''Footlight Parade'' is a 1933 American

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines, popularly known ...

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as brea ...

starring

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor, dancer and film director. On stage and in film, Cagney was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He ...

Joan Blondell Joan Blondell (born Rose Joan Bluestein; August 30, 1906 – December 25, 1979) was an American actress who performed in film and television for 50 years. Blondell began her career in vaudeville. After winning a beauty pageant, she embarked on ...

Ruby Keeler Ethel Ruby Keeler (August 25, 1909 – February 28, 1993) was an American actress, dancer, and singer who was paired on-screen with Dick Powell in a string of successful early musicals at Warner Bros., particularly '' 42nd Street'' (1933). From ...

and

Dick Powell Richard Ewing Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American actor, musician, producer, director, and studio head. Though he came to stardom as a musical comedy performer, he showed versatility, and successfully transformed into ...

and featuring

Frank McHugh Francis Curry McHugh (May 23, 1898 – September 11, 1981) was an American stage, radio, film and television actor. Early years Born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, of Irish descent, McHugh came from a theatrical family. His parents, Edward A ...

Guy Kibbee Guy Bridges Kibbee (March 6, 1882 – May 24, 1956) was an American stage and film actor. Early years Kibbee was born in El Paso, Texas. His father was editor of the ''El Paso Herald-Post'' newspaper, and Kibbee learned how to set type at age ...

Hugh Herbert Hugh Herbert (August 10, 1885 – March 12, 1952) was an American motion picture comedian. He began his career in vaudeville and wrote more than 150 plays and sketches. Career Born in Binghamton, New York, Herbert attended Cornell Univers ...

and Ruth Donnelly. The film was written by Manuel Seff and James Seymour based on a story by Robert Lord and Peter Milne, and was directed by

Lloyd Bacon Lloyd Francis Bacon (December 4, 1889 – November 15, 1955) was an American screen, stage and vaudeville actor and film director. As a director he made films in virtually all genres, including westerns, musicals, comedies, gangster films, an ...

, with musical numbers created and directed by

Busby Berkeley Busby Berkeley (born Berkeley William Enos; November 29, 1895 – March 14, 1976) was an American film director and musical choreographer. Berkeley devised elaborate musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric patterns. Berke ...

. The film's songs were written by

Harry Warren Harry Warren (born Salvatore Antonio Guaragna; December 24, 1893 – September 22, 1981) was an American composer and the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song ...

(music),

Al Dubin Alexander Dubin (June 10, 1891 – February 11, 1945) was an American lyricist. He is best known for his collaborations with the composer Harry Warren. Life Al Dubin came from a Russian Jewish family that emigrated to the United States from Swit ...

(lyrics),

Sammy Fain Sammy Fain (born Samuel E. Feinberg; June 17, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was an American composer of popular music. In the 1920s and early 1930s, he contributed numerous songs that form part of The Great American Songbook, and to Broadway theatre ...

(music) and Irving Kahal (lyrics), and include "By a Waterfall", "Honeymoon Hotel" and "Shanghai Lil". In 1992, ''Footlight Parade'' was selected for preservation in the United States

National Film Registry The National Film Registry (NFR) is the United States National Film Preservation Board's (NFPB) collection of films selected for preservation, each selected for its historical, cultural and aesthetic contributions since the NFPB’s inception ...

by the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The libra ...

as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". __TOC__

Plot

Chester Kent (

) replaces his failing career as a director of

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

musicals with a new one as the creator of musical numbers called "prologues", short live stage productions presented in movie theaters before the main feature is shown. He faces pressure from his business partners to continuously create a large number of marketable prologues to service theaters throughout the country, but his job is made harder by a rival who is stealing his ideas, probably with assistance from someone working inside his own company. Kent is so overwhelmed with work that he doesn't realize that his secretary Nan (

) has fallen in love with him and is doing her best to protect him as well as his interests. Kent's business partners announce that they have a big deal pending with the Apolinaris theater circuit, but getting the contract depends on Kent impressing Mr. Apolinaris ( Paul Porcasi) with three spectacular prologues, presented on the same night, one after another at three different theaters. Kent locks himself and his staff in the offices to prevent espionage leaks while they choreograph and rehearse the three production numbers. Kent then stages "Honeymoon Hotel", "

By a Waterfall "By a Waterfall" is a 1933 song with music by Sammy Fain and lyrics by Irving Kahal. It was featured in an extravagant choreographic arrangement in the film ''Footlight Parade'' by Busby Berkeley that features his trademark human waterfall, with ...

" (featuring the famous "Human Waterfall") and "Shanghai Lil", featuring Cagney and

dancing together.

