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Editorial Reviews
In the resort of Lake Waxapahachie, the swanky Wentworth Plaza is where the rich all congregate, and where the tips flow like wine. Handsome Dick Curtis (Dick Powell) is working his way through medical school as a desk clerk, and when rich, penny-pinching Mrs. Prentiss (Alice Brady) offers to pay him to escort her daughter Ann (Gloria Stuart) for the summer, Dick can't say no - even his fiancee, Arline Davis (Dorothy Dare) thinks he should do it. Mrs. Prentiss wants Ann to marry eccentric middle-aged millionaire T. Mosley Thorpe (Hugh Herbert), who's a world-renowned expert on snuffboxes, but Ann has other ideas. Meanwhile her brother, Humbolt (Frank McHugh) has a weakness for a pretty face: he's been married and bought out of trouble by his mother several times.
Every summer, Mrs. Prentiss produces a charity show for the "Milk Fund", and this year she hires the flamboyant and conniving Russian dance director Nicolai Nicoleff (Adolphe Menjou) to direct the show. The parsimonious Mrs. Prentiss wants to spend the least amount possible, but Nicoleff and his set designer Schultz (Joseph Cawthorn) want to be as extravagant as they can, so they can rake off more money for themselves, and for the hotel manager (Louis Lamson) and the hotel stenographer (Glenda Farrell), who's blackmailing the hapless snuffbox fancier Thorpe.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I make no apologies for saying that Busby Berkeley's incredible sequence to "The Lullaby of Broadway" is one of the most beautiful, chilling, and exuberant moments in the history of American cinema. Not only is the number amazing from a visual standpoint, but is a fantastic illustration of urban isolationism, and attitudes of "The Great Depression." Dreamlike and hypnotic, the song easily seduces the moviegoer as its short character study takes flight, then leaves its viewers in a bizare state of discomfort as its story takes an abrupt and disturbing turn. I know it's cliched, but they really don't make 'em quite like this anymore!
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
The first hour or so of this film sets up the plot. Dick Powell is hired by wealthy but cheap Alice Brady to chaperone... It seems like everyone is out to make or save a buck in this film, often with comedic results. But this film isn't famous for the plot. It's the musical numbers that make up the last third of the film that you will remember. There's one involving a huge number of showgirls playing pianos that revolve and move around the stage exactly like you would expect in a Busby Berkelely musical. The second number is for the famous song "Lullaby of Broadway", which Berkeley presents with great drama, pushing back all the boundaries. As a rule, I don't much like musicals, but the sheer visual imagination of these numbers kept my attention. There's nothing else like them. As for the actors, they do what they did so well in so many of the Warner Brothers' musicals and comedies of the Thirties. Forget the ridiculous plot and concentrate on the spectacle and professionalism of all involved.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Okay, the story is a cliche from start to finish and the acting is "thirties" overkill. That's not what any movie buff is interested in. The only reason this film is remembered, and it's a doozy of a reason, is the 13-plus minutes of "Lullaby of Broadway". This "film-within-a-film", as it were, is a hypnotic, visually billiant, and shockingly original musical number like none that has ever appeared on the screen. Its story of the life and death of a New York goodtime gal is thrillingly, cleverly rendered and ultimately achieves the impact of both moving and haunting the viewer. The most awesome and eerie part of the spectacle is the synchronized dancing of dozens of chorines and chorus boys, to the manacing strains of "Lullaby...". The effect is a curious mix of excitement and dread, just right for what's coming ahead. The number never fails to achieve maximum impact, and it's so unusual that it is worth the price of admission and deserves its lofty status. Listen to the lullaby...again and again.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wow, What An Era
The studio system of the 1930's and 40's had much to recommend it.
Where are the likes of those wonderful character actors, such as Hugh Herbert, Glenda Farrell, Alice... Read more
Where are the likes of those wonderful character actors, such as Hugh Herbert, Glenda Farrell, Alice... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Hoosier Hayseed
Builds on the Previous Films with Even More Spectacular Musical...
Another wonderful Busby Berkley film. He becomes the de facto director on this film and integrates dance throughout the film. The dance numbers are even more spectacular. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Lynn Ellingwood
this is the one!
This is the one to own if you must own only one.
Of Busby Berkeley, that is.
It's a pleasant change of pace from the "putting on a show" plot that predominates "Dames,"... Read more
Of Busby Berkeley, that is.
It's a pleasant change of pace from the "putting on a show" plot that predominates "Dames,"... Read more
Published on May 8, 2010 by G. Bereschik
any idea what this would cost today
Paying a chorus line of 20 in current times strains a budget.
Taking a theme of rich people in the worst part of the depression,
this film glorifies marrying for... Read more
Taking a theme of rich people in the worst part of the depression,
this film glorifies marrying for... Read more
Published on August 3, 2009 by R. Bagula
now THIS is anything but "small and cheap" !!!
Gold Diggers Of 1935 provides more action mixed with stunning song and dance numbers than several average musicals combined! Read more
Published on February 26, 2009 by Matthew G. Sherwin
Fantastic Camera Work and Dancing
This one was made when the Golden Age of Movies existed. One of the major highlights of the movie comes at the finale. Read more
Published on November 20, 2008 by Terry L. Stuart
Number-crunching
After having directed the musical numbers for several of their films -- 42ND STREET, FOOTLIGHT PARADE, and GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933 ---, Warner Bros. Read more
Published on December 16, 2006 by Jay Dickson
Off and beyond the Gold Standard
Everything about this movie is 18 carat plus; and the Lullaby number is stupendous, stellar, astounding, astonishing, awesome, supersonic, ballistic, dazzling, stratospheric,... Read more
Published on September 28, 2006 by blockhed
seductive & decadent & fascist & fun
the first busby berkeley movie that actually bore the imprimatur "directed by busby berkeley", the film is none too interesting save for the big production numbers. Read more
Published on September 5, 2006 by Jonathan Lapin
Come on Along and Listen To...
Gold Diggers of 1935 does not live up to the sheer fun and brilliance of the 1933 title, but it is a good early musical to tap your feet to. Read more
Published on April 21, 2006 by Samantha Glasser
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