Gold Diggers of 1933
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Aline MacMahon, Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Warren WilliamDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled)
Format: NTSC
Running Time: 98 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-03-21
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Movie Reviews of Gold Diggers of 1933
Movie Review: Superb entertainment, depression gold
Summary: 5 Stars
"Golddiggers of 1933" is the second of 3 great musicals Warner Brothers released in 1933. The first was "42nd Street", the prototype for all backstage musicals and a dark and sombre film. The second was this one, based on a straight play and with one theme - the Depression. The third, "Footlight Parade", placed the emphasis on success, supporting Roosevelt and the New Deal.
"Golddiggers" benefits from a really funny screenplay and the talents of the acerbic Aline MaMahon and the versatile Joan Blondell. These two dominate the film and rightly so. Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell are back as the ingenue leads. Keeler is still clunky with her delivery of her lines and Powell is nauseatingly cheerful, but, in fairness, their parts must have looked pretty awful on paper. They both would improve. Guy Kibbee plays opposite MacMahon and they were so good together that Warner's subsequently paired them in a number of straight films. The plot is good enough to stand alone without Busby Berkely's numbers but they become the icing on the cake. "Shadow Waltz" is charming and pointless creating beautiful images to the lilting song. "Pettin in the Park" would not have survived after the Censorship was enforced a year later and is notably venal. It is almost a celebration of voyeurism. The best of all is the number with which the film ends. "Remember my Forgotten Man" is an extraordinary comment on the treatment of ex-pats, a powerful and moving political statement. Joan Blondell, the best non singer ever, narrates the lyrics and uses her superior acting skills, her body and underplayed gestures to portray a prostitute memorably. It is a great performance.
The print of the film is outstanding and the DVD comes with a generous list of extras. There is a documentary on the film "42nd Street" and a short on the promotion of that film which makes one thinks that the producers of the DVD made a slip up - good material, wrong DVD. Another matching documentary focuses on this film. There are 2 short films, one of which showcases radio stars all of whom are forgettable except Sylvia Frooze, of the unusual name but excellent voice and screen presence. The second short features Lita Chaplin, one of Charlie's wives. She has a pleasant voice too but a somewhat stiff presence and a very young Sammy Davis Jnr appears in the short with her. The Merrie Melody cartoons are wonderful with the usual detailed drawings and great orchestrations. One features characterisations of Crosby, Garbo, Zasu Pitts, Mae West, Cagney and Blondell, Ben Burnie, Wheeler and Woolsey and others. There is also a comprehensive set of Trailers for all the films in the series; once again, maybe this was meant to be on the "42nd Street" DVD.
The DVD is excellent value and even better if purchased as part of the Warner's Busby Berkeley Set.
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