GOLD DIGGERS OF 1937
US, 1937, 100 minutes, Black and white.
Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell, Victor Moore, Lee Dixon, Osgood Perkins, Charles D. Brown.
Directed by Lloyd Bacon.
Gold Diggers of 1937 meant that the series was coming towards an end. While the choreography is again by Busby Berkeley (a bit less than in other films, except for the good finale), the film was directed by Lloyd Bacon, director of many movies at Warner Bros, ranging from musicals to gangster films to comedies.
Dick Powell and Joan Blondell return for the leads. Glenda Farrell from the 1935 film appears as the real gold digger. Victor Moore appears as his usual dithering self to comic effect.
The film has more emphasis on the gold diggers and their digging than the previous films in the series. The musical numbers are `With Plenty of Money and You', which has remained a favourite. There is also `Let's Put Our Heads Together' as well as `Speaking About the Weather'. The finale is `All's Fair in Love and War'.
1. Enjoyable Warner Bros musical? Its place in the series? Busby Berkeley's choreography?
2. Black and white photography, studio sets? The cast?
3. The musical numbers? Their staging? The ingenuity of the black and white photography? Busby Berkeley's particular qualities for choreography and movement?
4. The title, the focus on the chorus girls, the need for money? Genevieve and her success at gold digging?
5. The opening convention? The introduction to Ross? Insurance? The men on the train, the encounter with the chorus girls out of work? The two producers and their crooked ways?
6. J.J. Hobart, the eccentric millionaire, theatre, wanting to put on shows, his worry about his health? Genevieve's scheme about the insurance? Ross and Norma helping? The comedy of his examination, the false report, his health? His revival, the party? Genevieve and the seduction? Falling in love with him? Hearing that he was bankrupt? Hospital, getting better, Ross's support? The show must go on, the happy marriage?
7. Ross and Dick Powell's dapper style, in insurance, looking after J.J. Hobart? The meeting of Norma on the train, the job? Romance? And the show going on?
8. Genevieve, the crooks? Double deals, concern about J.J's health, wanting him to die, in the pool, etc? The change of heart and Genevieve falling in love?
9. The picture of the other chorus girls, after the men, gold diggers? The men and their response?
10. The two producers, scheming, using Genevieve? The sinister aspects of their behaviour - covered over in the comedy?
11. The insertion of the musical numbers? Their mood? Relationship to the Depression? The military situation of the middle '30s? Interesting piece of Americana, musical comedy, Busby Berkeley's talent? Its place in film history?
