Gold Diggers of 1933

1933

Action / Comedy / Drama / Musical

9
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 86% · 13 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 86% · 1K ratings
IMDb Rating 7.7/10 10 9823 9.8K

mistaken identity musical great depression songwriter pre-code hard times

Plot summary

When all Broadway shows are shut down during the Depression, a trio of desperate showgirls scheme to bilk a repugnant high society man of his money to keep their show going.

Director

Mervyn LeRoy Photo
Mervyn LeRoy

Top cast

Fred Kelsey Photo
Fred Kelsey as Detective Jones
June Gittelson Photo
June Gittelson as Fat Woman in 'Pettin' in the Park' Number
Bill Elliott Photo
Bill Elliott as Night Club Patron
Charles C. Wilson Photo
Charles C. Wilson as Deputy
720p.BluRay 720p.WEB 1080p.BluRay 1080p.WEB
897.45 MB
988*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us   fr  
23.976 fps
1 hr 37 min
Seeds ...
795.98 MB
956*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us   fr  
23.976 fps
1 hr 37 min
Seeds 1
1.63 GB
1472*1072
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us   fr  
23.976 fps
1 hr 37 min
Seeds 4
1.53 GB
1424*1072
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us   fr  
23.976 fps
1 hr 37 min
Seeds 8

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by blanche-2 7 / 10

Interesting Depression musical starring some of the usual suspects

With the success of "42nd Street," Warner Brothers wasted no time adding Busby Berkeley musical numbers to "Gold Diggers of 1933."Starring Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, this musical also has some of the same Depression darkness that permeated "42nd Street." "It's the Depression, dearie," Ginger Rogers says as the show she and her fellow chorines are laboring in closes in rehearsal due to lack of funding.However, Brad (Powell), a composer in a nearby apartment who's sweet on Polly (Keeler), offers to give Ned Sparks the money he needs to produce his new show. His only condition is that Polly be featured.Everyone wonders where he got the money, and a news item plus the fact that he refuses to appear in the show make the girls suspicious that he's a bank robber. In fact, he's the scion of a wealthy man (Warren William), who soon appears on the scene with his attorney (Guy Kibbee) when Brad steps in for the lumbago-ridden juvenile lead.Polly's roommates Trixie and Carol (Joan Blondell and Aline MacMahon) go to work on the two immediately.Though the film has some fantastic numbers - "We're in the Money," "The Shadow Waltz," "Pettin' in the Park," and great Busby Berkeley choreography, the middle section has no music and drags on as the gals meet the men, get them to pay for expensive hats, etc. This is probably because the film was completed when the musical numbers were added.But the final number is worth the whole film. "Remember Your Forgotten Man" is a tribute to the World War I soldiers now out of work in the Depression, and not only are the production effects and choreography fantastic, but the singing as well, particularly the solo work by Etta Morton. Blondell, who from the sound of it in Dames was completely tone deaf, is beautifully dubbed here.Ginger Rogers shines in a supporting role especially with her pig Latin lyrics to "We're in the Money" which were added after she was heard fooling around in a rehearsal. Powell is in gorgeous voice in all the numbers, but "I've Got to Sing a Torch Song" is a high point.It's easy to watch the dancing, the beautiful women in their costumes, and listen to the singing and forget what in fact was going on in the '30s - after all, that's why these films were made.But the "Forgotten Man" number serves as a reminder then and today that for the people sitting in the theaters, their troubles were right outside the door.
Reviewed by marksweeney 8 / 10

THE HAPPY ENDING IS NOT THE END.

There is a pattern to 1930's Hollywood musicals; struggle to put on show proceeds alongside struggle for love to conquer all. And in the end both struggles are successfully concluded. It is a pattern that is broken by "Gold Diggers Of 1933". Sure, all of the usual elements are in place, including the Hungry, Penniless Showgirl Depression setting. But where this movie differs is in the fact that after the various plot strands are neatly tied up, it doesn't end. Instead, we are treated to the last big production number,"My Forgotten Man", as downbeat as it was possible to get in 30's Hollywood. All the Busby Berkeley musicals paid lip service to the Great Depression, but this one goes much further, as "My Forgotten Man" was the last, most enduring image of the film, and the one that audiences left the theatre with. It's placement was a brave decision on the part of whoever made it, and it would be interesting to learn of the public reaction at the time. Because while it is undoubtedly true that in an era of deprivation, you can't blithely make movies that are totally divorced from reality, it's equally true that people want to be reassured there is a better life, and they won't be scratching around in the dirt forever. Personally, I love the number, and it's placement. It's something that has fascinated me since my very first viewing 7 years ago, but it seems to be a point that not a lot of critics have picked up on. Perhaps it wasn't so unusual after all!
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