“James Cagney and Ruby Keeler”, Computer Graphics, Film Gifs from “Footlight Parade”

“Footlight Parade” is a 1933 American, pre-Code, musical film starring Joan Blondell, James Cagney, Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler. The music numbers were created and directed by Busby Berkeley.

Busby Berkeley was not the original choice for the choreographer; Larry Ceballos, who would go on to direct the 1942 “Gay Nineties”, was signed to do the dance numbers. Ceballos sued Berkeley and Warner Brother Studio for sum of $100,000 for breach of contract when he was not allowed to do so.

James Cagney, a former song and dance man, actively campaigned Warner Brothers for the lead in “Footlight Parade”, which became his first on-screen appearance as a dancer. He had felt his gangster persona in his previous roles were as much a hinderance as a benefit to his career.

Cagney’s role as Chester Kent was modeled after well-known impresario Chester Hale, who formed and managed a Broadway chorus line known as the Chester Hale Girls, and founded the Chester Hale Dance Studio in New York City. Chester Hale, during the 1940s and 1950s, staged and directed thirteen editions of the Ice Capades, as well as editions of Holiday on Ice.

The scenes above show James Cagney and Ruby Keeler performing the dance number for the song “Shanghai Lil” with lyrics by Al Dubin and music by Harry Warren.