GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933

                                                           JACK'S BACK and this time, it's personal

 DATE AND STATUS:                     Friday, August 31st, 2012 and I've lost it! 

I don't know if I've lost it because: I'm fifty-seven years young,  the Turner Classic Movie (TCM) channel switched it's lineup, or if I've had a slight cerebral disturbance, WHATEVER!, the movie timetable I've given you is once again, inaccurate!

Now it's not all that bad.  I did have this movie scheduled for review, tomorrow, but today I'm supposed to be writing about the film, "Romance on the High Sea's,"  which is kind of impossible as this movie will not be shown on TCM until Sunday, and I do not have a copy of it, yet.  However, if you do want to see Doris Day in the aforementioned romance movie, it is on TCM on Sunday, honestly.

I think it would be a better idea if I just give the titles of the movies that I'll be watching in the upcoming week, and not tell you the exact day that I'll be viewing it, that is apt to keep me from being wrong all the time. Yeah, we'll try doing it that way.

I have an announcement, of kinds.  For those of you who still like going out to the movie house/cinema to watch movies, and not watching films on television, like I'm forced to, Alfred Hitchcock's terrifying film of "The Birds" will be on the big screen for one day only, September 19th, 2012!

I wish I could go, alas, it is much too difficult for me to get around, and I am at our summer home, which also happens to be on an island, so attending the screening of "The Birds", is a no go for me, but you can go, and I'm sure that if you do, it will be a worthwhile experience! 

Right now, however, because I'm in such alot of pain, and also because I can't be sure how long I'll be able to work at this computer, I better get on with  "Gold Diggers of 1933," a truly magical movie!

This is actually the second talkie version of Avery Hopwood's play, " The Gold Diggers." "The Golddiggers of Broadway," was first made in 1929, and our version, directed by Mervyn LeRoy. was made in 1933, hence the title of the movie.

The very basic plot of our story is that four aspiring actresses, which include, Polly, the ingenue, (Ruby Keeler) Carol, a torch singer, (Joan Blondell,) Trixie, the comedienne, (Aline MacMahon) and Fay, the glamour puss, (Ginger Rogers,!) fight to keep their show going, and in so doing, find very rich husbands, which makes the actresses,  the gold diggers!  

Too simple, for you, sorry, but that is exactly our movie.  There is nothing complicated about "Gold Diggers of 1933," and we, the audience, benefit from that.  There are no surprises generated so nothing will shock you.  There is, however, the most amazing musical numbers staged from the genius of Busby Berkeley, and some very snappy dialogue, which even the most talented of screenwriters would envy.  A happy ending is de rigeur in this genre of film, and we get what we expect. 

A great honour for our film is that in 2003, "Gold Diggers of 1933" was selected for preservation in the United States Film Registry (USFR) by the Library of Congress.  How about that archivists of the world?, (Are you paying attention,Evelyn?) pretty darn impressive for even we, who aren't in the record-keeping business, hehe.

This doesn't mean that there are no flaws in the film. 

Costumes worn in the opening number of the film, are scantily-clad, and one questions, where is the propriety?, perhaps, one concludes, that the very happy and bouncy song of   "We're in the money" is a little too bouncy.  (Also, it took me awhile to decipher, but eventually I was able to identify that Ginger was singing one verse in Pig Latin, why?)  

Another failing of the film, and this I have to say is the oddest aspect of "Gold Diggers of 1933"  is the fact that the mood of the songs is wildly at variance with the plot. 

As mentioned above, the film begins with a show that is in rehearsal, three of our four aspiring actresses, and dozens of chorus girls, led by Ginger Rogers, happily chirp "We're In the Money."

Conversely, at the end of the film, when everyone is "in the money" the actors sing "Brother, can you spare a dime?"    Didn't quite get that!  But, I did get, that films like "Gold Diggers of 1933" are too sadly, not being made anymore.

                                             WEEKLY UPCOMING MOVIES TO BE REVIEWED:

"Rachel Getting Married." Anne Hathaway managed to get a Best Actress Oscar nomination for this movie, but I'm really anxious to see Debra Winger in it. Miss Winger plays Ms. Hathaway's mother. I'm glad I have pay television so I can see the film for free, well, sort of.


: "Strangers on a Train." I don't know if I want to see this movie because I enjoy mysteries of if it's because I like train travel, regardless, I'll be travelling on TCM, first class of course.

"Elmer Gantry" Both Burt Lancaster and Shirley Jones received academy award nominations for their work here. I want to see if they deserved them, you know how the Academy can be.

"Romance on the High Seas"  This is Doris Day's first movie, which, I have to confess, I'm kinda curious as to how she'll make out, regardless of Ms. Day, I always enjoy romance, whether it's on the high sea or the low sea.  And yes, I'll be watching it on TCM where I enjoy many, many great movies.

"Adam Had Four Sons." This movie stars Ingrid Bergman and Susan Hayward, two of my favourites, and that is reason enough for me to watch this movie. But I bet I end up liking this movie for all sorts of reasons, and not just because of Miss Bergman and Miss Hayward.

"Blow Dry." For no other reason that when I saw the title of this movie in the television guide, it intrigued me.

"The Band Wagon."  This film showcases the talents of Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse, and they both have been described as being brilliant in this movie, after I watch it on TCM, I'll decide.

FILMS COMING SOON:  Exodus, The Sand Pebbles, An American in Paris, The Jack E. Taylor story.