Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
Country: US
Technical: bw 97m
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Cast: Warren William, Joan Blondell, Aline MacMahon, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers
Synopsis:
Three chorus girls join forces with a neighbour songwriter and a theatre impresario to put on a revue about the Depression, but when the songsmith turns out to be of Bostonian high society, and his cover is blown, they must use all their chiselling ways to enable him to marry his heart's desire.
Review:
Remarkably advanced in terms of dialogue editing and endowed with an already mobile camera, this was a prompt remake of Gold Diggers of Broadway (the Depression more or less sanctioned that) that led to a titular series, of which 42nd Street is a close cousin. It's saucy, racy, and features some classic Busby Berkeley numbers, such as Pettin' in the Park and We're in the Money. There is a break from the musical to make room for a prolonged quid pro quo in which Blondell poses as Keeler to wrongfoot the supercilious elder brother (William), but if you hear anyone say it isn't art (eg. Pauline Kael), take another look at the My Forgotten Man segment: here is a rueful, melancholy reflection on the Depression if ever there was one, and an elegy for the anonymous fallen worthy of Edith Piaf!
Country: US
Technical: bw 97m
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Cast: Warren William, Joan Blondell, Aline MacMahon, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers
Synopsis:
Three chorus girls join forces with a neighbour songwriter and a theatre impresario to put on a revue about the Depression, but when the songsmith turns out to be of Bostonian high society, and his cover is blown, they must use all their chiselling ways to enable him to marry his heart's desire.
Review:
Remarkably advanced in terms of dialogue editing and endowed with an already mobile camera, this was a prompt remake of Gold Diggers of Broadway (the Depression more or less sanctioned that) that led to a titular series, of which 42nd Street is a close cousin. It's saucy, racy, and features some classic Busby Berkeley numbers, such as Pettin' in the Park and We're in the Money. There is a break from the musical to make room for a prolonged quid pro quo in which Blondell poses as Keeler to wrongfoot the supercilious elder brother (William), but if you hear anyone say it isn't art (eg. Pauline Kael), take another look at the My Forgotten Man segment: here is a rueful, melancholy reflection on the Depression if ever there was one, and an elegy for the anonymous fallen worthy of Edith Piaf!
Country: US
Technical: bw 97m
Director: Mervyn LeRoy
Cast: Warren William, Joan Blondell, Aline MacMahon, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers
Synopsis:
Three chorus girls join forces with a neighbour songwriter and a theatre impresario to put on a revue about the Depression, but when the songsmith turns out to be of Bostonian high society, and his cover is blown, they must use all their chiselling ways to enable him to marry his heart's desire.
Review:
Remarkably advanced in terms of dialogue editing and endowed with an already mobile camera, this was a prompt remake of Gold Diggers of Broadway (the Depression more or less sanctioned that) that led to a titular series, of which 42nd Street is a close cousin. It's saucy, racy, and features some classic Busby Berkeley numbers, such as Pettin' in the Park and We're in the Money. There is a break from the musical to make room for a prolonged quid pro quo in which Blondell poses as Keeler to wrongfoot the supercilious elder brother (William), but if you hear anyone say it isn't art (eg. Pauline Kael), take another look at the My Forgotten Man segment: here is a rueful, melancholy reflection on the Depression if ever there was one, and an elegy for the anonymous fallen worthy of Edith Piaf!