42ND STREET
d. Lloyd Bacon, 1933

8 March 2006

42ND STREET puts me in a state of glee which is difficult to explain or describe. If you've never seen it, or the equally fascinating GOLDDIGGERS OF 1933, I don't want to spoil the fun. Get hold of the Busby Berkeley box set - you will seldom have a better time watching a movie.

If you have seen 42ND STREET, I'm dying to know who this woman is. She appears in the background here and there throughout the film, but has no speaking lines that I've noticed. Then suddenly she is Dick Powell's object of attention in the number Young And Healthy. The lyrics are as sexily insinuating as pre-code Hollywood could get - which means this side of obvious when Powell sings that he's "full of vitamin A, hey!"

There's no doubt what these two (or any other couple in the film) are up to, particularly when you pay attention to her exceedingly flirtatious expressions. (And check out the look she's giving the audience after the entire chorus line has had the camera slowly eased between their legs in one long dolly shot!) The lyrics describe her as "a snooty little cutie," who has "been so hard to kiss," and I'd have to say that song must have been written for this sassy little charmer, whoever she is. I've had a crush on her since I first saw 42ND STREET when I was about 16.