any idea what this would cost today
Added 8/4/2009
Paying a chorus line of 20 in current times strains a budget.
Taking a theme of rich people in the worst part of the depression,
this film glorifies marrying for money.
While making fun of the wealthy as pinch pennies and
idle idiots, the film has the people making schemes to fleece
them.
Not what you would call a moral epic in bad times?
The musical within the musical is probably the best part of the show.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
now THIS is anything but "small and cheap" !!!
Added 2/27/2009
Gold Diggers Of 1935 provides more action mixed with stunning song and dance numbers than several average musicals combined! Busby Berkeley directed and choreographed these numbers; and his brilliant talent shows. The plot progresses at a good pace and I never once felt bored. The convincing acting enhances the movie even more.
When the action starts, we see the employees gathering for the opening of a newly refurbished, highly upscale hotel, The Wentworth Plaza in New England. Dick Curtis (Dick Powell) is a medical student working at the front desk and his fiancée Arline Davis (Dorothy Dare) works as the hotel's hostess. As soon as the hotel opens, we meet incoming guests from the Prentiss family: the stuffy and impossibly cheap Mrs. Matilda Prentiss (Alice Brady) who counts every red cent despite her being worth many millions of dollars, and her daughter Ann Prentiss who is engaged to another stuffy older man named T. Mosely Thorpe III (Hugh Herbert) who also stays at the hotel. We also meet Mrs. Prentiss' son Humbolt Prentiss (Frank McHugh) who is something of an irresponsible playboy--with four marriages already in his past while he's still relatively young!
It isn't long before Ann starts to want some fun before she marries Mosely; and with much hesitation her mother Matilda allows it--on the condition that the hotel clerk Dick Curtis is her escort to make sure she doesn't disgrace the family name. Well, as you may have guessed, it's also isn't long before Ann and Dick become romantically involved much to the chagrin of Mrs. Prentiss. Arline catches Dick kissing Ann but she herself has fallen for Humbolt Prentiss so she lets Dick off the hook rather gracefully.
But there's plenty more to the story. As you know, the title of this film has the words "Gold Diggers" in it--and wow, how everybody is on the take in this movie! From the managers who steal tips away from the bellhops to the stenographer who plots and schemes greedily against Mosely, there's quite a bit of game playing. We also get more comedy relief: Adolph Menjou does a great job of playing Nicolai Nicoleff, an oddball theatrical type who never ever pays his own way and mooches of the hotel, and there is his buddy August Schultz (Joseph Cawthorn) who also wants his share of "the take" when Mrs. Prentiss puts on her annual benefit show for the Milk Fund.
Will Ann be free after all to marry Dick Curtis, or will her stubborn and somewhat cruel mother Matilda make her marry Mosely? What about Arline and Humbolt--will their romance last? Does the show to benefit the Milk Fund score a hit with the hotel audience? Watch the movie and find out!
Gold Diggers of 1935 is one of those rare gems that despite its age couldn't ever lose its appeal. The stunning musical numbers remain in your head practically forever after you watch this; and you'll be especially thrilled with the "Lullaby Of Broadway" sequence near the end of the film. I highly recommend this motion picture for fans of classic Hollywood musicals that also employ comedy to tell their stories; and fans of these actors will also enjoy this film.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Off and beyond the Gold Standard
Added 9/29/2006
Everything about this movie is 18 carat plus; and the Lullaby number is stupendous, stellar, astounding, astonishing, awesome, supersonic, ballistic, dazzling, stratospheric, surreal, stomping, incredible, dark, hypercaliginous, threatening, frightening, ominous. Beggars imagination. The rich are very rich, no-one else has anything much. A bed-sitter perhaps. World War Two was on its way, when everyone went crazy. You can still feel the buzz.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
seductive & decadent & fascist & fun
Added 9/6/2006
the first busby berkeley movie that actually bore the imprimatur "directed by busby berkeley", the film is none too interesting save for the big production numbers. but what else do you judge a berkeley movie by? the bevy of pianos, all coming together as one as if a gigantic jigsaw puzzle is awesome, but of course its merely a warmup for the REAL reason to see this movie: the 15-minute-long mini-film "lullaby of broadway": a mix of the surreal and expressionism set against an art deco world culminating in the heroines death at the hands of a fawning mob. truth be told, im never able to remember which production number belongs in which berkeley movie, but they are always worth your time.
