Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      42nd Street

      Released Mar 9, 1933 1h 29m Musical Comedy List
      96% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 74% Audience Score 5,000+ Ratings When revered Broadway director Julian Marsh (Warner Baxter) falls on hard times with both his health and his finances, he helms an ambitious musical as a final production before his retirement. His lead actress, Dorothy Brock (Bebe Daniels), is torn between two loves--the show's wealthy backer, Abner Dillon (Guy Kibbee), and the earnest but penniless actor Pat Denning (George Brent) --while aspiring young performer Peggy Sawyer (Ruby Keeler) waits in the wings, hoping for her big break. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Apr 30 Buy Now

      Where to Watch

      42nd Street

      Fandango at Home Prime Video

      Rent 42nd Street on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

      42nd Street

      What to Know

      Critics Consensus

      Bubsy Berkeley does it again in 42nd Street, a brilliant depression-era romp with stellar musical numbers and impeccable choreography.

      Read Critics Reviews

      Critics Reviews

      View All (25) Critics Reviews
      Richard Brody New Yorker Modern musicals start here, and Busby Berkeley's genius bursts into full flower. Apr 14, 2020 Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader This 1933 film is the best known of the Warner Brothers Depression-era musicals, though it doesn't compare in dash and extravagance to later entries in the cycle. Oct 16, 2007 Full Review Mordaunt Hall New York Times The liveliest and one of the most tuneful screen musical comedies that has come out of Hollywood. Rated: 4.5/5 Aug 8, 2006 Full Review Roger Moore Movie Nation It's the cast, the banter and the backstage at-a-musical-revue-in-rehearsal milieu that keep this picture fresh. Rated: 3/4 Sep 22, 2020 Full Review Pare Lorentz Vanity Fair Oddly enough, in 42nd Street, Warner Baxter is a rather convincing stage director, Bebe Daniels has a surprisingly good voice and a fair sense of comedy, and the dancing and song routines are introduced with some imagination. Jun 5, 2019 Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Film benefits from great musical numbers and its portrait of the show's director, one of the few well-developed gay characters in a 1930's Hollywood film. Nov 30, 2015 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (302) audience reviews
      Teddy B The performances, writing, and musical numbers shine. Although, the musical numbers are only utilised near the end, which could be a disappointment for fans of Busby Berkeley's impeccable choreography. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/01/24 Full Review Autumn M 42nd is a delightful early musical from Busby. The dialogue is witty and the choreography was simply amazing. 42nd street is a musical about putting on a musical, but somehow it felt more refreshing than other show business musicals. Recommended Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/07/23 Full Review Joshua H Due to it being an old not everything lands as it originally did and it dosen't feel like a musical till near the end but there are some fun moments. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/10/23 Full Review Ethan S Great dance numbers string together a fairly average showbiz plot, though I was a bit surprised by the ambiguousness of the ending. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/02/22 Full Review deke p 1933 !! CLASSIC! Saw on TV 12.29.2021 Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a musical review with a silly, contrived plot. The singing and dancing of Ruby Keeler, the great production numbers of Bubsy Berkeley, and the wonderful songs are all top grade. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      100% 86% Gold Diggers of 1933 89% 76% Broadway Melody of 1936 80% 55% Going Hollywood 93% 82% The Gay Divorcee 86% 65% Roberta Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Photos

      View All 42nd Street photos

      42nd Street

      42nd Street (1933) 42nd Street (1933) 42nd Street (1933) 42nd Street (1933) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis When revered Broadway director Julian Marsh (Warner Baxter) falls on hard times with both his health and his finances, he helms an ambitious musical as a final production before his retirement. His lead actress, Dorothy Brock (Bebe Daniels), is torn between two loves--the show's wealthy backer, Abner Dillon (Guy Kibbee), and the earnest but penniless actor Pat Denning (George Brent) --while aspiring young performer Peggy Sawyer (Ruby Keeler) waits in the wings, hoping for her big break.
      Director
      Lloyd Bacon
      Screenwriter
      Bradford Ropes, Rian James, James Seymour, Whitney Bolton
      Distributor
      Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
      Production Co
      Warner Brothers
      Genre
      Musical, Comedy
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Mar 9, 1933, Wide
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Oct 18, 2010
      Runtime
      1h 29m
      Sound Mix
      Mono
      Most Popular at Home Now