42nd Street (1933)
Region 2 DVD

Synopsis: One of the most important and enjoyable musicals of all time, this sizzling Warner Bros movie is also one of the best loved of the early talking pictures. Warners was the studio responsible for introducing talkies to the world with The Jazz Singer in 1927, and six years later 42nd Street continued the grand tradition.

The film is recognised as 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 as Shuffle Off to Buffalo and You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me.

The production cost a then-mammoth $400,000 and it shows. This is as entertaining as it gets, with a knockout cast headed by Warner Baxter as the stressed Broadway director and Bebe Daniels as his star.

Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler (then married to Warners legend Al Jolson) feature in roles that would turn them into household favourites, and a newcomer called Ginger Rogers plays Anytime Annie — “The only time she said no, she didn't hear the question!”.

Cast: Warner Baxter, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers
Runtime: 89 min