GOLD DIGGERS OF 1935
US, 1935, 95 minutes, Black and white.
Dick Powell, Adolphe Menjou, Gloria Stuart, Alice Brady, Hugh Herbert, Glenda Farrell, Frank Mc Hugh, Grant Mitchell, Wini Shaw.
Directed and choreographed by Busby Berkeley.
Gold Diggers of 1935 was the second in the series of Gold Digger films (Dames was to be the Gold Diggers of 1934).
The film was choreographed by Busby Berkeley, as were the others in the series. He also directed the film itself. There are three exciting Berkeley segments: the initial cleaning of the hotel with its patterns of people working; there is the stage production of `The Words Are In My Heart' - with its pianos and violins; and there is the climactic 12 minute segment of `The Lullaby of Broadway' with its collage of the fast life in New York City and the tragic death of the heroine. `Lullaby of Broadway' was also the Oscar winner for best song of 1935.
Some of the regulars from the musicals are present, especially Dick Powell and Hugh Herbert. However, the leading lady is Gloria Stuart with Glenda Farrell as the hard-boiled stenographer. There is also comedy from Alice Brady and Frank Mc Hugh. Adolphe Menjou plays a rather wild theatrical entrepreneur who is a rogue.
There is satire at the expense of the rich (in Depression times) as well as the putting on the show, the usual theme of these films.
1. Enjoyable musical? In the series of Gold Digger films? The Depression settings, the world of the rich, the world of the poor? The battle of the sexes? The musical numbers?
2. Black and white photography, the sets and studio atmosphere for the comic sequences? The presentation of the Busby Berkeley numbers? Their style, photography, editing? The imagination and the use of black and white photography, geometric shapes and patterns, movements?
3. The musical numbers? `The Words Are In My Heart'? The effective use of `The Lullaby of Broadway'?
4. The basic plot and its familiarity: the presentation of the hotel, the manager, the staff - and the comedy about pocketing the tips? Looking after the guests?
5. The wealthy guests? The guest is always right? The Prentiss family? Mrs Prentiss and her meanness, worrying about money, refusing to buy her daughter clothes, small tips, wanting her daughter chaperoned? The planned marriages? The satire at her expense? Her becoming involved in the musical, for charity, Nicolev and his associate, their plans? Her paying $500 to Dick to chaperone her daughter? Finding them rehearsing, in love? The finale - and her decision to have a doctor in the family to save costs?
6. Anne and the narrow life, wanting clothes and independence? Going out with Dick, falling in love? Humbold and his many marriages, the alimony? The hostess at the hotel, falling in love?
7. F. Hugh Herbert as Thorpe - absentminded, comic style, his stenographer, his book about snuff boxes? His being in a dither, writing songs, Betty and her blackmail and breach of promise?
8. The Gold Diggers - Dick seen as a gold digger as he worked, getting money for his medical studies? The hostess and her falling in love with Humbold? Betty and her lawyers, breach of promise suit?
9. Getting the show on the road, Nicolev and his schemes, money, the final gift and his being exposed as humbug?
10. The popularity of this kind of musical during the Depression? Busby Berkeley and his contributing to the development of the musical? In retrospect?
