“Footlight Parade” is one of my favorite pre-code 1930s musicals, and I think it is some of Busby Berkeley’s best work. “Honeymoon Hotel” performed by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler “Sittin’ on a Back Yard Fence” performed by Ruby Keeler and Billy Taft “Shanghai Lil” performed by James Cagney and chorus
“By a Waterfall” performed by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler
Cast of footlight parade 1933 movie#
The “By a Water Fall” number was featured on The Great Movie Ride at MGM Studios in Walt Disney World from 1989 until the attraction closed in 2017. Preserved by the Library of Congress in 1992 Cagney’s character Chester Kent is said to be based on choreographer Chester Hale, who was in Hollywood during this time, according to Neibaur’s book. James Cagney campaigned for the lead in this film because he wanted to get away from the tough guy roles, according to the book James Cagney Films of the 1930s by James L. For the “By a Waterfall” number, there was a camera underneath the swimming tank, according to Spivak’s book to 7:45 a.m., according to the book Buzz: The Life and Art of Busby Berkeley by Jeffrey Spivak One daily call production report showed they shot from 9 a.m. It took a week to film the “By a Waterfall” number and much of the time all the girls were in the water and there would be six hours between takes. To get a movie theater contract, Chester makes a dormitory out of the theater so that no one can leak the ideas. His secretary Nan (Blondell) is in love with him and helps him with ideas, but they learn that some of his ideas are leaking out to other similar agencies. James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Frank McHugh, Guy Kibbee, Ruth Donnelly, Hugh Herbert, Claire Dodd, Gordon Westcott, Arthur Hohl, Billy Barty (uncredited)Ĭhester Kent’s (Cagney) Broadway musicals are failing, because of talking films, so he reinvents himself and begins producing the musical numbers shown before the movie begins. I’m not sure why the girls aren’t wearing clothes. It’s all a build up to the back to back musical numbers though.Poster for Footlight Parade. The plot, that rushes by you, involves the arrival of “talkies” which pushes musical producer Cagney into the new business of creating live performance “prologues” for the new fangled movie theaters. The film moves along at a breakneck pace, it’s at least twenty minutes before there’s even a pause between action and dialogue.
Cast of footlight parade 1933 full#
Of course, the real centerpiece of are the over the top Busby Berkeley musical numbers that among other wonders include: men and women dressed as giant cats, a waterfall full of lady godivas, a hotel where women get busy on their wedding nights, an opium den populated by women in incredible costumes, and that man/child thing dressed as a mouse. Bolstered by an uber charming cast, all of which you notice made other categories this week including a fast talking, lithe dancing James Cagney, the wide eyed sass with a good head on her shoulders, Joan Blondell, the ultimate “juvenile” and nice guy Dick Powell, and the petite sweetheart Ruby Keeler.
The Golddiggers of 1933 is our gold standard for golden era musicals, and while Footlight Parade doesn’t quit reach the magnificence of that film, it’s an engaging fun romp.
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