Gold Diggers of 1935 (Part One)

Directed by Busby Berkeley, this excerpt of "Lullaby of Broadway" showcases Berkeley's signature dance and song production, but also intense class commentary.

• Category

  Film & Animation

[aVeryStylishGirl]

This is so spine tingling & immaculate. The opening with Wini Shaw's face turning into Manhattan is delicious. Play this really loud when all those dancers are tapping in that nightclub. A bit of a shock to those not expecting that final scene, but Busby was always unpredictable. I think Wini was a 'party girl' who was burning her candle at both ends, and nothing more, hence the title Gold Diggers of 1935.

[skylur44]

We used to go to the old Encore theater on Melrose and Van Ness and just stay there from late afternoon until midnight watching these old Busby Berkley movies over and over and over again, we knew all the dialogue and all the songs, it was fabulous. One night some of the original Berkley ladies were there signing autographs, that was wonderful.

[chomsky88]

Berkley may have been mean to Judy Garland, but he was something of a pioneer in the realm of telling a tale musically.

[ebailey140]

I suppose if you go into something with the premeditated purpose of finding something to be deeply offended by, you'll manage to find it... even when it isn't actually there. I mean, Nazi propaganda? Really?

This says a lot more about you than it does Berkley. If anything, Berkley's work was pro-Roosevelt New Deal. See the full version of "Shanghai Lil" from Footlight Parade for proof. There are no clips on YouTube of the full, unedited, number, BECAUSE it is so blatently pro-Roosevelt.

[Keith Walker]

Simply brilliant. Following a period of scandals and no censorship, Hollywood were forced to over censor their productions. Busby Berkley liked to push the envelope a bit. Girls in stockings and long legs were very risquee. A few years earlier, a woman's ankles had to be covered. This stuff only gets better with time.

[gdouglas999]

I only discovered Busby Berkeley this past year and I'm 67 years old! Can't possibly explain how enjoyable his choreographed routines are to me, but I'm the only person I know who has ever seen them so it's fantastic to see all the comments here from others who enjoy them, too. Now I know where Michael Flatley got his inspiration and ideas for Riverdance, Lord of the Rings and Celtic Tiger.

[Lee Blunt]

I know a few steam queens that tell me she was just that, a good time party whore. (nothing wrong or negative in being a whore).

[TheSkylur44]

Visit your local library.

[linksgruen]

I would love to read a text of Adorno about this.

[TheSkylur44]

I see nothing of what you describe; neither the "sexist" aspect of the song (bear in mind this is from 1935 and may not be in tune with the ridiculous political correctness of today) or the Hitler references. Perhaps you need a vacation?

[linksgruen]

Don't you think the song is quite a bit sexist? And then the shameless references to Hitler propaganda and product placement...

[TheSkylur44]

We went to see this so many times we knew every single line and song and we repeated them to the point people would run when they saw us coming; but we really enjoyed every minute of it. In fact, each time we went, we sat through two shows. Thanks for the memories