Dames(1934)

Dames(1934) Director: Ray Enright with dance numbers created by Busby Berkeley. Cast: Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, Guy Kibbee, ZaSu Pitts, and Hugh Herbert. Production numbers and songs include "When You Were a Smile on Your Mother's Lips (and a Twinkle in Your Daddy's Eye)", "The Girl at the Ironing Board", "I Only Have Eyes for You", "Dames" and "Try to See It My Way".



Multimillionaire Ezra Ounce, wants to make sure that his fortune will be inherited by deserving relatives, so he visits his cousin, Matilda Hemingway in New York City.
Ounce, is offended by the musical comedy shows and finds that Matilda's daughter, Barbara, is a dancer and singer in love with another singer and songwriter, her 13th cousin, Jimmy Higgens the family's black sheep.

Matilda's husband, Horace meets a showgirl Mabel, who's been stranded in Schenectady when her show folds, and talks her into sleeping in Horace's train compartment to get back home. Not wanting to be involved in scandal, he leaves her some money and a note asking her to keep quite. Will Mabel keep his secret?

I thought the film Dames, was wonderful entertainment and loved all the dance numbers. Although... I did not think this was Ruby Keeler's best performance. DAMES, is the fourth and final Powell-Keeler-Berkeley collaboration. Pitts, Kibbee and Herbert fit their characters perfectly.


Soundtracks:
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"Dames"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren (1934)
Lyrics by Al Dubin (1934)
Played during the opening credits
Danced to by Ruby Keeler at rehearsal
Sung by Dick Powell and chorus in the show
Played as background music often

"I Only Have Eyes for You"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren (1934)
Lyrics by Al Dubin (1934)
Sung by Dick Powell on the ferry
Reprised by Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler and chorus in the show
Played as background music often

"Shuffle Off to Buffalo"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren (1932)
Lyrics by Al Dubin (1932)
Played as background music when the scene is in Buffalo, New York
Reprised by the chorus in the show

"When You Were a Smile on Your Mother's Lips (and a Twinkle in Your Daddy's Eye)"
(uncredited)
Music by Sammy Fain (1934)
Lyrics by Irving Kahal (1934)
Sung by Dick Powell

"Try to See It My Way"
(uncredited)
Music by Allie Wrubel (1934)
Lyrics by Mort Dixon (1934)
Sung by Dick Powell
Reprised by Joan Blondell and chorus in the show

"The Girl at the Ironing Board"
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren (1934)
Lyrics by Al Dubin (1934)
Sung by Joan Blondell in the show

"My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by chorus with modified lyrics during "The Girl at the Ironing Board" number

"Frühlingslied (Spring Song)"
(uncredited)
Music by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Played briefly during "The Girl at the Ironing Board" sequence