But when heavy-hitter George Appolinaris (Paul Porcasi), who owns a chain of 40 theaters across the country, says he wants to see 3 new prologues in as many days, Kent locks down the theater (to ensure no leaks get out to his competitors) and tells everyone they can’t go home until the work is complete. Still, Kent presses on, hiring singer Scotty Blair (Dick Powell) and allowing office girl Bea (Roby Keeler) to return to her first love: dancing. Aided by his personal assistant, Nan Prescott (Joan Blondell), who’s been secretly in love with him for years, Kent comes up with some hot new ideas, which are promptly stolen by his conniving assistant Harry Thompson (Gordon Westcott), who uses them to land a job with a rival company. Backed by his producers Si Gould (Guy Kibbee) and Al Frazer (Arthur Hohl), Kent decides to start making prologues, the live shows that are staged in movie houses just before the main feature begins. James Cagney, who absolutely shines in the role of Chester Kent, the former Broadway director who, thanks to the advent of talking movies (which, according to the "experts", are more audience-friendly than stage shows), finds himself looking for a new line of work.įortunately for him, he doesn’t have to look long. But Footlight Parade did have one ace up its sleeve: Mr. It even features some of the actors from the previous movies, like Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Joan Blondell and Guy Kibbee. After an hour or so of behind-the-scenes turmoil, during which dancers, directors, and songwriters work like crazy to ensure their “Big Show” is a big success, the movie wows us with a handful of Busby Berkeley-designed musical numbers, each a little flashier than the one before it. Tag line: "Stupendous dance spectacles with hundreds of glorified beauties, staged under water! New laughs and song hits from Gold Diggers' famous stars."įootlight Parade adhered to the formula laid out in 42nd Street and Gold Diggers of 1933, both of which were released a few months before it. Starring: James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler
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