GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 (1933)

Unexpectedly, this iconic Busby Berkeley item turns out to be the runt of the litter from the great trio of 1933 Warners musicals. Not that it doesn’t have its share of great songs & spectacle in typical over-the-top BB style. There’s a human-scaled memorable moment, too, as Ginger Rogers sings ‘We’re In The Money’ in Pig-Latin. And dig that pre-Frank Gehry decor in ‘Shadow Waltz.’ But the second half of the film loses the dramatically compelling verisimilitude of 42nd STREET and FOOTLIGHT PARADE, switching to a tiresome mistaken identify farce as stuffy Bostonians Warren Williams & Guy Kibbee woo Joan Blondell & Aline MacMahon, unaware that it’s Ruby Keeler who’s stolen Dick Powell ’s heart. (Kibbee & Williams make pretty unlikely 'Back Bay' Bostonians, but Aline MacMahon turns out to be a fabulous clothes horse.) The film becomes the first rung on the road to making the GOLD DIGGERS series inconsequential entertainment with a camp sensibility. But do stick around for all the great numbers. Electric Violins! Forgotten Man! Little Billy Barty with a Can-Opener!