Review of 42nd Street (1933) by Justin M — 02 Apr 2008

I love how this is listed under musicals. Yeah, I guess this is a musical in the same sense that something like Once is a musical. But this is much more of a dramedy (first time using that term in a Flixster review!) than anything else. What's weird is that it is pretty tame and down to earth cmopared to what I thought it would be. I guess all of the hype comes from the fact that Busby Berkeley was a major player in this movie. That's cool, I guess.

I've been seeing a lot of these "movies about performances" and there are certain character types that always have to make it into the movie. There's always the really rough genius director who works his actors to the bone. There's always the lovable counterpart to that director. Then there's the girl who's big break it is to be involved in this story. I guess I can't really blame this movie for following the same routine because I'm pretty sure that this movie made the routine. The part that really impressed me were the relationships involved. That and the absolutely astounding, almost impossible in real life, ending. But I did like how the movie worked out. I love when there are major character changes towards the end. I want to feel like what I just watched had some sort of meaning and impact on these characters. Sure, these changes are superficial compared to the deep spiritual core changes that Ebenezer Scrooge had, but it made me feel good so I don't mind so much. Honestly, I don't think that an understudy for a show like that could be ready in one night, but that's the magic of Hollywood.

I feel like I have to comment on the absolute end. I'm talking about the last minute of the movie. I was shocked to see how abruptly that happened. Pleased, but shocked nonetheless. I didn't know Hollywood was allowed to do that. I mean, we get what happened, but there was a degree of subtlety that I couldn't even grasp. I knew that she did a fantastic job and that everyone was going to make her a star, but there was no moment when the gruff director lifts her up in his arms after the show ended and screamed "You did it, girl! I never thought you had it in you, but you're going to be a star!' None of that. Thank you, 42nd Street, thank you.