# 42nd Street

> 1933 American Warner Bros. musical film

**Wikidata**: [Q44662](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44662)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/42nd_Street_(film))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/42nd-street-q44662

## Summary
42nd Street is a landmark 1933 American musical film produced by Warner Bros. during the Great Depression, renowned for its extravagant song-and-dance sequences and direction by Busby Berkeley. A quintessential backstage musical, it follows a young performer’s rise to stardom and is celebrated as a cultural artifact of 1930s Hollywood. Selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1998, it remains a defining work of the genre.

## Key Facts
- **Release Date**: January 1, 1933 (premiered in New York City).
- **Production Companies**: Warner Bros. and The Vitaphone Corporation.
- **Director**: Lloyd Bacon (with Busby Berkeley directing musical numbers).
- **Genre**: Musical film, drama film.
- **Cast**: Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Ginger Rogers, Bebe Daniels, George Brent.
- **Music**: Harry Warren (composer), Al Dubin (lyricist).
- **Runtime**: 89 minutes.
- **Aspect Ratio**: 1.37:1 (Academy ratio).
- **Sound**: Vitaphone sound-on-disc system.
- **Preservation**: Added to the National Film Registry in 1998 (deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant").
- **Legacy**: Ranked #10 on the American Film Institute’s "Greatest Movie Musicals" list (2006).
- **Cultural Impact**: Revived the musical genre and launched Dick Powell’s career as a leading man.
- **Source Material**: Based on Bradford Ropes’ 1932 novel of the same name.
- **Wikipedia Coverage**: Featured in 32 language editions.
- **Wikidata ID**: Q422287.
- **IMDb ID**: tt0024034.

## FAQs
**What is 42nd Street’s significance in film history?**  
42nd Street revitalized the musical genre during the Great Depression, showcasing Busby Berkeley’s innovative choreography and establishing the "backstage musical" template. Its success helped Warner Bros. compete with MGM’s musicals and influenced decades of Hollywood productions.

**Who created 42nd Street?**  
Directed by Lloyd Bacon, the film features iconic musical numbers staged by Busby Berkeley. The screenplay by Rian James and James Seymour adapts Bradford Ropes’ novel, with songs by Harry Warren and Al Dubin.

**Why was 42nd Street preserved by the Library of Congress?**  
The film was selected for the National Film Registry in 1998 for its cultural and historical importance, recognizing its role in advancing the musical genre and its representation of 1930s American entertainment.

**How does 42nd Street relate to the Great Depression?**  
Produced during the economic crisis, the film offered escapism through lavish musical numbers while reflecting themes of perseverance and ambition. Its modest budget ($439,000) belied its impact, grossing significant revenue and boosting morale.

**What awards or recognitions has 42nd Street received?**  
Ranked #10 on the American Film Institute’s "Greatest Movie Musicals" (2006) and inducted into the National Film Registry, it is frequently cited as one of the greatest musicals of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

## Why It Matters
42nd Street is a cornerstone of American cinema, blending spectacle with storytelling to create a timeless portrait of ambition and resilience. It solved the challenge of adapting elaborate stage musicals to film, pioneering techniques like crane shots and geometric choreography that redefined the genre. Economically, it demonstrated the viability of low-cost musicals during the Depression, revitalizing the genre and Warner Bros.’ fortunes. Culturally, it cemented 42nd Street’s status as a symbol of New York City’s entertainment district and influenced later works like *Singin’ in the Rain*. Its preservation ensures future generations can study its technical innovations and historical context, making it essential to film scholarship and American cultural history.

## Notable For
- **Technical Innovation**: Busby Berkeley’s overhead crane shots and synchronized dance formations raised the bar for musical sequences.
- **Cultural Revival**: Revived the musical genre and solidified Warner Bros.’ reputation for quality entertainment during the Depression.
- **Historic Preservation**: One of the earliest films selected for the National Film Registry (1998), affirming its lasting significance.
- **Launchpad for Talent**: Propelled Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler to stardom and showcased Ginger Rogers’ early career.
- **Economic Impact**: Grossed $2.3 million on a $439,000 budget, proving musicals’ commercial viability during economic hardship.
- **Literary Adaptation**: Faithfully adapted Bradford Ropes’ novel while incorporating original songs like "42nd Street" and "Young and Healthy."

