. Overhearing this and fearful that he will lose his backer, Marsh has a couple of thugs suggest to Pat that he move elsewhere.
More romantic ups and downs, A broken ankle, the show nearly closing before it opens and a young upstart named Peggy who saves the day all make for a story that supposedly shows what goes on behind the scenes of a Broadway musical. At least in the land of make believe.
The production is well made and shot so that you feel not just like you’re in the audience but have front row seats. The acting is done in a stage manner rather than film meaning they are playing to the back seats but it works.
More than anything the production was known for its use of popular songs at the time as well as songs made for the film that became popular on their own. “42nd Street”, “You’re Getting to be a Habit with Me”, “I Only Have Eyes for You” and “We’re in the Money” all came from the production. Odds are since reading that you’re already humming one of more of those tunes.
Most people will never have the opportunity to go to see an
actual Broadway production. Discs like these provide that opportunity to
everyone. So make sure you take a chance and enjoy this one. It’s worth
watching.
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