Directed by Lloyd Bacon. Starring Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, George Brent, and others. Dances and Ensembles by Busby Berkeley.
Okay, add this to the list of "I saw it because I thought I should" films. I figured I should have at least one Busby Berkeley film in my "watched" list, and this was the one I picked.
To be honest, most of this film is nothing to write home about. It has a loosely strung together plot (about the process of putting on a Broadway show), a lot of actors, and it all leads up to a series of musical numbers that could never have happened on a stage in the first place.
So, nothing special, but not a waste of time by any means. This film had some great 30s actresses, an underdog to root for, a few funny lines and swinging musical numbers.
There was one scene, though, that did made me glad I took time to watch 42nd Street... because this film does have at least one CLASSIC Busby Berkeley number. Berkeley is well known for a kaleidoscopic style, where numerous dancers (most often scantily clad women) would be shot from above in such a way to make them look like this, or this. This film had a number that looked like this. (I'm sorry, I can't find a clip -- but I encourage you to look for one!) It was really quite incredible, and definitely worth seeing.
Still, this film certainly isn't something I'd recommend, past a YouTube or Google Image search to get a sense of Berkeley's truly incredible choreography style.
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