42nd Street

It's the Depression, and Julian Marsh (Warner Baxter) wants to put on a show! His star, Dorothy Brock (Bebe Daniels) is temperamental and troublesome, but she's a star! So he keeps her. Peggy Sawyer (Ruby Keeler) is a newcomer to Broadway, and is so excited she can't stop tapping! She flirts with Billy Lawler (Dick Powell), who is also in the show, and she becomes friends with fellow chorus dancers Ann (Ginger Rogers) and Lorraine (Una Merkel). They tap like crazy and gossip about everything. As is now a tradition in Broadway storytelling, the star breaks her ankle, and Billy tells Julian that Peggy Sawyer would be fabulous in the lead! "You may go out there a beginner, but you've GOT to come back a star!" he says to her. There is frantic rehearsing as Peggy learns all the songs and dances. Ann sings "Shuffle Off To Buffalo" and everyone sings the title song, "42nd Street." The musical numbers come one after the other in glorious black and white. The show is a hit! And Peggy becomes a STAR. Broadway, 1933.