## Body

### Production and Release
42nd Street premiered in New York City on January 1, 1933, distributed by Warner Bros. with a 1.37:1 Academy ratio. Produced on a modest $439,000 budget, it grossed $2.3 million, leveraging the Vitaphone sound system for crisp audio. The film’s success led to a series of "backstage musicals," including *Footlight Parade* (1933) and *Gold Diggers of 1933* (1933), cementing Berkeley’s reputation as a master of the genre.

### Cast and Crew
- **Director**: Lloyd Bacon (primary), Busby Berkeley (musical numbers).
- **Screenplay**: Rian James and James Seymour, adapted from Bradford Ropes’ 1932 novel.
- **Music**: Harry Warren (composer), Al Dubin (lyricist).
- **Cast**: Dick Powell (Julian Marsh), Ruby Keeler (Peggy Sawyer), Ginger Rogers (Lorraine Fleming), Bebe Daniels (Carlotta Lake), George Brent (Bert Kenwood).

### Legacy and Preservation
Added to the National Film Registry in 1998, the film is recognized for its cultural and historical merit. The Library of Congress highlights its influence on the musical genre and its depiction of Depression-era optimism. In 2006, the American Film Institute ranked it #10 on its "Greatest Movie Musicals" list, praising its "joyous, escapist entertainment."

### Cultural Impact
42nd Street’s portrayal of Broadway’s "Great White Way" mythologized New York City’s theater district, popularizing the street as a symbol of showbiz ambition. Its songs, such as the titular "42nd Street," entered the American canon, covered by artists like Harry James and Dizzy Gillespie. The film’s "putting on a show" narrative inspired later musicals like *A Chorus Line* and *Glee*.

### Technical Specifications
- **Runtime**: 89 minutes (1 hour 29 minutes).
- **Sound Mix**: Mono (Vitaphone sound-on-disc).
- **Film Gauge**: 35 mm.
- **Color**: Black-and-white.
- **Aspect Ratio**: 1.37:1.
- **Camera**: Mitchell FC 35 mm camera.
- **Laboratory**: Technicolor (printing), though not a color film.

### Related Entities
- **Warner Bros.**: The studio’s first major musical hit of the 1930s, establishing its rivalry with MGM.
- **National Film Registry**: Selected in 1998 (Registry #88-A-1).
- **Busby Berkeley**: His choreography for "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" and "42nd Street" showcased his signature top-down camera angles and geometric patterns.
- **American Film Institute**: Ranked #10 on "Greatest Movie Musicals" (2006).

### Historical Context
Produced during the Great Depression, the film mirrored the era’s struggles and aspirations. Its plot—centered on a small-town girl’s rise to stardom—resonated with audiences seeking hope. The film’s modest budget relied on practical sets and Berkeley’s ingenuity, such as using chorus girls to form human patterns, a cost-effective yet dazzling technique.

### Adaptations and Influence
The story was adapted into a 1980 Broadway musical starring Tammy Grimes, which ran for 3,486 performances. The film’s "behind-the-scenes" narrative influenced later works like *The Band Wagon* (1953) and *La La Land* (2016), ensuring its legacy as a blueprint for musical storytelling.

### Recognition and Awards
- **National Film Registry**: Inducted in 1998 (Library of Congress).
- **AFI’s 100 Years of Musicals**: #10 ranking (2006).
- **Preservation**: Restored by Warner Bros. in 2004 for DVD release, using original nitrate prints.

### Trivia
- **On-Set Challenges**: Ruby Keeler, a novice dancer, required extensive rehearsals for the "42nd Street" finale.
- **Cameos**: Busby Berkeley appears uncredited as a stagehand.
- **Cultural References**: The film’s title inspired the 1980s TV series *Fame* and the 2001 jukebox musical *42nd Street*.

## References

1. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024034/)
2. [Source](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0024034/fullcredits)
3. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. The Movie Database
6. [Source](https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/)
7. 42nd Street. Rotten Tomatoes
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. Kinopoisk
10. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
11. Online-Filmdatenbank
12. Bechdel Test Movie List
13. mymovies.it
14. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/BC6D-7F7E-BBA7-DF23-B961-7)
15. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/84553)
16. Trakt.tv
17. FilmVandaag.nl