42nd. Street (1933)

USA 89m, B&W
Director: Lloyd Bacon & Busby Berkeley; Cast: Warner Baxter, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, George Brent, Ginger Rogers

42nd Street is a clever “backstage” romantic musical comedy set during the Great Depression about the making of a Broadway musical “Pretty Lady”. As money is tight, the show’s producers must rely on a wealthy patron of the arts who is more interested in the leading lady than he is in the musical. As the premiere approaches, the lead literally breaks an ankle, and must be replaced with a most unlikely replacement – an inexperienced chorus line girl played by Ruby Keeler who saves the show and becomes a broadway star. The movie is filled with some great musical numbers and influential dance choreography by Busby Berkeley (Klaus Ming October 2009).