Review of 42nd Street (1933) by Irvin C — 30 Nov 2007

This film is getting to be a habit with me. It's a delightful film which hits the ground running with no tedious build-up, full of rich, racy comebacks and quips, smart and sassy young women (Ginger Rogers and Una Merkel steal every scene they're in, and Ruby Keeler is ever so sweet), smart dialogue, classic tunes you'll recognise instantly, fantastic fashions.

In spite of the passage of time, the characters all feel recognisably human with familiar concerns and desires and offers celluloid proof that young people have always been trying to seduce the pants off each other given half a chance, although this crowd do so with a certain kind of class and sass which has receded over the years, and the fame game is still a modern obsession.

Watching 42nd Street is like stepping into a world familiar to one's own and yet strangely more exotic, although the film has its share of hard knocks and shows cracking showbiz was no picnic! This film invented a lot of trends and cliches which still get spoofed and reference in our popular culture even now.

Lose yourself in this cocktail of fruity comedy and toe-tapping toons!