Cast

File:CredCagneyFootlightParade33Trailer.jpg,

File:CredBlondellFootlightParade33Trailer.jpg,

File:CredKeelerFootlightParade33Trailer.jpg,

File:CredPowellFootlightParade33Trailer.jpg,

File:CredMcHughFootlightParade33Trailer.jpg,

File:CredDonnellyFootlightParade33Trailer.jpg, Ruth Donnelly File:CredHerbertFootlightParade33Trailer.jpg,

File:CredDoddFootlightParade33Trailer.jpg,

Claire Dodd Claire Dodd (born Dorothy Arlene Dodd; December 29, 1911 – November 23, 1973) was an American film actress. Life and work Dorothy Arlene Dodd was born on December 29, 1911, in Baxter, Iowa, to Walter Willard Dodd, a farmer whose family ...

as Chester Kent, creator of musical prologues *

as Nan Prescott, Chester's secretary *

as Bea Thorn, dancer turned secretary turned dancer *

as Scott "Scotty" Blair, juvenile lead who is Mrs. Gould's "protégé" *

as Francis, the dance director * Ruth Donnelly as Harriet Gould, the producer's spoiled and nepotistic wife *

as Silas "Si" Gould, producer *

as Charlie Bowers, Mrs. Gould's brother and the censor of Kent's programs *

as Vivian Rich, Nan's gold-digging friend who sets her sights on Chester *

Gordon Westcott Gordon Westcott (born Myrthus Hickman, November 6, 1903 – October 30, 1935) was an American film actor. Biography Born in St. George, Utah, in 1903, Westcott studied architecture at the University of Chicago, where he was also lightweight ...

as Harry Thompson, Kent's assistant * Arthur Hohl as Al Frazer, the other producer *Renee Whitney as Cynthia Kent, Chester's greedy estranged wife * Paul Porcasi as George Apolinaris, owner of a chain of movie theaters *Barbara Rogers as Gracie, the spy among Chester's dancers *Philip Faversham as Joe Barrington, another juvenile lead and "protégé" of Mrs. Gould * Herman Bing as Fralick, the music director *

Billy Barty Billy Barty (born William John Bertanzetti, October 25, 1924 – December 23, 2000) was an American actor and activist. In adult life, he stood tall, due to cartilage–hair hypoplasia dwarfism. Because of his short stature, he was often cast ...

as "Mouse" and "Little Boy" *

Hobart Cavanaugh Hobart Cavanaugh (September 22, 1886 – April 26, 1950 ) was an American character actor in films and on stage. Biography He was born in Virginia City, Nevada on September 22, 1886. Cavanaugh attended the University of California. He worked in ...

as Title-Thinker-upper *

George Chandler George Chandler (June 30, 1898 – June 10, 1985) was an American actor who starred in over 140 feature films, usually in smaller supporting roles, and he is perhaps best known for playing the character of Uncle Petrie Martin on the televi ...

as druggist Cast notes: *

Dorothy Lamour Dorothy Lamour (born Mary Leta Dorothy Slaton; December 10, 1914 – September 22, 1996) was an American actress and singer. She is best remembered for having appeared in the '' Road to...'' movies, a series of successful comedies starring Bing ...

Victoria Vinton Victoria Vinton, born Victoria Velnette Vinton (August 23, 1912 – June 12, 1980) was an early B-movie actress, starring in over thirty films from 1932 into 1940, mostly in westerns. Early life Born in New Jersey, she was the daughter of Victo ...

Ann Sothern Ann Sothern (born Harriette Arlene Lake; January 22, 1909 – March 15, 2001) was an American actress who worked on stage, radio, film, and television, in a career that spanned nearly six decades. Sothern began her career in the late 1920 ...

and Lynn Browning were among the many chorus girls in the film. It was Lamour's film debut."Footlight Parade" notes
tcm.com; accessed July 27, 2015. * It is sometimes written that

John Garfield John Garfield (born Jacob Julius Garfinkle, March 4, 1913 – May 21, 1952) was an American actor who played brooding, rebellious, working-class characters. He grew up in poverty in New York City. In the early 1930s, he became a member of ...

made his (uncredited) film debut in the "Shanghai Lil" routine in a (5/6ths of a second) shot. The 2003

Turner Classic Movies Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is an American movie-oriented pay-TV network owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in 1994, Turner Classic Movies is headquartered at Turner's Techwood broadcasting campus in the Midtown business district of ...

documentary ''The John Garfield Story'' refutes this, as do several John Garfield biographies that give timelines where he is in New York and then on tour in Chicago with the revival of the play ''Counsellor-at-Law'' in 1933. * The movie briefly shown in the theater early in the film is ''

The Telegraph Trail ''The Telegraph Trail'' is a 1933 American pre-Code Western (genre), Western film directed by Tenny Wright and starring John Wayne and Frank McHugh. The film also starred stuntman Yakima Canutt as Indian Chief High Wolf, Marceline Day as the he ...

