Barnes & Noble

Taking audiences to the bawdy, sassy, and rhythmic heights that characterized the edgier Depression-era musicals, Warner Brothers' 42nd Street established many of the backstage musical's most beloved and familiar tropes: the chorus girl who goes onstage a nobody but comes back a star; the hard-driving, brilliant director frantic for one more grand success; and the plucky tappers willing to dance till their feet bleed -- as long as the show will go on. There are wisecracking street-smart dames with nicknames like "Anytime Annie," a thick-skulled but wealthy theatrical "angel," investing more in an attractive woman than the play itself; and above all, those memorable tunes with Busby Berkeley's incredible choreography -- his camera tracking through a bevy of beautiful legs and looking from overhead as the dancers' bodies form intricate geometric patterns. Among the musical highlights are "Shuffle off to Buffalo," the innuendo-laden "Young and Healthy," and, of course, the buoyant title song itself, tied to a fascinating and dark sequence which captures both the energy and (unexpectedly) the violence of the city. 42nd Street is an absolute treasure, and the new DVD release from Warner Bros. has been digitally remastered from a beautifully restored negative. Karen Backstein

All Movie Guide

The quintessential "backstage" musical, 42nd Street traces the history of a Broadway musical comedy, from casting call to opening night. Warner Baxter plays famed director Julian Marsh, who despite failing health is determined to stage one last great production, "Pretty Lady." Others involved include "Pretty Lady" star Dorothy Brock (Bebe Daniels); Dorothy's "sugar daddy" (Guy Kibbee), who finances the show; her true love Pat (George Brent); leading man Billy Lawlor (Dick Powell); and starry-eyed chorus girl Peggy Sawyer (Ruby Keeler). It practically goes without saying that Dorothy twists her ankle the night before the premiere, forcing Julian Marsh is to put chorine Peggy into the lead: "You're going out there a youngster, but you've got to come back a star!" Delightfully corny, with hilarious wisecracking support from the likes of Ginger Rogers, Una Merkel, and George E. Stone, 42nd Street is perhaps the most famous of Warners' early-1930s Busby Berkeley musicals. Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes (which was a lot steamier than the movie censors would allow), 42nd Street is highlighted by such grandiose musical setpieces as "Shuffle Off to Buffalo," "Young and Healthy," and of course the title song. Nearly fifty years after its premiere, it was successfully revived as a Broadway musical with Tammy Grimes and Jerry Orbach. Hal Erickson

Product Details

• UPC: 012569678521
• Source: WARNER HOME VIDEO
• Region Code: 1
• Aspect Ratio: Full Frame
• Time: 1:29:00
• Sales Rank: 6,648

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• The Busby Berkeley Collection (Vol. 1)

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