The gold diggers of 1933 screens the austin chronicle. Throughout his work in film, berkeleys extremely clever ideas are often variations on a visual theme. Film gold diggers of 1933ymmvgold diggers of 1933if you meant one of those, just click and go. Gold diggers of 1933 does offer, in a featured role, the ineffable ned sparks as hypermotivated broadway director barney hopkins, but the film s plotsteering leads are the personably played titular showgirls. First and foremost, it dealt with the great depression during the great depression. Remembering the forgotten man of gold diggers of 1933. Gold diggers of 1933 holds the alltime bestmovietoworsttitle ratio, as sonicjunk said progressive, especially for its time, in its focus on a group of very funny, smart, capable women who conspire to overcome their depressionera troubles by manipulating patriarchal expectations, and the film has a refreshingly collectivist, rather than individualistic, attitude. Gold diggers of 1933 1933 aline macmahon, ginger rogers, joan blondell and ruby keeler gold diggers of 1933 is a musical comedy made in 1933 by the warner brothers studio, directed by mervyn leroy and starring warren william, joan blondell, aline macmahon, ruby keeler, dick powell, guy kibbee, ned sparks and ginger rogers. The musical scene that stood out to me the most was pettin in the park. Its also well worth seeing especially for the forgotten man sequence which ends the film. While there are other films that more bleak or sexy or funny, gold diggers is the perfect blend of all of these elements.
Theres been a lot of analysis written about the string of busby berkley musicals which filled the warner brothers release slate during the 1930s. The great depression is almost a character in the film. Other articles where the gold diggers of 1933 is discussed. Alternately funny and quickwitted and serious and slow, the film is an exercise in. Though my favorite busby berkeley film is footlight parade, gold diggers of 1933 certainly has a lot to recommend it even for audiences today. Warner prepared for censorship boards by preparing two versions of the film the normal one and one that was considerably toned down for more conservative states.
While many forget berkeley didnt officially direct 42nd street, many also forget that the tune most associated with the film the gold diggers song were in the money wasnt even in the movie. The girls are gold diggers in that they waste no opportunity to batten onto rich men. Mervyn leroy directed the film and busby berkeley directed the musical sequences. Rather, it was the opening song of the next warnerberkeley production, gold diggers of 1933. Joan blondell and guy kibbee in gold diggers of 1933 1933 ginger rogers in gold diggers of 1933. August 30, 2017 gold diggers of 1933 and the allure of precode cinema witness the rise of a star, joan blondell, in a deeply fascinating era of film history. The films directors, mervyn leroy and busby berkeley, take measured pains to make this movie about the depression both the experience and. The film starred warren william, joan blondell, and aline macmahon.
It has its origin in 1883 in a speech by william sumner and was used by franklin roosevelt in a 1932 speech. Gold diggers of 1933 was made near the end of the precode era, when censorship was beginning to rear its ugly head. It stars warren william, joan blondell, aline macmahon, ruby keeler, and dick powell, and features guy kibbee, ned sparks and ginger rogers. It is hinted during the course of the film that showgirls inhabit a shadowy region on the borders of prostitution, and the harsh economic realities of 1933 force the girls to regard their good looks as a marketable commodity. Gold diggers of 1933 is, i argue, the most complete document of the great depression and precode hollywood. Ruby keeler and dick powell sing pettin in the park music by harry warren, lyrics by al dubin and dance. Harry warren 1933 featured as finale of mervin le roys 1933 film gold diggers of 1933 1937 m. Keeler has a big crush on a struggling songwriter across the hall from them who of course is dick.
Warners knew they had a hit before the earlier film had even opened, so they had this production in the works while the rest of hollywood was. Gold diggers of 1933 is a 1933 precode warner bros. The second talkie version of the avery hopwoods theatrical warhorse the golddiggers of broadway, gold diggers of 1933 was the second of three backtoback 1933 warner bros. Warner bros released gold diggers of 1933 to theaters on may 27, 1933. Gold diggers of 1933, is an exciting film about the life of people living in the depression in the 1930s. I found 42nd street and golddiggers of 1933 the betterstructured of the stories from this collection. Golddiggers of 1933, with its story of young showgirls trying to make ends meet during the depression, is one of the most prominent films of the early 1930s and is a brilliant commentary on the problems encountered by people of all walks of life during the great depression. Kopacice zlata 1933 je americki fimski mjuzikl snimljen 1933. The film is fantastic as a drama and especially as a comedy, but it succeeds tremendously in the musical sequences thanks to a bunch of unforgettable, simply fabulous songs and a great score. I will say the effects on beautifully done and the. The nonmusical parts of those films had the gritty urban atmosphere for which warners was. Gold diggers of 1933 was a smash hit on its initial release, nearly equalingand following hot on the footsteps of42nd street. Witness the rise of a star, joan blondell, in a deeply fascinating era of film history.
If 42nd street was an agreeable sketch, this one is the sistine chapel, an insanely overproduced extravaganza that gave busby berkeley his first chance to really cut loose. A tenth disc includes repeats from 42nd street and the golddigger movies, but it also includes choreographies from films not in this collection, such as lady in red, one of my favorite numbers. The gold diggers of 1933 on the surface, gold diggers is fluffy musical fare with busby berkeleys delightfully surreal production numbers, but the great depression left its mark on the film. Gold diggers of 1933 is a perfect reflection of so many things that were happening in the film industry at the time. The songs were written by harry warren music and al dubin lyrics. Chorus girls sing were in the money were in the money by harry warren and al dubin. Taking the disparate urges of the era, from the poverty and starvation to the liberated sexual attitudes and sophisticated sense of humor, it manages to balance them to great success. From the producers to the showgirls, the depression has knocked everyone to the same level. This is your chance to share your innermost thoughts on gold diggers of 1933. Busby berkeley does an amazing job on the choreography. This plot structure provides a simple way to integrate the famous kaleidoscopic busby berkeley musical numbers that are probably the film s main attraction. A comparative analysis of socialpolitical meaning in charlie chaplins the immigrant and busby. In this film the themes of class inequality and ethnic inequality become.
The oddest aspect of gold diggers of 1933 is the fact that the mood of the songs is wildly at variance with the plot. Like many a warners nonmusical film, gold diggers of 1933 was one of the studios few popular filmusicals to openly address, and indeed directly critique, the contemporaneous great depression, the socioeconomic national catastrophe that supposedly compelled audiences to seek fleeting doses of solace and escapism at inexpensive picturehouses. Gold diggers of 1933 can be understood as a selfreflexive musical, showing the process by which the film itself, like the stage performance, is an illusion, not for a brechtian effect but, on the contrary, to reaffirm the importance of the illusion and necessity of entertainment. Films like 42nd street, footlight parade, gold diggers of 1933 and gold diggers of 1937 made up the unofficial series of movies which headlines marquees while the united states struggled through the great depression. They are yet to become famous, and their producer is incredibly broke, thus, making it near impossible for them to put their show on the road. Although mgm would later become synonymous with the golden age of the hollywood musical, warner bros. Gold diggers of 1933 is an early entry in the series, and the film features not only a largely female driven narrative, but also noted equality in the story.
Gold diggers of 1933 what more could one ask for, chorus girls, busby berkeley, ginger rogers, dick powell, ruby keeler, and the hit songs were in the money, petting in the park, and remember my forgotten man. Made in 1933 during the great depression, gold diggers begins with a rehearsal for a stage show, which is interrupted by the producers creditors who close down the show because of unpaid bills. A wealthy composer rescues unemployed broadway performers with a new play. Jane feuer uses the term myth of integration to refer to. All critics 10 top critics 1 fresh 10 the movie thrives and survives on berkeleys genius. The gold diggers of 1933 film by leroy 1933 britannica. Ruby keelers dewyeyed polly parker, joan blondells brighteyed carol king, aline macmahons sharpeyed trixie lorraine and. Taking the disparate urges of the era, from the poverty and starvation to the liberated sexual attitudes and. Gold diggers of 1933 and the allure of precode cinema. Golddiggers of 1933 is a fun movie to watch because all the right elements that went into the making of this motion picture. The broadway play that is essentially at the heart of this film highlights the truths of the depression such as umemployment, bread lines, and prostitution. With warren william, joan blondell, aline macmahon, ruby keeler. Subsequently, the opening credits immediately flow into one of depressionera cinemas most potent and reassuring icons. Gold diggers of 1933 is an entertaining example of the backstage musical where the principal characters are themselves working to put on a musical within the film.
Link coming soonwhen five teen employees at the local movie theater in a small christian town discover a mysterious old film hidden in the. Read the full synopsis of gold diggers of 1933, 1933, directed by mervyn leroy, with warren william, joan blondell, aline macmahon, at turner classic movies. Even though times were tough, audiences were still flocking to movie theaters for a little bit of cheap escapism. The script was written by rian james and james seymour, with whitney. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. So, if you dont see all of his films, you can certainly still see him at his best elsewhere. It starred joan blondell, ruby keeler, dick powell, ginger rogers, and billy barty in his first role as a horny manbaby. The musical numbers for me is what really stood out. Berkeleys production numbers wind up driving much of the movie. Robert lord won his first producing credit for gold diggers of 1933 1933, an allsinging, alldancing followup to warner bros. This is the opening to the musical number directed by.
Films like 42nd street, footlight parade, gold diggers of 1933 and gold diggers of 1937 make up the unofficial series of movies which filled marquees during the great depression. Gold diggers of 1933 is the quintessential depression era musical. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing gold diggers of 1933 near you. Born today most popular celebs most popular celebs celebrity news. Coins in movies the ultimate example gold diggers of 1933. The great depression occurred during the time when films were evolving and becoming hits, but made it hard for film. You can include an image to complement your analysis. The classic film gold diggers of 1933 is based in the era of the great depression, the aftermath of world war i which lasted from 1929 to 1939 thus the result to world war ii. Gold diggers of 1933 is a glorious early musical and one of the very best of the thirties.
Gold diggers of 1933 is a film about four young women hoping to make it in new york but going through the usual challenges that come with opting for a life on the silver screen. Joan blondell and etta moten remember my forgotten man 1933. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Carol and her golddigging friends scheme to keep the show going, hooking a couple of millionaires along the way. Gold diggers makes some sort of screen history in that its the first of the second editions of film musicals. The goldiggers in this case are three female room mates, aline mcmahon, joan blondell, and ruby keeler. Gold diggers of 1933 1933 directed by mervyn leroy.
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