'', starring a young

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Go ...

and, coincidentally or not,

Musical numbers

File:HonHotel1FootlightParade33Trailer.jpg, File:HonHotel2FootlightParade33Trailer.jpg, File:HonHotel3FootlightParade33Trailer.jpg, File:HonHotel4FootlightParade33Trailer.jpg, File:HonHotel5FootlightParade33Trailer.jpg, *"Honeymoon Hotel" – by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics) *"Shanghai Lil" – by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics) *"

" – by

(music) and Irving Kahal (lyrics) *"My Shadow" – by Sammy Fain (music) and Irving Kahal (lyrics) *"Ah, the Moon Is Here" – by Sammy Fain (music) and Irving Kahal (lyrics) *"Sitting on a Backyard Fence" – by Sammy Fain (music) and Irving Kahal (lyrics) Source:

Production

Looking for a role different from the gangster films such as '' The Public Enemy'' that catapulted him to fame, Cagney actively campaigned for the lead role of Chester Kent, based on well-known impresario Chester Hale of the prologue production company Fanchon and Marco. Cagney had gotten his start in vaudeville and Broadway before going into film work; the film became his first on-screen appearance as a dancer.Miller, Frank
''Footlight Parade'' (1933; article)
TCM.com; accessed July 27, 2015. Cagney had only fallen into his gangster persona when he and

Edward Woods Edward Woods (July 5, 1903 – October 8, 1989) was an American actor. He is probably best known for his extensive role as Matt Doyle in ''The Public Enemy'' opposite James Cagney. Life and career Woods' parents were Mary Clark and Willi ...

switched roles three days into the shooting of 1931's . That role catapulted Cagney into stardom and a series of gangster films, which throughout his career, Cagney found to be as much a straitjacket as a benefit. While Powell's role was written specifically for him, he was replaced by Stanley Smith when he fell ill. When he recovered, Smith's scenes were reshot with Powell. The film became the third pairing of Powell and

after '' 42nd Street'' (1933) and ''

Gold Diggers of 1933 ''Gold Diggers of 1933'' is a pre-Code Warner Bros. musical film directed by Mervyn LeRoy with songs by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics), staged and choreographed by Busby Berkeley. It stars Warren William, Joan Blondell, Aline M ...

'', the first two Warner Bros. Busby Berkeley musicals. Similarly, Dorothy Tennant was initially cast as Harriet Gould, but replaced by Ruth Donnelly. Other actors considered for various roles included

Eugene Pallette Eugene William Pallette (July 8, 1889 – September 3, 1954) was an American actor who worked in both the silent and sound eras, performing in more than 240 productions between 1913 and 1946. After an early career as a slender leading man, ...

, George Dobbs and

Patricia Ellis Patricia Ellis (born Patricia Gene O'Brien; died March 26, 1970) was an American film actress of the 1930s. Early years Born in Birmingham, Michigan, most likely in 1915 (although she gave her year of birth to the Social Security Administration ...

. Warner Bros. initially signed for Larry Ceballos to choreograph the film when Berkely was unavailable. However, when Berkeley was able to make changes to his schedule, the studio let Ceballos go. Ceballos subsequently sued Berkeley and the studio for $100,000 for breach of contract. Production took place at the Warner Bros. studio in

Burbank, California Burbank is a city in the southeastern end of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located northwest of downtown Los Angeles, Burbank has a population of 107,337. The city was named after David Burbank, who ...

between June and September 1933, costing an estimated $703,000 to make (approximately $13 million in 2012 dollars). It premiered on September 30, 1933, with a general release on October 21.

Pre-Code era scenes and promotion

The film was made during the

era, and its humor is sometimes quite risqué, with multiple references to prostitution and suggestions of profanity largely unseen again in studio films until the 1960s, when the

Production Code The Motion Picture Production Code was a set of industry guidelines for the self-censorship of content that was applied to most motion pictures released by major studios in the United States from 1934 to 1968. It is also popularly known as the ...

collapsed. For example, Dick Powell's character is being "kept" by Mrs. Gould until he falls in love with another girl. Joan Blondell's character of Nan Prescott is the center of several lines and moments. She introduces her roommate, Vivian Rich, as "Miss Bi... Rich"; and later, when Vivian tries to take advantage of an intoxicated Chester, Nan kicks her out of their apartment, claiming Vivian will have a job " as long as there are sidewalks." In the Shanghai Lil number, it is clear that Lil and all the other girls are prostitutes working the waterfront bars along with scenes of an opium den. A character played by

acts as the censor for Kent's productions, constantly telling Kent certain parts of his production numbers have to be changed. His character is portrayed as buffoonish and comical, saying disagreeable lines to Kent such as "You must put brassieres on those dolls..." (referring to actual toy dolls) "...uh uh, you know Connecticut." BeaScott1FootParade33Trailer

As with many other pre-Code films, including musicals, promotional materials featured scantily clad women on movie release posters, lobby cards and promotional photographs, as seen of Joan Blondel

Reception

The film made $1,601,000 in the United States, and an additional $815,000 internationally. Warner Bros. reported the film made a profit of $819,080, making it one of the most successful films of the year.

Accolades

* 1992:

by the

. * 2006: AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals – Nominated

References

External links

* * * * *
''Footlight Parade''
Filmsite.org; accessed August 4, 2015.
''Footlight Parade'' essay by Randy Skretvedt
at

*''Footlight Parade'' essay by Daniel Eagan in America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Film Registry, A&C Black, 2010 , pages 216-21

{{Authority control 1933 films 1933 musical films American black-and-white films Films about musical theatre Films directed by Lloyd Bacon Films set in a movie theatre Films set in New York City United States National Film Registry films Warner Bros. films American musical films Backstage musicals Films produced by Robert Lord (screenwriter) 1930s English-language films 1930s American films