Footlight parade movie#
Footlight parade full#

The cat now has a ribbon around its neck and Francis seems much more comfortable with the animal, as if it has become a close companion.

Footlight parade movie#

(photographed by) Film Editing by George Amy. Chester Kent struggles against time, romance, and a rivals spy to produce spectacular live prologues for movie houses.Chester Kent struggles against time. producer (uncredited) Cinematography by George Barnes. Footlight Parade: Sounds of the American Musical is a weekly radio program showcasing the best of Broadway and Hollywood - songs from the turn of the 20th century to today.

Footlight parade full#

The cat musical number, staged by Busby Berkeley, is a real treat.īut the unnamed black cat is only seen one more time closer to the end of the film when Francis is seen carrying it. Co-starring Oscar-nominee Joan Blondell and Dick Powell, and featuring spectacular Busby Berkeley dance sequences. Footlight Parade (1933) Full Cast & Crew See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by Lloyd Bacon Writing Credits Cast (in credits order) verified as complete Produced by Robert Lord. Later Francis is seen complaining “Playing nurse maid to an alley cat!” while sharing a bottle of milk with the animal. Francis explains he hates cats and can’t get away from him, complaining, “I’ve done everything but sleep with him!” “Then sleep with him!” Chester suggests. When Chester insists the dancers’ movements must have that certain cat-like rhythm he tells Francis again to watch the cat. It also meant that they were able afford a real star this time around. Because of the huge success of 42nd Street and Gold Diggers of 1933 the studio beefed up the budget of this production considerably and basically gave Busby Carte Blanche when it came to his Musical Numbers. Francis comes back to the rehearsal hall nervously carrying the cat.įrancis is not keen on having to work with the cat but goes along with Chester’s request, instructing his dancers to study the cat’s movements.Īs rehearsals for the number continue, the cat watches the proceedings with some interest from a basket off stage. Footlight Parade was the third Busby Berkeley Musical released in 1933.

Synopsis: Stage musicals producer Chester Kent (James Cagney) sees talking pictures slowly erode his audience, so he decides to produce live prologues for movie houses and has to continually come up with new ideas to stay ahead of his rivals while juggling not only his own love interests but those of his cast.įeatured Feline: Early in the film Chester is seen in his office with a black cat sitting on his shoulder when his secretary Nan (Joan Blondell) enters.Ĭhester excitedly explains how the night before he saw some cats and decided that was the perfect theme for his next musical prologue.Ĭhester tells his choreographer Francis (Frank McHugh) to get the cat from his office to use as inspiration for the piece. The program is lively and fast-paced, and though the commentary is engaging, it’s the recordings that take center stage.Starring: James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Frank McHughĬat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains some spoilers for this film! This is stressful to him, because he always needs new units. With the beginning of the talkies era he changes to producing short musical prologues for movies. Chester Kent produces musical comedies on the stage. Most shows are grounded in general interest themes such as “All I Want,” “Weather Report” and “Good Advice,” but Rudman also interviews such acclaimed artists as lyricist Sheldon Harnick ( Fiddler on the Roof and She Loves Me), composer John Kander ( Cabaret and Chicago) and singers Mandy Patinkin and the late Barbara Cook. Chester Kent struggles against time, romance, and a rivals spy to produce spectacular live 'prologues' for movie houses. The popular show has been syndicated on public stations since 1998, and producer-host Bill Rudman brings with him a national reputation as an authority on musical theater.

Footlight Parade: Sounds of the American Musical, is a celebration of Broadway and Hollywood musicals from the early 20th century to current hits: from Gershwin, Berlin and Rodgers & Hammerstein to Lin-Manuel Miranda.