0 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
The Lullaby of Broadway
Added 5/29/2006
Another great Busby Berkeley production. However with the same formula and a slight variation it can get a little long in the tooth. However some people can not get enough and it is a shame they will soon have to come to an end. You will see the signature innovative stile that Busby takes this time with pianos and the signature close-ups he is known for.
The story is again the depression. This time a grand hotel is sprucing up for a new season. Matilda Prentiss (Alice Brady) tightwad millionaire must be persuaded to part with money form a charity show. Mean time back at the ranch she hires Dick Curtis (Dick Powell) to escort her daughter Ann Prentiss (Gloria Stuart) and keep her out of trouble. You guessed it the two fall in love. The plot thickens. We have our standard grand finally and signature song.
Gold Diggers of 1933
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
any idea what this would cost today
Added 8/4/2009
Paying a chorus line of 20 in current times strains a budget.
Taking a theme of rich people in the worst part of the depression,
this film glorifies marrying for money.
While making fun of the wealthy as pinch pennies and
idle idiots, the film has the people making schemes to fleece
them.
Not what you would call a moral epic in bad times?
The musical within the musical is probably the best part of the show.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
now THIS is anything but "small and cheap" !!!
Added 2/27/2009
Gold Diggers Of 1935 provides more action mixed with stunning song and dance numbers than several average musicals combined! Busby Berkeley directed and choreographed these numbers; and his brilliant talent shows. The plot progresses at a good pace and I never once felt bored. The convincing acting enhances the movie even more.
When the action starts, we see the employees gathering for the opening of a newly refurbished, highly upscale hotel, The Wentworth Plaza in New England. Dick Curtis (Dick Powell) is a medical student working at the front desk and his fiancée Arline Davis (Dorothy Dare) works as the hotel's hostess. As soon as the hotel opens, we meet incoming guests from the Prentiss family: the stuffy and impossibly cheap Mrs. Matilda Prentiss (Alice Brady) who counts every red cent despite her being worth many millions of dollars, and her daughter Ann Prentiss who is engaged to another stuffy older man named T. Mosely Thorpe III (Hugh Herbert) who also stays at the hotel. We also meet Mrs. Prentiss' son Humbolt Prentiss (Frank McHugh) who is something of an irresponsible playboy--with four marriages already in his past while he's still relatively young!
It isn't long before Ann starts to want some fun before she marries Mosely; and with much hesitation her mother Matilda allows it--on the condition that the hotel clerk Dick Curtis is her escort to make sure she doesn't disgrace the family name. Well, as you may have guessed, it's also isn't long before Ann and Dick become romantically involved much to the chagrin of Mrs. Prentiss. Arline catches Dick kissing Ann but she herself has fallen for Humbolt Prentiss so she lets Dick off the hook rather gracefully.
But there's plenty more to the story. As you know, the title of this film has the words "Gold Diggers" in it--and wow, how everybody is on the take in this movie! From the managers who steal tips away from the bellhops to the stenographer who plots and schemes greedily against Mosely, there's quite a bit of game playing. We also get more comedy relief: Adolph Menjou does a great job of playing Nicolai Nicoleff, an oddball theatrical type who never ever pays his own way and mooches of the hotel, and there is his buddy August Schultz (Joseph Cawthorn) who also wants his share of "the take" when Mrs. Prentiss puts on her annual benefit show for the Milk Fund.
Will Ann be free after all to marry Dick Curtis, or will her stubborn and somewhat cruel mother Matilda make her marry Mosely? What about Arline and Humbolt--will their romance last? Does the show to benefit the Milk Fund score a hit with the hotel audience? Watch the movie and find out!
Gold Diggers of 1935 is one of those rare gems that despite its age couldn't ever lose its appeal. The stunning musical numbers remain in your head practically forever after you watch this; and you'll be especially thrilled with the "Lullaby Of Broadway" sequence near the end of the film. I highly recommend this motion picture for fans of classic Hollywood musicals that also employ comedy to tell their stories; and fans of these actors will also enjoy this film.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Off and beyond the Gold Standard
Added 9/29/2006
Everything about this movie is 18 carat plus; and the Lullaby number is stupendous, stellar, astounding, astonishing, awesome, supersonic, ballistic, dazzling, stratospheric, surreal, stomping, incredible, dark, hypercaliginous, threatening, frightening, ominous. Beggars imagination. The rich are very rich, no-one else has anything much. A bed-sitter perhaps. World War Two was on its way, when everyone went crazy. You can still feel the buzz.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
|
