What is 42nd St about?
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.
42nd Street/Film synopsis
How does 42nd Street reflect the Great Depression?
The film embodied the ideological contradictions inherent in the American Dream during the Depression. Peggy is rewarded not only for hard work but also by fate, namely, the leading lady’s injury and incapacity to perform. Depression audiences were eager to see rag-to-riches, overnight success stories.
What genre is 42nd Street?
Romance
ComedyMusicalComedy music
42nd Street/Genres
The show is a jukebox musical of sorts, in that, in addition to songs from the 1933 film 42nd Street, it includes songs that Dubin and Warren wrote for many other films at around the same time, including Gold Diggers of 1933, Roman Scandals, Dames, Gold Diggers of 1935, Go into Your Dance, Gold Diggers of 1937 and The …
What happens at the end of 42nd Street?
Abner is ready to close the show, but the kids talk him out of it. Pretty Lady opens spectacularly with “We’re In the Money.” But when Dorothy rushes onstage for the Act I finale, she is accidentally knocked down by Peggy and can’t get up. Julian, furious, fires Peggy and cancels the rest of the performance.
Is 42nd Street suitable for children?
Starring Michael Cumpsty and Christine Ebersole. Also starring Mary Testa, Jonathan Freeman, David Elder, and Kate Levering. Audience: Suitable for children.
Who choreographed 42nd Street?
Gower Champion
Directed and choreographed by Gower Champion, the production earned eight Tony Award nominations, winning two including Best Musical. 42nd Street tells the story of a chorus girl from Allentown, Pennsylvania, who steps into the starring role to save the show when its star breaks her leg.
Is 42nd Street a backstage musical?
42nd Street (1933) is the classic, fast-paced, backstage movie musical – a refreshing film that changed the film musical forever and saved Warner Bros. Set during the Depression and about the Depression, this film is considered the backstage musical par excellence, the grand-daddy of them all.
When was the first performance of 42nd Street?
June 1980
42nd Street/First performance
What era is 42nd Street set?
1933
Set in 1933, 42nd Street tells the story of a small-town girl from Middle America trying to make it on Broadway.
What was the love theme in 42nd Street?
The “Love Theme”, written by Harry Warren, is played under scenes between Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell, and Bebe Daniels and George Brent. It has no title or lyrics, and is unpublished. The music playing during dance rehearsals and the opening of the show is an instrumental piano piece that Harry Warren wrote, titled “Pretty Lady.”
Is the musical 42nd Street based on a true story?
Based on the 1932 novel by Bradford Ropes and the subsequent 1933 Hollywood film adaptation, the backstage musical show focuses on the efforts of famed dictatorial Great White Way director Julian Marsh to mount a successful stage production of a musical extravaganza at the height of the Great Depression .
When did the movie 42nd Street come out?
42nd Street (1933) is the classic, fast-paced, backstage movie musical – a refreshing film that changed the film musical forever and saved Warner Bros. studios from bankruptcy, helping it grow into a major studio. Set during the Depression and about the Depression,…
What are the famous songs from 42nd Street?
The 1981 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, 42nd Street is the song-and-dance, American dream fable of Broadway, featuring the iconic songs “42nd Street,” “We’re In the Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” “Shuffle Off To Buffalo,” “I Only Have Eyes For You” and many more.