Gold Diggers of 1933 on TCM – Feb. 9th

The classic Depression era musical, Gold Diggers of 1933, will be on TCM Thursday February 9th at 10:15PM (eastern). Directed by Mervyn LeRoy, with a little help from Busby Berkeley, the film stars Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler and Aline McMahon as three out of work chorus girls sharing a cheap apartment all looking for work, love and money. Work comes with the help of rival Ginger Rogers who tells the ladies about a new show being readied for Broadway by producer Ned Sparks.

Down below is an excerpt from my e-book, Lessons in the Dark, where you can read more about  Gold Diggers of 1933 and other classic films. Available at Amazon.

Blast From The Past: Gold Diggers of 1933

As of many of you know old postings get buried, lost and forgotten in blogging hell. This new mid-week series will  attempt to revive some of my older postings. I have went over the review and corrected some details but the original article remains intact along with all the comments. I am providing a link that will bring you directly to the review. This series will appear occasionally on Tuesdays as part of my new mid-week postings which includes my “Short Takes” series which appeared last week.

Below are few photos and the link…

https://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/gold-diggers-of-1933-1933-leroy/?preview=true&preview_id=1516&preview_nonce=e96343489e

Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933) Mervyn LeRoy

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy with songs by Al Rubin and Harry Warren and choreographed by Busby Berkeley (in the credits he is listed as dance director), Gold Diggers of 1933 was the second of Warner Brothers three 1933 backstage musicals, all reflecting the depression though none as directly and straight forward as this one.

   The film opens during a rehearsal of the ironic and iconic song, We’re in the Money. It’s sung by Ginger Rogers (Fay) in a full face close up dressed in an outfit lined with silver dollars and a strategically placed large silver dollar covering her “private parts.” Along with a chorus of scantily dressed showgirls, Rogers sings the Al Dubin/Harry Warren standard.  Rogers even does one amazing verse of the song in Pig Latin. It’s a brilliant start to what is, arguably, the grittiest musical ever made. The musical number comes to an unexpected end when the sheriff and his boys come in and seize all the property and costumes including snatching Ginger’s most personal piece. This opening scene sets up the tone for the rest of the story, with Fay sarcastically informing the three leading ladies, as they talk about being out of work again, “it’s the Depression, dearie.”