42nd Street

Released Mar 9, 1933

1h 29m

Musical

Comedy

List

96%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

74%

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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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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Richard Brody

New Yorker

Modern musicals start here, and Busby Berkeley's genius bursts into full flower.

Apr 14, 2020

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

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.

Oct 16, 2007

Full Review

Mordaunt Hall

New York Times

The liveliest and one of the most tuneful screen musical comedies that has come out of Hollywood.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 8, 2006

Full Review

Tony Sloman

Radio Times

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.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 9, 2024

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

It's the cast, the banter and the backstage at-a-musical-revue-in-rehearsal milieu that keep this picture fresh.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 22, 2020

Full Review

Pare Lorentz

Vanity Fair

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.

Jun 5, 2019

Full Review

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Teddy B

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.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

Full Review

Autumn M

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

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/07/23

Full Review

Joshua H

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.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/10/23

Full Review

CodyZamboni Z

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

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/03/24

Full Review

Ethan S

Great dance numbers string together a fairly average showbiz plot, though I was a bit surprised by the ambiguousness of the ending.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

05/02/22

Full Review

deke p

1933 !! CLASSIC! Saw on TV 12.29.2021

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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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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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
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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