· Gold Diggers of 1933 · by Mervyn LeRoy @ Mary Riley Styles Library

Gold Diggers of 1933 gets its title from the rants of two aristocrats who consider all women in show business to be gold diggers; the pair travel to the New York theatre district to “save” a family member from his intention to marry one of them. There the snobs are taught a valuable lesson by the women they consider unworthy, so the sexism is fuel for comedy at the men’s expense. With regard to dance scenes, this movie features less of Busby Berkeley’s creativity than most in which he’s the choreographer, and too much time is devoted to the aristocrats’ shenanigans before the dancing begins in earnest. This generally humorous production, however, is particularly notable for its final scene: an elaborate series of marches and tableaus depicting the grim realities of World War I and the Great Depression.

■ Title — Gold Diggers of 1933
■ A.K.A. — High Life
■ Director — Mervyn LeRoy
■ Choreographer — Busby Berkeley
■ Cast — Warren William, Joan Blondell, Aline MacMahon
■ ©1933 ■ 1h 37m ■ Comedy, Drama, Musical ■ black & white

A Busby Berkeley musical encore will follow the feature: “42nd Street” from 42nd Street (1933).