42nd Street 1933: A Hollywood Film that Left a Lasting Impact

42nd Street is a 1933 American pre-Code musical film directed by Lloyd Bacon, and starring Warner Baxter, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, and Ginger Rogers. The film is notable for its choreography by Busby Berkeley and its use of the hit song “42nd Street.”

42nd Street tells the story of a Broadway producer, Julian Marsh (Warner Baxter), who is tasked with putting on a new musical during the Great Depression. Despite the difficult economic climate, Marsh is determined to make the show a success and assembles a talented cast and crew, including a young chorus girl named Peggy Sawyer (Ruby Keeler) and a rising star named Billy Lawlor (Dick Powell).

As rehearsals begin, Marsh faces opposition from the show’s backers, who are concerned about the high costs of putting on the production. Despite this, Marsh presses on and with the help of the choreographer Andy Lee (George Brent) and the director of the show, Dorothy Brock (Bebe Daniels), the musical comes together.

The highlight of the film is the choreography by Busby Berkeley, who is famous for his elaborate and imaginative musical numbers. The film features several musical numbers, including the iconic “42nd Street” and “Shuffle Off to Buffalo” which were written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin.

The movie was released in 1933 and was an immediate box office success, grossing more than $1.5 million in its first year of release. It was also a critical success and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. The film is considered a classic of the Hollywood musical genre and is still widely regarded as one of the greatest musicals ever made.

#1 Women wearing “The World Changes” banners, 1933

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#2 Al Jolson Arriving with Wife Ruby Keeler.

Noted Comedian and Wife Arrive for Hollywood Premiere. Al Jolson, noted star of stage and screen and his wife, Ruby Keeler, arriving at Warner Brothers Hollywood Theatre for the premiere of 42nd Street in which Miss Keeler plays a leading role.

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#3 Una Merkel Attending Movie Premiere.

Many stars of the stage and screen turn out to see Hollywood's premier showing of Warner Brothers 42nd Street.

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#4 Lloyd Bacon , Dick Powell, Ruby Keller, Stichwort: Glückwunsch, Gratulation, Erfolg, Kuss.

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#5 42nd Street, lobbycard, from left, Ruby Keeler, George Brent, Bebe Daniels, 1933

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#6 Actress Ruby Keeler, Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, Dick Powell in a scene from the movie “42nd Street”

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#7 Chorus Girls in a scene from the movie “42nd Street”

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#8 Bob Hope, Tamara, Fay Templeton, and George Murphy

Bob Hope, at the piano, had his first comedy lead on the stage in the Kern-Hernbach musical, Roberta, 193, at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City; left to right: Tamara, Fay Templeton, Bob Hope, and George Murphy.

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#9 Men and women dancing in unison during a musical number from the 1933 motion picture 42nd Street.

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#10 Scene from the 1933 musical 42nd Street.

In the center of group of dancers are: actress Ruby Keeler as Peggy Sawyer, actor Warner Baxter as broadway director Julian Marsh, and actress Ginger Rogers as Ann Lowell.

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#11 Store Displays Nra Sign

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#12 A poster of the film ’42nd Street’, starring (inset, top to bottom) Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Una Merkel, Ruby Keeler, Guy Kibbee, Dick Powell, Ned Sparks, George E. Stone and Allen Jenkins.

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#13 Warner Baxter giving direction to chorus girls in movie art for the film ’42nd Street’, 1933.

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#14 Stage production scene from the film ’42nd Street’, 1933.

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#15 Chorus girls in a scene from the film ’42nd Street’, 1933.

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#16 Chorus girls and men in a scene from the film ’42nd Street’, 1933.

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#17 Ruby Keeler and George Brent sitting close together on the couch in a scene from the film ’42nd Street’, 1933.

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#18 Chorus girls in a scene from the film ’42nd Street’, 1933.

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#19 Warner Baxter is surrounded by legs in a scene from the film ’42nd Street’, 1933

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#20 Guy Kibbee stars in a scene from the Warner Brothers musical ‘Forty-Second Street’ or ’42nd Street’.

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#21 Ruby Keeler with George Brent) in a scene from the film ’42nd Street’, about the making of 42nd Street, 1933

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#22 Ruby Keele, Ginger Rogers and Una Merkel star in a scene from the film ’42nd Street’, 1933

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#23 A dance routine from the film ’42nd Street’, about the making of a ’42nd Street’, 1933 –

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