While "42nd Street" and "Gold Diggers of 1933" had very strong story lines, the follow-up with Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, "Footlight Parade", did not, presenting more of a revue like structure to this entertaining account of the creation of prologues to big movie events, traveling around New York City from theater to theater to put on a quick show. James Cagney puts aside his machine gun and grapefruit to play director and hoofer, showing another side to his many talents in the somewhat racist "Shanghai Lil" production number where Ruby Keeler replaces "R's" with "L's". While this number is artistically excellent, it is comparable to all of the blackface numbers utilized in minstrel and vaudeville show as well as many movies who would continue to have Caucasians playing non-whites in both singing and non-singing roles throughout the golden age of movies.
Much better artistically and definitely more timeless is the delightful "By a Waterfall", the elaborate, rather lengthy production number that is Busby Berkley's follow-up to his 1932 Sam Goldwyn film "The Kid From Spain" which opened with a similar water musical number. Ruby's also in this with her regular partner Dick Powell. The number is an absolute delight from start to finish. She puts on a cat suit and sings "Sittin' on a Backyard Fence", a delightful mini-number where little Billy Barty plays a mouse. As a sequel to "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" from "42nd Street", "Honeymoon Hotel" is perfectly witty as relatives invade an eloping couple and house detectives remind them that "You're in Jersey City, and not in Hollywood". Once again, Barty (who also had a fun little cameo in "Gold Diggers of 1933") appears, playing Keeler's baby brother who is accidentally "left behind".
What exists of a story surrounds Cagney's battles with ex-wife Renee Whitney while his assistant Joan Blondell pines for him. Warner Brothers contract players Frank McHugh, Ruth Donnelly, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Herbert and Claire Dodd also add amusing moments to the proceedings. Definitely one of the musicals that woke up to the censors for what they believed to be needed changes in movie good taste, "Footlight Parade" remains an easy on the eye treat that isn't going to tax your brain, but will provide some very interesting insight to the styles of entertainment that the country was enjoying during the early years of Roosevelt's presidency as the country struggled to move out of the depression. There's no depression here, however, so just enjoy all the silliness and the best of what Busby Berkley could do.
Much better artistically and definitely more timeless is the delightful "By a Waterfall", the elaborate, rather lengthy production number that is Busby Berkley's follow-up to his 1932 Sam Goldwyn film "The Kid From Spain" which opened with a similar water musical number. Ruby's also in this with her regular partner Dick Powell. The number is an absolute delight from start to finish. She puts on a cat suit and sings "Sittin' on a Backyard Fence", a delightful mini-number where little Billy Barty plays a mouse. As a sequel to "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" from "42nd Street", "Honeymoon Hotel" is perfectly witty as relatives invade an eloping couple and house detectives remind them that "You're in Jersey City, and not in Hollywood". Once again, Barty (who also had a fun little cameo in "Gold Diggers of 1933") appears, playing Keeler's baby brother who is accidentally "left behind".
What exists of a story surrounds Cagney's battles with ex-wife Renee Whitney while his assistant Joan Blondell pines for him. Warner Brothers contract players Frank McHugh, Ruth Donnelly, Guy Kibbee, Hugh Herbert and Claire Dodd also add amusing moments to the proceedings. Definitely one of the musicals that woke up to the censors for what they believed to be needed changes in movie good taste, "Footlight Parade" remains an easy on the eye treat that isn't going to tax your brain, but will provide some very interesting insight to the styles of entertainment that the country was enjoying during the early years of Roosevelt's presidency as the country struggled to move out of the depression. There's no depression here, however, so just enjoy all the silliness and the best of what Busby Berkley could do.