Singin' and Dancing Back in Time.: Chick Flicks: Musical's 100th post! Gold Diggers(1935).

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Chick Flicks: Musical's 100th post! Gold Diggers(1935).

Gold Diggers (1935). Directed and choreographed by Busby Berkeley. Cast: Dick Powell, Gloria Stuart, Adolphe Menjou, Winifred Shaw, Alice Brady, Hugh Herbert and Frank McHugh. The film is best known for the famous "Lullaby of Broadway" production number, which features Shaw singing the song which won Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics) an Academy Award.

Gold Diggers of 1935 was the third film of the Gold Diggers series of movie musicals, after Gold Diggers of Broadway in 1929 (now lost) and Gold Diggers of 1933 Gold Diggers of 1935 was followed by Gold Diggers of 1937 and Gold Diggers in Paris.

This the first time I have seen Gold diggers(1935). I thought this film was pure magic. Loved the production number, "LULLABY OF Broadway". We see a Fred-and-Ginger type of dancing which I thought to be a very romantic dance number. Then there are ALL those dancers, tapping their hearts out.

The movie begins, at the Wentworth Plaza where the rich vacation. Dick Curtis is working his way through medical school as a desk clerk. After checking in Mrs. Prentiss, she offers to pay him to escort her daughter Ann for the summer. Even his fiancee, Arline Davis thinks he should do it. Mrs. Prentiss wants Ann to marry middle-aged millionaire T. Mosley Thorpe, but Ann has other ideas. Meanwhile her brother, Humbolt has been married and bought out of trouble by his mother more times than she wants to remember.

Every summer, Mrs. Prentiss produces a charity show for the "Milk Fund", and this year she hires the Russian dance director Nicolai Nicoleff to direct the show. Mrs. Prentiss wants to spend the least amount possible, but Nicoleff and his set designer Schultz want to be as extravagant. Will, Dick and Ann fall in love?

Soundtracks:
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"Dagger Dance"
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Performed by the show's cast during rehearsal

"The Gold Diggers' Song (We're in the Money)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Sung by Glenda Farrell

"I'm Goin' Shoppin' with You"
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Sung by Dick Powell
Also used as an instrumental cue throughout the picture

"Lullaby of Broadway"
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Sung by Wini Shaw and ensemble during the show
Danced by Ramon & Rosita and ensemble during the show

"Moonlight and You"
Music by Harry Warren
Instrumental cue played during the boat scene

"The Shadows of Yesterday's Stars"
Music by Harry Warren
Instrumental cue played in the hotel room after the bell boys are tipped

"Tango del Rio"
Music by Harry Warren
Instrumental cue played in the hotel scene

"Tell Me Again"
Music by Harry Warren
Instrumental cue played throughout the picture

"Tell Me That You Care"
Music by Harry Warren
Instrumental cue played before the show starts

"The Words Are in My Heart"
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Al Dubin
Sung by Dick Powell during the boat scene
Also sung by Dick Powell and ensemble during the show
Played often in the score

"Opening"
Music by Harry Warren
Played during the opening scene and production number

2 comments:

montyMay 18, 2010 at 9:57 AM
Great post Dawn. I'm glad you enjoyed Gold Diggers of 1935. Cool facts that you posted as well.
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DawnMay 19, 2010 at 6:25 AM
Monty, I wish I had time to watch TCMs, Gold Digger, line up today.. Oh well, there be another opportunity.
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