in 1933 dick powell and ruby keeler sang and dance their way through three warner brother musical that offer depression era audiences a momentary distraction from their woe . gold digger of 1933 and 42nd street and footlight parade be all set in the world of broadway theatre with basically the same theme of the show must go on . in addition to keeler and powell the film feature the kaleidiscopic choreography of busby berkeley and show stopping tune and many of the same supporting player . all be arguably classic of their genre but i must admit a clear preference for footlight due to it pace energy and lead james cagney . warren william in gold digger and warner baxter in 42nd street acquit themselves admirably a the show production head particularly baxter a the burn out julian marsh in search of one last box office smash . both lack the infectious energy of cagney however and who perfectly compliment the frenetic pace of put on a broadway musical . he be an absolute whirlwind a he deal with production number and unscrupulous partner and a gold dig girlfriend . of course cagney alone do not make footlight the classic that it be . the script crackle with some sharp double entendres deliver by a superlative supporting cast feature frank mchugh and hugh herbert and guy kibbee and especially joan blondell who cut everyone down to size . busby berkeley dance number be surreal and suggestive and risqué and do just in the nick of time before the arrival of the hollywood code in 34. sadly and the thirty and sometime beyond would never see such a richly make musical with the verve and sas of footlight again . gentility and morality make sure of it .