It must've been annoying to have to breathe all that powder in the air at the end of the number, which appears to be puffing out of the dancers' sleeves. "You're just a dusty son of a gun!"
I was thinking the same thing about the smoke at the end of the other "devil" scene in this series of clips, where the angels come in and extinguish the "hellish" fire.
I think we now know why musicals so quickly fell from popularity during those early sound days. The directors didn't have the slightest idea about how to use the cameras. It was simply point at the stage with the camera bolted down. The movies were dying for Busbey Berkeley to come along and bring some life back. Having said that, thanks for sharing this Technicolor great clip!
Fantastic! Great to see the color version of the number...I get the impression this was filmed at the same time as the b&w version but with different cameras, as disco79 says. The backlit part really comes alive in color.
MGM removed the color sequences from "Children of Pleasure" along with a number of their musicals that were released late in 1930, when they realized the public were staying away from musicals. For example, "Madam Satan" was originally intended to be released with color sequences but these were likewise released in black and white version. The studios routinely used a second black and white camera when photographing in Technicolor. Some musicals were abandoned completely e.g. "March of Time"
This wonderful clip is from Children of Pleasure and it's only part of the number...a female soloist belts out the tune before the chorus girls join in...
I think it is sad that these great numbers were cut from general release and now we can only see them out of sequence thanks for YOU TUBE. There must be a ton of this stuff eroding in cellars. Thx for uploading
This number was recycled from "Children of Pleasure" (released by MGM April 26, 1930) starring Lawrence Gray and Wynne Gibson. I don't know if it is in the released print. It may have been rejected because of the surprising jerky camera, and inserted in "Roast Beef and Movies" (February 10, 1934) to make the short seem more lavish. Sammy Lee choreographed it.
Are you sure? The IMDB says that that this and the "Chinese Ballet" number from Roast-Beef and Movies are originally from the lost and abandoned MGM musical revue the March of Time (1930). And I believe that some of this number was in That's Entertainment 3 and was said to be footage from The March of Time there, also.
There are Two production numbers in Roast Beef And Movies The Chinese Ballet is the other one. The Chinese Ballet sequence featuring the Albertina Rasch dancers originates from Lord Byron Of Broadway (1930).
The right "hades ballet" sequence, also featuring the Albertina Rasch troupe intended for The March Of Time can be seen in The Devil's Cabaret (1931). This hades Ballet however is taken from another movie. It May come from Children Of Pleasure as nedsparks writes above.
the short Roast-Beef And Movies is a bonus feature on the "Dancing Lady" DVD (released by Warner Bros.)
Mr1920s 3 years ago
It must've been annoying to have to breathe all that powder in the air at the end of the number, which appears to be puffing out of the dancers' sleeves. "You're just a dusty son of a gun!"
hebneh 3 years ago
I was thinking the same thing about the smoke at the end of the other "devil" scene in this series of clips, where the angels come in and extinguish the "hellish" fire.
wattever333 3 years ago
I think we now know why musicals so quickly fell from popularity during those early sound days. The directors didn't have the slightest idea about how to use the cameras. It was simply point at the stage with the camera bolted down. The movies were dying for Busbey Berkeley to come along and bring some life back. Having said that, thanks for sharing this Technicolor great clip!
fabulbabe 3 years ago
Fantastic! Great to see the color version of the number...I get the impression this was filmed at the same time as the b&w version but with different cameras, as disco79 says. The backlit part really comes alive in color.
smurfswacker 3 years ago
MGM removed the color sequences from "Children of Pleasure" along with a number of their musicals that were released late in 1930, when they realized the public were staying away from musicals. For example, "Madam Satan" was originally intended to be released with color sequences but these were likewise released in black and white version. The studios routinely used a second black and white camera when photographing in Technicolor. Some musicals were abandoned completely e.g. "March of Time"
disco79 4 years ago
This wonderful clip is from Children of Pleasure and it's only part of the number...a female soloist belts out the tune before the chorus girls join in...
tlt1536 4 years ago
I think it is sad that these great numbers were cut from general release and now we can only see them out of sequence thanks for YOU TUBE. There must be a ton of this stuff eroding in cellars. Thx for uploading
cushtichavi 2 years ago
Wonderful clip - I LOVE TWO STRIP TECHNICOLOR!
songplugger 4 years ago
Omg! I love this!
juanieboy12 4 years ago
This number was recycled from "Children of Pleasure" (released by MGM April 26, 1930) starring Lawrence Gray and Wynne Gibson. I don't know if it is in the released print. It may have been rejected because of the surprising jerky camera, and inserted in "Roast Beef and Movies" (February 10, 1934) to make the short seem more lavish. Sammy Lee choreographed it.
nedsparks 5 years ago
Are you sure? The IMDB says that that this and the "Chinese Ballet" number from Roast-Beef and Movies are originally from the lost and abandoned MGM musical revue the March of Time (1930). And I believe that some of this number was in That's Entertainment 3 and was said to be footage from The March of Time there, also.
twentiesDOLL12213 5 years ago
There are Two production numbers in Roast Beef And Movies The Chinese Ballet is the other one. The Chinese Ballet sequence featuring the Albertina Rasch dancers originates from Lord Byron Of Broadway (1930).
The right "hades ballet" sequence, also featuring the Albertina Rasch troupe intended for The March Of Time can be seen in The Devil's Cabaret (1931). This hades Ballet however is taken from another movie. It May come from Children Of Pleasure as nedsparks writes above.
stjn00 5 years ago
Brilliant!Many thanks.
mic33george 5 years ago