Along with 42nd STREET & GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933, this Warners musical avoids descending into ‘camp’ because in every shot & plot twist you can feel the depths of the Depression just off-camera. This is the one about staging those musical prologues for the fancy first-run bijoux. Warners tended to backload their musicals, but you don’t mind waiting for the Busby Berkeley specialities here because the book helmer, Lloyd Bacon, keeps things unusually fast, loud & snappy, and because James Cagney, startling his fan base with his hoofing, is so irresistibly dynamic. Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler & Dick Powell are also perfectly used here, in roles that are just the right size.
SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Has anyone ever noticed that the first measures of SHANGHAI LIL are all but lifted right out of George Gershwin’s intro to SWANEE?
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