Sunday, November 30, 2008

10 minutes of Depression-era splendor

"By a Waterfall," from Footlight Parade, 1933. The film stars James Cagney, who plays a character easily seen to be Busby Berkeley himself. This second of three hugely staged music/dance numbers is the apotheosis of the film and surely one of the most sensational Busby Berkeley numbers ever. Please see the representation of the newly emerging zipper shown at 4:00.

2 comments:

Laughing Magpie said...

Ahhh. This was the movie that introduced me to James Cagney. I haven't been the same since. I love that man, and I love this movie.

denisebrain said...

Cagney is truly a force of nature in this movie. One of the most staggering and unexpected performances I've ever seen!