Busby Berkeley's Cinematic Splash: Footlight Parade Turns 90

06/12/2025 3 min
Busby Berkeley's Cinematic Splash: Footlight Parade Turns 90

Listen "Busby Berkeley's Cinematic Splash: Footlight Parade Turns 90"

Episode Synopsis

On December 6th in film and cinema history, one significant event occurred in 1933 with the release of the Warner Bros. Pre-Code musical film "Footlight Parade." Directed by Lloyd Bacon and choreographed by the legendary Busby Berkeley, this Depression-era classic starred James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, and Dick Powell.The film's plot revolves around a Broadway director named Chester Kent (played by Cagney) who finds himself out of work due to the growing popularity of talking pictures. To stay relevant, Kent pivots to creating elaborate musical prologues for movie theaters, showcasing his talents as a director and choreographer."Footlight Parade" is particularly notable for its dazzling and intricate musical numbers, which were a hallmark of Busby Berkeley's style. The film features three major production numbers: "Honeymoon Hotel," "By a Waterfall," and "Shanghai Lil." These sequences are known for their grand scale, kaleidoscopic patterns, and innovative use of camera angles and movement.The "By a Waterfall" number, in particular, has become an iconic piece of cinema history. It features over 100 dancers performing in a massive swimming pool, creating mesmerizing geometric patterns and formations that could only be fully appreciated from Berkeley's signature overhead shots. The logistics of filming this scene were incredibly complex, requiring a specially constructed pool and a camera mounted on a crane to capture the action from above."Footlight Parade" also pushed boundaries with its suggestive humor and risqué content, which was typical of the Pre-Code era in Hollywood before the strict enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code in 1934. The film includes multiple instances of sexual innuendo, scantily clad performers, and even a brief moment of nudity during the "Honeymoon Hotel" sequence.Despite its controversial content, "Footlight Parade" was a major success for Warner Bros., cementing James Cagney's status as a leading man and further popularizing the musical genre. The film's spectacular musical numbers, particularly those choreographed by Busby Berkeley, have left an indelible mark on the history of cinema, influencing countless films and performances in the decades that followed.In summary, December 6th, 1933, marked the release of "Footlight Parade," a groundbreaking musical film that showcased the incredible talent of its cast and crew, particularly the innovative choreography of Busby Berkeley. Its daring content and unforgettable musical sequences have earned it a place in the annals of film history as a true classic of the Pre-Code era.Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3QsFor more check out http://www.quietplease.aiThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI