Gold Diggers of 1933 - We're in the Money
Rogers, GingerGinger Rogers - We’re in the Money (via Gold Diggers of 1933 OST)
At a certain point, Rogers seems to be singing gibberish - she is actually singing in Pig Latin. She had sung the song so many times during rehearsal that she began singing it in Pig Latin to relieve the monotony & amuse herself. Director Mervyn LeRoy liked the sound of it, so he had Rogers sing the last part of the song that way.
Verdict for Gold Diggers of 1935
It takes a long time for this one to wind up, and being a Busby Berkeley piece, I was disappointed on how long it took to lead up to the huge spectacle. Berkeley’s movies are incomparable to any others, unique camera angles, and effects, the giant scope of costumed, tightly choreographed dancers and performers are in a class of their own. To watch one of his movies is to have a viewing experience like none other, so having to wait three-quarters of the movie before the performance sequence is worth it. The only downside to these movies is the abject lack of color.
The premise is good, a young heiress agrees to marry an excentric business man in the fall after getting to have a summer of fun. In the meantime, she’s take by desk attendant, and doesn’t want to marry the businessman. Ultimately, it comes down to the stronghold the heiresses mother has on everyone, as she tries to control the lives of her children through her wealth.
It’s actually much lighter than it sounds, it takes a perceivably heavy concept, and satirizes it with a few song and dance numbers put in as an added bonus. The final spectacle is a little less impressive than I’d hoped for, but overall, it was a well-made film that held my interest, though is probably best left to enthusiasts and scholars, For that, I award it two gold stars of decency.
The Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935) Review
Never in my life have I ever smiled for so long nonstop while watching a single film. As a huge fan of musicals and broadway productions, I found myself heavily enjoying Busby Berkeley’s directorial debut in Gold Diggers of 1935. From the opening musical number, I knew I was going to enjoy the film as I watched the charming, Disney-esque choreography as the staff prep the Wentworth Plaza to be ready for the rich and wealthy. Dick Powell’s character is charming as ever with his upbeat personality, and I found myself enjoying each of the character relationships that the film had, from the romantic relationship between Dick and Ann, to the mother-daughter relationship between Ann and her mother Mrs. Prentiss. This is also one of the few films that I find the supporting characters extremely enjoyable to watch as well, such as the snuff-addicted Thorpe and Ann’s love-blind brother Humbolt. But by far I find the highlight of this film to be the musical numbers. The cast are great in singing the songs from “I’m Going Shopping With You”, to “The Words Are In My Heart”. And finally, the short film within the film, “Lullaby of Broadway”, is an enchantingly beautiful piece loaded with iconic Busby Berkeley choreography and elaborate set designs. Gold Diggers of 1935 has become one of my favorite films of all time.
