"Frankenstein"), and later, after seeing a bunch of African-American kids playing in the water from a fire hydrant, he'll quip "That's what need - a modern waterfall splashing on beautiful white bodies." You have to forgive the film for those transgressions, which are relatively small for the time period. Earlier in the film, Cagney will brainstorm for themes in his musicals and hit upon one with "African slaves" (after other wacky ideas, e.g. FOOTLIGHT PARADE (director: Lloyd Bacon screenwriters: Manuel Seff/James Seymour/story by Robert Lord and Peter Milne cinematographer: George Barnes editor: George Amy music: Leo F. of choreographer Busby Berkeley with stars Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler. There are some cringe-inducing moments, including Keeler as an Asian woman during 'Shanghai Lil, singing some broken English lyrics which may make you think of the cliché 'me love you long time' (one of the actual lines: "I miss you very much, a long time, I think that you no love me still"). Footlight Parade (1933) is one of the three most spectacular musicals in 1933. Footlight Parade (1933) Review, with James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, and Ruby Keeler Published by Danny on Proof That It’s Pre-Code It’s a musical There’s singing, dancing, and legs, legs, LEGS Joan Blondell to a romantic rival: I know Miss Bit I mean, Miss Rich. Related to that and as a small side note, I thought it was funny to see Claire Dodd, wide-eyed, reading a book called "Naughty Stories" with a vamp on the cover.Īs for the other leads, Dick Powell is not my favorite but he's passable, and Ruby Keeler is a joy, playing a cute secretary who transforms into a performer.
RUBY KEELER FOOTLIGHT PARADE MOVIE
There's also lots of 1933 eye candy here, with dancer's legs, skimpy outfits, and bathing suits abounding, helped along by the movie being pre-Code. The banter and comedy throughout the movie keeps it entertaining, with the exception of Hugh Herbert, who's in a whiny, annoying role. He's marvelously light on his feet, both when he shows performers how it's done early in the movie, and then later when he 'fills in' for a guy who has had too much to drink to perform 'Shanghai Lil', which is set in a Chinese den of iniquity. The sets are spectacular, as are the visual effects Berkeley creates with overhead camera shots - just have a look on youtube.Ĭagney is a delight to watch in his film, which has him in a role different from his usual gangster typecasting. Edward Dmytryk Starring: Ruby Keeler, Ozzie Nelson, Harriet Nelson. At Warner Brothers, Lloyd Bacon and Busby Berkeley presided over both Footlight Parade and 42nd Street in 1933 alone. It ends with a couple of absolutely STUNNING musical numbers choreographed by Busby Berkeley - 'By a Waterfall' and 'Shanghai Lil'. It starts off as a good Cagney-Blondell pairing, with him playing a theater producer whose job is in trouble with the advent of "talkies", and her playing his hardworking, intelligent secretary. This is a fantastic film that saves its best for last.
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