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42nd Street

Play trailer Poster for 42nd Street 1933 1h 29m Musical Comedy Drama Romance Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 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.
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42nd Street

42nd Street

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker 04/14/2020
Modern musicals start here, and Busby Berkeley's genius bursts into full flower. Go to Full Review Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 10/16/2007
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. Go to Full Review Mordaunt Hall New York Times 08/08/2006
4.5/5
The liveliest and one of the most tuneful screen musical comedies that has come out of Hollywood. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Mar 17
3/10
The title tune remains memorable (as does the parting shot), but this pioneering product-of-its-time no longer possesses much filmic power. Go to Full Review Tony Sloman Radio Times 07/09/2024
5/5
A masterpiece, not merely for its racy dialogue and lavish costumes, or for its now-classic "newcomer goes on instead of indisposed star" plot, but also for affording kaleidoscope choreographer Busby Berkeley a chance to show off in such superb numbers. Go to Full Review Pare Lorentz Vanity Fair 06/05/2019
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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Leaburn O Nov 19 I quite enjoyed this classic Broadway flick. It’s an obvious but heartwarming story. Not too many twists in the plot but a short film with a happy ending. I fast forwarded the boring singing bits as usual but other than the final quarter of an hour there was thankfully minimal of that fluff. Watched on DVD. See more Teddy B 04/01/2024 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. See more Autumn M 05/07/2023 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 See more Joshua H @JoshuaHawes 03/09/2023 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. See more CodyZamboni Z 11/20/2022 Entertaining drama comedy musical, l liked most the backstage details of putting on a show, And I enjoyed the impressive big show numbers at the end See more Ethan S 05/02/2022 Great dance numbers string together a fairly average showbiz plot, though I was a bit surprised by the ambiguousness of the ending. See more Read all reviews
42nd Street

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Cast & Crew

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Lloyd Bacon

Director

Ruby Keeler

Peggy Sawyer

Warner Baxter

Julian Marsh

Bebe Daniels

Dorothy Brock

George Brent

Pat Denning

Dick Powell

Billy Lawler

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42nd Street

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
Producer
Darryl F Zanuck
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, Drama, Romance, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 9, 1933, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 18, 2010
Runtime
1h 29m
Sound Mix
Mono
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