Quarantaduesima strada

If only there could have been more musical and dance numbers! All of them (not counting practices) occur at the very end of the film, and there are only three of them there. Luckily, the non-musical parts were really good, too. The plot was just a pretty standard behind-the-scenes of a play movie. It actually reminded me a lot of two films about plays that I have just seen recently, Micheal Powell's _The Red Shoes_ and Tim Robbins' _Cradle Will Rock_. While the plot may be a bit common, the dialogue is exceptionally good. It is snappy and witty and clever at all times. Also, the ensemble cast was extremely good. I love Dick Powell. He's not in this film too much, but he's perfect in every scene he's in. I was first introduced to him in the guise of Phillip Marlowe (and I am among the small group of people who consider him the best incarnation of Phillip Marlowe), and he's just as great in the genre which brought him his fame.

This is also the first movie that I've ever seen involving Bubsy Berkely, and I have to say, WOW!!! Those musical sequences are ingenious! One thing I find funny, though, is that, if you think about it, the audience who would be watching the play from below wouldn't be able to see any of the fancy designs the dancers make with their legs! Too bad for them! I give this film a 9/10!