Although this contains quite a few things of interest the Busby Berkely numbers, the appearance of Ginger Rogers, Shuffle off to Buffalo etc overall it seemed quite dated and not the best of its kind.

Entertaining early musical.

This was more a film that happens to have a musical than a backstage musical. The actual 20-minute musical section at the end was incredible, but I would have been far more entertained if the musical numbers were more interspersed. Perhaps it's because I've seen the stage version, but I thought it could have flowed much better.

Busby Berkely is a genius. His choreography is magnificent. Otherworldly, even. That said, this being considered the quintessential backstage-musical, it has disappointingly little song and dance. Most of the movie is below-average screwball/comedy routines. Watch the "I'm Young and Healthy" dance number on YouTube instead.

Great show at the end.

I have no idea how that musical they made was supposed to work as a story, but the songs were catchy, Ruby Keeler is a button, and Powell is a cheese ball; so I guess it doesn't really matter. The way it pokes fun at the publics view of directing is hilarious.

#510

classic musical has lost little of its charm after more than 75 years

466

438

THE backstage musical. Timeless and beautiful and priceless and awesome

"How ya feelin'?" Girl in guy's lap: "Like I'm sittin' on a flagpole." (Plus it has the "you'll come back a star..." line.)

# 432

Last half an hour with spectacular dance scenes: score 100. Hour before this: score 50. Very faulty but the Busby Berkeley parts take my breath away and thus definitely worth seeing.

Mostly typical screwball stuff that I'm not really a fan of, but it's a decent one still. It's the actual musical in the third act that will make this memorable for me.

What an unexpected delight, this put a huge smile on my face. Giddily entertaining musical comedy, with truly funny (and bawdy) jokes, terrific songs, those magical Busby Berkeley dance numbers, charming performances, and a plot that never gets too fussy. The camerawork is quite impressive, too; despite being entirely about a stage production, Bacon & Berkeley utilize techniques that are purely cinematic.

The archetypal backstage musical.

Sometimes it seems that the only one's doing anything inventive in 1930s films, especially in the American market, are musicals.

A bit of an up and down film but with more ups than downs and a wonderful finale to make you forget some of the slow parts that precede it. When it hits it's a strong witty musical comedy with likable characters, and while sometimes you just wish it would get on with things it does deliver.

"This sort of picture could only have been produced in the unbelievable decadence of the 1930s studios. Girls applied to be in the chorus the way they line up to appear on Pop Idol today. The result is an absolute spectacular. Not to be missed."

Archetypal Hollywood putting-on-a-show musical in which the leading lady is indisposed and a chorus girl is told to get out there and come back a star. The cliches are written and performed with great zest, the atmosphere is convincing, and the numbers when they come are dazzlers.