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IMDbPro

42nd Street

  • 19331933
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,948
6,959
Warner Baxter, George Brent, Bebe Daniels, Allen Jenkins, Ruby Keeler, Guy Kibbee, Una Merkel, Ned Sparks, and George E. Stone in 42nd Street (1933)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:19
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Musical
When the leading lady of a Broadway musical breaks her ankle, she is replaced by a young unknown actress, who becomes the star of the show.When the leading lady of a Broadway musical breaks her ankle, she is replaced by a young unknown actress, who becomes the star of the show.When the leading lady of a Broadway musical breaks her ankle, she is replaced by a young unknown actress, who becomes the star of the show.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
12K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,948
6,959
  • Director
    • Lloyd Bacon
  • Writers
    • Rian James(screen play)
    • James Seymour(screen play)
    • Bradford Ropes(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Warner Baxter
    • Bebe Daniels
    • George Brent
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lloyd Bacon
  • Writers
    • Rian James(screen play)
    • James Seymour(screen play)
    • Bradford Ropes(based on the novel by)
  • Stars
    • Warner Baxter
    • Bebe Daniels
    • George Brent
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 129User reviews
    • 72Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Videos2

    42nd Street
    Trailer 2:19
    42nd Street
    Hollywood's Shared History with Broadway
    Clip 6:12
    Hollywood's Shared History with Broadway

    Photos187

    Ginger Rogers, Maxine Cantway, Margaret Carthew, Shep Houghton, Ruby Keeler, Kermit Maynard, Edward J. Nugent, and Dennis O'Keefe in 42nd Street (1933)
    Ginger Rogers, Margaret Carthew, Ruby Keeler, and Una Merkel in 42nd Street (1933)
    42nd Street (1933)
    Warner Baxter, George Brent, Bebe Daniels, and Dick Powell in 42nd Street (1933)
    Ginger Rogers, Harry Akst, Warner Baxter, George Brent, Bebe Daniels, Allen Jenkins, Ruby Keeler, Guy Kibbee, Una Merkel, Dick Powell, Ned Sparks, and George E. Stone in 42nd Street (1933)
    Ginger Rogers, Warner Baxter, George Brent, Bebe Daniels, Allen Jenkins, Ruby Keeler, Guy Kibbee, Una Merkel, Dick Powell, Ned Sparks, and George E. Stone in 42nd Street (1933)
    Ruby Keeler in 42nd Street (1933)
    Ruby Keeler in 42nd Street (1933)
    Bebe Daniels, Ruby Keeler, and Dick Powell in 42nd Street (1933)
    Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell in 42nd Street (1933)
    Dick Powell and Toby Wing in 42nd Street (1933)
    Dick Powell and Toby Wing in 42nd Street (1933)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Warner Baxter
    Warner Baxter
    • Julian Marsh
    Bebe Daniels
    Bebe Daniels
    • Dorothy Brock
    George Brent
    George Brent
    • Pat Denning
    Ruby Keeler
    Ruby Keeler
    • Peggy Sawyer
    Guy Kibbee
    Guy Kibbee
    • Abner Dillon
    Una Merkel
    Una Merkel
    • Lorraine Fleming
    Ginger Rogers
    Ginger Rogers
    • Ann Lowell
    Ned Sparks
    Ned Sparks
    • Thomas Barry
    Dick Powell
    Dick Powell
    • Billy Lawler
    Allen Jenkins
    Allen Jenkins
    • Mac Elroy
    Edward J. Nugent
    Edward J. Nugent
    • Terry
    Robert McWade
    Robert McWade
    • Jones
    George E. Stone
    George E. Stone
    • Andy Lee
    Harry Akst
    • Jerry
    • (uncredited)
    Virginia Albertson
    • Chorus Girl
    • (uncredited)
    Loretta Andrews
    Loretta Andrews
    • Chorus Girl
    • (uncredited)
    Alice Arnold
    • Chorus Girl
    • (uncredited)
    Joan Barclay
    Joan Barclay
    • Chorus Girl
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lloyd Bacon
    • Writers
      • Rian James(screen play)
      • James Seymour(screen play)
      • Bradford Ropes(based on the novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film was so financially successful that it saved Warner Brothers from bankruptcy.
    • Goofs
      The opening credits say "COPYRIGHT MCMXXXIII [1933]," but the closing credits say "COPYRIGHT MCMXXXII [1932]".
    • Quotes

      Julian Marsh: Sawyer, you listen to me, and you listen hard. Two hundred people, two hundred jobs, two hundred thousand dollars, five weeks of grind and blood and sweat depend upon you. It's the lives of all these people who've worked with you. You've got to go on, and you've got to give and give and give. They've got to like you. Got to. Do you understand? You can't fall down. You can't because your future's in it, my future and everything all of us have is staked on you. All right, now I'm through, but you keep your feet on the ground and your head on those shoulders of yours and go out, and Sawyer, you're going out a youngster but you've got to come back a star!

    • Alternate versions
      A digitally restored and colorized version was recently released.
    • Connections
      Edited into Musical Memories (1946)
    • Soundtracks
      Forty-Second Street
      (1932) (uncredited)

      Lyrics by Al Dubin

      Music by Harry Warren

      Played during the opening credits and often in the score

      Sung and Danced by Ruby Keeler

      Sung by Dick Powell and chorus girls

    User reviews129

    Review
    Top review
    Depression-era Gem
    This is one fun movie if you like singing, dancing and adore the whole atmosphere of the early 30's. A back stage story that sets the standard for all those "unknown becomes overnight star" films. The weakest part of it all is Ruby Keeler and I apologize in advance to all of her fans and there are many. She was an Irish Step Dancer, which does not come across very well in film. Step dancers concentrate on their feet only and upper body movement is not a consideration. This makes the dancer appear as heavy footed and clumsy. Plus she wasn't a very good actress and didn't sing very well either. But she was as cute as a button with those big eyes and innocent face,so all is forgiven.

    Warner Baxter gives the best performance of his career as the driven director who verges on madness. Dick Powell is delightful as the juvenile; many who only know him from his later films are not aware that he had a beautiful tenor voice and made his first splash in films as a singer and light comedian. Ginger Rogers is perfect as the slightly dishonorable chorus girl with the sugar daddy and Una Merkle playing Ginger's pal is surprisingly cute. Bebe Daniels is beautiful as the star of the play and does a great rendition of "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me"., The rest of the supporting cast is right on target...with some good support from Ned Sparks, Guy Kibbee and the ubiquitous George E. Stone.

    A lot got by the censors in this film to the delight of the audience....things were tightened up the next year as the Hayes Office started cracking down. Enjoy this film...enjoy, enjoy, and enjoy!!
    helpful•36
    4
    • Bucs1960
    • Dec 21, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 11, 1933 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Forty-Second Street
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 2, Vitagraph Studios - 4151 Prospect Avenue, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $439,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,600
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Warner Baxter, George Brent, Bebe Daniels, Allen Jenkins, Ruby Keeler, Guy Kibbee, Una Merkel, Ned Sparks, and George E. Stone in 42nd Street (1933)
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