7. 42nd Street (1933)

"Jones and Barry are putting on a show!"

is the message relayed around New York in the opening scene of this old Hollywood musical. Indeed they are. 'Pretty Lady' is to star Dorothy Brock and is financed by her sugar daddy, Abner Dillon. Successful director on the verge of a nervous breakdown, Julian Marsh, is hired to ensure it's success, thus begins a calamitous pre-production.

This film is a bit of a mess, but it's shining moments do dazzle, whether it be the snappy wisecracks ("Who can forget Anytime Annie? She only said no once and then she didn't hear the question!") to the startling musical numbers. Some suspension of disbelief is required for the sudden increase in stage area during the show, but Busby Berkeley's dance routines are distracting enough. In fact they are the best thing in it. The 'let's put on a show' format doesn't have the gusto required and is dogged down by sub plots that are barely interesting. Even the overdone main story of the fresh faced new girl, played by Ruby Keeler in her film debut, rising through the ranks is uninteresting. I think this is due to the direction from Lloyd Bacon. The script is fine; moments of light hearted wise cracking banter from the chorus girls is most welcome. Una Merkel and (a pre Astaired) Ginger Rogers delivering some great lines; the dance numbers are spectacular, it's the telling of the story that seems a little lacklustre. Fortunately the actual musical has a good 20 minutes devoted to it's numbers and what numbers! No wonder Berkeley was soon contracted by Warner Brothers.

The Kaleidoscopic images Berkeley puts together are impressive, but probably not so to the show's audience, unless they were hanging from the rafters. That'd be the suspension of disbelief then! (see what I did there?)