Review of Footlight Parade (1933) by Daniel K — 30 Sep 2007
It's unreasonable how consistently excellent classic Hollywood pictures are. Cagney is one the great underrated actors of Hollywood. He could play every role differently while simultaneously allowing the persona every audience came to love shine through.
Blondell, Keeler, and Powell are all wonderful as well. Berkeley is spectacular as always. He can't be topped or emulated. I still prefer a good ole Astaire/Rogers number or even a Cyd Charisse solo, but there is something mesmerizing about a Berkeley number that can't be replicated any other way.
I love genre and this is fine example that can hold up with th best of them. Hollywood certainly knew what it was doing. It's interesting to me that one of the only artists I can think that rival Berkeley is Mathew Barney and his Cremaster Cycle.
If Mathew Barney is copying Berkeley then he sure did something very right. Berkeley and Bacon get away with some ridiculous scenes as well. An opium den with prostitutes? A motel with adultery and two people in the same bed under the covers?
This review of Footlight Parade (1933) was written by Daniel K on 30 Sep 2007.
Footlight Parade has generally received very positive reviews.
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