All right, back to classic Hollywood for the pre-code musical GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 from... you guessed it! 1933.Mervyn LeRoy directed the "story" portions of this flick while Busby Berkley took on the show-stopping song and dance numbers, and it's a joy to behold. They just don't make 'em like this anymore. And I don't even mean quality-wise. I mean they literally do not make these movies anymore. Someone should.
The story involves four out-of-work showgirls (Ruby Keeler, Joan Blondell, Aline MacMahon and Ginger Rogers) and their attempts to get ahead in life during the great depression. A broadway producer (Ned Sparks chewing all the scenery) has an idea for a depression-based musical, and an aspiring songwriter (Dick Powell) puts up the money to get it produced. At first the girls think he might be a bank robber, but it turns out he's just from a rich family.
When Powell's well-to-do brother (Warren William) finds out his brother is slumming it on Broadway, he travels to New York with his lawyer (Guy Kibbee) to put a stop to things. From here we get cases of mistaken identity, people getting wasted and forgetting what they did, and lots of chances for the girls to hook up with rich dudes.
There's definitely some funny stuff here but for the most part this is all just the clothes line for the big ass song and dance numbers to hang on. We've got bathing beauties, semi-nude girls dancing with giant coins strapped to them, and an eventual depression-themed finale that tugs the heart strings. This movie has it all.
All the girls are great and have their own standout moments, with Ruby Keeler getting most of the sweetheart stuff and Aline MacMahon getting most of the one liners. Powell manages to avoid being bland in a potentially thankless role, and even the stodgy rich guys (William and Kibbee) are memorable.
It's no wonder this movie spawned any number of sequels and imitators, and the whole genre is prime for a comeback.
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