Gold Diggers of 1937 (1936)

Gold Diggers of 1937: Directed by Lloyd Bacon. With Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, Glenda Farrell, Victor Moore. When two investors inform an opportunistic dancer that they can’t fund an elderly stage producer’s production, she suggests they get an insurance policy on the producer’s life.

“A nostalgic look at the old-fashioned (and very corny) musicals of the u0026#39;30s produced by WB is the only reason for viewing this oldie with Dick Powell and Joan Blondell. Not even the veteran scene-stealer Victor Moore is able to salvage the silly plot nor the shenanigans of the scheming Glenda Farrell. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe weak excuse for a story is all about being able to put on a Broadway show–namely, getting the money to fund it. When the show finally does get staged, itu0026#39;s done in Busby Berkeley style with camera effects that couldnu0026#39;t possibly be duplicated in a real stage show–including trick special effects. But of course, all logic disappeared when watching musicals such as this in the u0026#39;30s and depression weary audiences probably couldnu0026#39;t have cared less.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOne of the crafty villains Morty Wethered (Osgood Perkins) is played by Anthony Perkinsu0026#39; father. And if you look real fast, you can spot Jane Wyman who has one line to speak as a chorus girl.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe tunes are nothing to shout about but u0026quot;Speaking of the Weatheru0026quot; is done in charming style with Powell and Blondell in a rainy day office scene and later reprised during the poolside sequence. u0026quot;Allu0026#39;s Fair In Love and Waru0026quot; is the big finale–but ultimately the viewer is left with the feeling that this has all been done before and with better results in previous u0026quot;Gold Diggeru0026quot; films. Most earnest emoting in the film is done by Dick Powell who breezed through his Warner musicals with confidence and charm.”