Footlight Parade

This is pure Hollywood, not written for, not adapted from, not conceived for the stage. Although it is the world of the stage musical that Footlight Parade explores. Specifically it looks at Prologue productions, which were short live presentations given between movie screenings. I believe they were the way movie theater owners drew audiences to their movie house while their competitors might be showing the same film. "We're Air Conditioned!" "We have more comfy seats!" "We have a waterfall and scores of bathing beauties that swim in a tank that could never really fit in this movie house!"

If I'm wrong on the history lesson, I'm sure someone will correct me, or point me to a good source--Oscar Brockett never covered it in the text book he wrote for my theater history courses in college.

Well, Footlight Parade is a "let's put on a show" variant. They put on three Prologues at three different movie houses in one evening. Different Prologues, same cast. Realistic? No.

While you get a taste of some singing and dancing during the course of the film, you have to wait to the end to see the three ultra-elaborate Prologues presented back-to-back-to-back at the end of the film. The waterfall/pool number is particularly stunning to watch, if you can get past the idea that this is supposed to be seen in a live stage show. Exactly how would an audience experience the overhead and underwater shots as created by Busby Berkeley (see above)?

Jimmy Cagney is rough and tumble as the man who dreams up the Prologue themes and then rallies the team. He also performs one of the Prologues. It's a good preview of the more nuanced and worthy performance Cagney will give as George M. Cohan nearly a decade later in Yankee Doodle Dandy. Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell round out the cast.

I didn't care for any of the music, which is written by Al Dubin and Harry Warren, although "Shang-hai Lil" is somewhat catchy. It is surprising to see a cast of all shades in this one number--Black, Asian, White. Did it cause a sensation?

Oscar Brockett doesn't know.

Footlight Parade
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Film released in 1933 by Warner Bros.
DVD released in 2006
Cast: James Cagney, Ruby Keeler, Joan Blondell, Dick Powell

42nd Street--film on DVD

Yes, I said yesterday I was going back to some old-fashioned cast albums, and here I am with an entry about a musical film. So sue me. But 42nd Street is the quintessential musical film. And it was made into a stage musical in 1980. I must put that cast album on my list, as it features the quintessential song and dance man Jerry Orbach.

In my recent foray into the dance world of Gene Kelly, I learned the difference between a hoofer and a dancer, thanks to some comments by Donald O'Connor. He describes himself as a hoofer--concerned with what his feet were doing, but not his upper body. He credits Kelly with making him dance using his whole body. Having seen his dancing for several earlier entries, I think O'Connor is being modest, but I understand the difference.

Well, 42nd Street is full of hoofers. There may not be any other type of dancer in this film. Ruby Keeler is a name I have often heard associated with early film musicals, and she is delightful from tip to tale. A good dancer with a fine singing voice. Ginger Rodgers has a secondary role as another member of the chorus; it's nice to remember that Ms. Rodgers was a comedienne, too.

The story is a tale oft' told, but may be one of the first times it's told in talkies. Young, untried chorus girl gets her big break when the star breaks her ankle and can't open the show. The script must contain every cliche of show business, and at times it does get a little hokey. But for the most part it works.

I did not know the name Harry Warren before seeing the opening credits to this film. He's the composer and he's written some nice songs for this score. The title song is the most famous from the score, but everything else is nice if a little dated.

42nd Street
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Directed by Busby Berkeley
Released by Warner Bros. in 1933
Cast: Ruby Keeler, Ginger Rogers, Dick Powell, Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels