Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

“I know these showgirls: they’re just little parasites, little gold diggers!”

Synopsis:
A secretly wealthy aspiring composer (Dick Powell) in love with a chorus girl (Ruby Keeler) helps to finance a new musical production starring Keeler and her friends (Joan Blondell, Aline McMahon, and Ginger Rogers), much to the chagrin of his disapproving brother (Warren Williams), who attempts to break off Powell’s relationship but instead finds himself falling for Blondell.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

  • Busby Berkeley Films
  • Cross-Class Romance
  • Depression Era
  • Dick Powell Films
  • Ginger Rogers Films
  • Gold Diggers
  • Joan Blondell Films
  • Let’s-Put-On-a-Show
  • Mervyn LeRoy Films
  • Mistaken Identities
  • Musicals
  • Ruby Keeler Films
  • Showgirls
  • Warren William Films

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary accurately refers to this Depression-era Warners musical as “super” and full of “extravagant, delightfully outlandish Busby Berkeley production numbers”. He points out that because Warners was the “one studio that called attention to the country’s social problems”, the storyline remains strongly tied to issues of the day, straight through to its stunning “mammoth” finale, a “Blondell-led production tribute to the ‘Forgotten Man’ who fought in the war but couldn’t get a job when he came home”. He notes that “Blondell has one of her most appealing roles”, that “Rogers displays a sparkling, hungry… quality”, and that “Powell is in fine voice during ‘Pettin’ in the Park'” (a catchy tune you won’t easily be able to get out of your head).

In his review, Peary doesn’t say a word about Keeler, whose erstwhile fame as a charming leading lady of early-’30s musicals continues to puzzle modern viewers, given her decidedly weak singing voice and clunky dancing style; however, she’s cute and does an okay job here, ultimately playing more of a supporting role than a leading one. It’s more puzzling to me that Peary fails to mention Aline McMahon’s hilariously memorable turn as a boldly flirtatious gold-digger determined to seduce Williams’ susceptible lawyer-friend (Guy Kibbee); she shines in a rare opportunity to share the screen equitably with her co-stars. Meanwhile, though her role is minimal, Rogers demonstrates exactly why she went on to leading-lady fame shortly after this film’s release; her Pig Latin rendition of “We’re in the Money” provides a truly stunning opening to the film (recall the presence of this particular sequence in Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde).

But the film’s real draw, of course, are the outrageously surreal Busby Berkeley musical numbers, each of which merits some sort of prize for sheer creative chutzpah. It’s been duly noted that such numbers would never have “worked” in real life on a stage, given that strategic cinematic framing plays an enormous part in their presentation here — but viewers must simply ignore such details and enjoy Berkeley’s incomparable vision.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

  • Several truly memorable Busby Berkeley numbers



  • Ginger Rogers singing “We’re in the Money” in pig Latin
  • Joan Blondell as Carol (nominated by Peary as one of the Best Actresses of the Year)
  • Aline McMahon as Trixie

Must See?
Yes, as a delightful showcase for Berkeley’s talents.

Categories

  • Genuine Classic

(Listed in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die)

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One thought on “Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

  1. Not a must, overall.

    Yes, it’s true – Berkeley does some fine work here, esp. with the snappy opening number and the two numbers that finish the film. (The best and most memorable number in the film – as a song – is the concluding ‘Remember My Forgotten Man’.) However, other films Berkeley was involved with are not only better representations of his work, but also better films.

    A revisit revealed to me that this film is top-heavy with a barely serviceable script, which has almost no memorable dialogue whatsoever. For example, after the terrific opener, we wait a good thirty minutes for another number and must be content to listen to sub-par conversations pretty much without real comic relief. (~which would be ok if this were a drama.)

    Hence, though most of the cast gives it the college try, they have very little script support.

    Throughout his work in film, Berkeley’s extremely clever ideas are often variations on a visual theme. So, if you don’t see all of his films, you can certainly still see him at his best elsewhere.

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