footlight parade be among the best of the 1930 musical comedy extravaganza . a snappy script and an all star cast include jimmy cagney and the lovely joan blondell and dick powell and and ruby keeler make this film a cut above the rest . direct and choreograph by the creative genius busby berkeley and this film will have you grin from ear to ear from start to finish . busby and of course and be the undisputed master of the hollywood musical with gold digger of 1933 and 42nd street to his credit ( a dance director ) . footlight parade be grace by hundred of scantily clad chorus girl and a berkeley trademark . the elaborate dance number be shoot with only one camera and busby be the first director to film close ups of the dancer . his obsession with shapely leg and rear view shot be amply demonstrate here . the overall effect be highly erotic and mesmerize . our boy jimmy cagney play chester kent and a producer of prologue or short musical stage production that be perform in movie theater to entertain the audience before the talkie be show . he surround by crooked partner and a corporate spy and and a gold dig girlfriend . although cagney have a solid background in vaudeville and this be the first film in which he show his dancing talent . joan blondell be memorable a cagney wise cracking and lovestruck secretary . and ruby keeler be adorable and a always . the film climax with three outstanding production number and honeymoon hotel and the waterfall and and shanghai lil and each one a masterpiece and not likely to be duplicate in today hollywood where so call special effect have replace creative cinematography . claudia bottom line represent clever and erotic and with some of the best musical production number ever put on celluloid . a thoroughly enjoyable depression era romp .