Even when Busby Berkeley was billed as only the choreographer, the “ownership” of the film went to him and not the director. His visual influence overwhelms the non-dance moments in a film. The normal director kills time between Berkeley’s musical moments. How could studio directors compete with a genius who knew how to fill the screen with form, figures and motion? Everyone keeps claiming they invented MTV, but Berkeley nailed the music video before the birth of cable television. He championed visually arresting images and kinetic editing. The four films featured in this collection dazzle with showbiz stories and unforgettable musical moments.
Gold Diggers of 1937 (1936 – 101 minutes) is an extremely dark show-biz comedy. Theater producer J.J. Hobart (Victor Moore) doesn’t realize his two partners have lost all his cash in a stock gamble. The partners decide to save the organization by taking out a million dollar insurance policy on Hobart. They just need him to drop dead so they can collect. They enlist greedy chorus girls to help put Hobart’s heart to the test. Will being pushed by the young ladies make Hobart exhausted or revitalized? Dick Powell is the insurance agent who sings about how “”When you’re in the grave, you’re relatives will be in gravy.” He eventually becomes part of the show. The big song from this film is “Plenty of Money and You.”
Hollywood Hotel (1937 – 109 minutes) puts Berkeley in the director’s chair for the whole film and not a few sequences. His touch is felt in the opening sequence with Benny Goodman and his orchestra standing up in speeding convertible cars. They are belting out “Hooray for Hollywood.” This isn’t conventional film-making. Dick Powell is a Goodman sax player that’s flying out to Los Angeles to work in the movies. The plot involves Powell not realizing that he’s trapped between a diva actress (Lola Lane) and her nearly identical replacement (Rosemary Lane). He gets burned by a studio deal gone bad. He’s reduced to working at a drive-in diner. Can his stardom dreams rebound? This showbiz story is ultimately a time killer between Berkeley’s amazing musical numbers. You’ll be banging your chairs to Benny Goodman’s Orchestra when Gene Krupa pounds out “Sing, Sing, Sing.” Lionel Hampton works magic on the vibraphone. Hugh Herbert gets a major role as comic relief. Who is Hugh? You’ll recognize him from his “cameos” in Looney Tunes cartoons. His black face moment during a Civil War film goes far in mocking the practice. Even thought Berkeley directed the film, the focus is more on the musicians than dancing. He brings orchestras alive with moving cameras and vibrant editing. He was a filmmaker and not merely a choreographer working for the film studios.
Varsity Show (1937 – 80 minutes) is a collegiate take on the “Let’s Put on a Show” genre. The kids at Winfield College enlist Dick Powell, an honored alumni, to help them with their big comedy-musical variety show. They don’t know that Powell’s been on a cold streak on Broadway. Being around youth invigorates the showman. However he runs into opposition from the tenured professors. The academics wants a refined and boring show. The kids are behind Powell’s vision for their performance, but Powell fears the kids will all get flunked out if they rebel in support. He splits the campus, but does that stop the show? Sterling Holloway (the voice of Winnie the Pooh) is the world’s oldest undergraduate. The guy was 32 when this came out. Ted Healy plays Powell’s stooge which is ironic since he got famous for having the Three Stooges as his sidekicks. Berkeley directed the final musical number that includes “Have You Got Any Castles.” The show goes completely out of control with the police and the army sent into the theater. They probably spent as much production time on the final reel as the rest of the movie. The dance team of Buck and Bubbles shame most of the college kids hoofing.
Gold Diggers in Paris (1938 – 97 minutes) is the final installment in the Gold Digger saga. A French representative for a ballet festival gets twisted around and end up inviting a nightclub dance revue at Club Ballé to compete in Paris. The Gold Diggers do their best to fake being the Academy Ballet of America. They really need to collect the appearance fee to pay all their debts. Can the subterfuge last until it’s time for their big performance? Do you really expect the film to end without a musical finale? The Schnickelfritz band are extremely creative in how to play their instruments. Rudy Vallee takes over the Dick Powell role. He lacks Dick’s innocent charm, but compensates with his voice.
The Busby Berkeley Collection, Volume 2 maintains the glamour of old Hollywood with the memorable songs and lush dance numbers. The films are packed with top character actors on the Warner lot. For fans of old Hollywood productions, these light entertainments will dazzle. The Gold Diggers were a talented cast of women and not merely weaseling for cash. They knew that someday their knees and looks will wear out so they better latch onto that fat cat. You can’t hate them for their approach to romance. These four films aren’t considered the cream of Berkeley’s output. However they demonstrate that even in small doses with slight material, Berkley could elevate a forgettable farce into a dazzling affair.
The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The black and white transfers are lovingly restored. There’s no major ugly moments on the image. The audio is Dolby Digital mono. The sound is clear for it’s age. The subtitles are in English and French.
The Romance of Louisiana (18:20) is a Technicolor tale of how we bought all that land west of the Mississippi River. It starts as a radio play, but becomes a costumed drama. The Napoleon actor has the hair, but his accent is extremely un-French.
Plenty of Money and You (7:15) is a Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Friz Freleng. A chicken hatches an ostrich. A weasel sings an alternate version of “Plenty of Money and You” as he prepares to cook the ostrich for dinner.
Speaking of the Weather (7:24) is a Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Frank Tashlin. The magazines come to life in a drugstore. They cover models end up singing “Plenty of Money and You.”
Two excerpts from 1929’s Gold Diggers of Broadway (15:45) has the performance of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.” Here how it song before Tiny Tim mangled it. The visual element of the finale ends early, but they have the last minute of the performance. You won’t want to hear “Tiptoe” before bed cause you won’t get the song out of your head.
Gold Diggers of 1937 Trailer (3:54) gives the history of the Gold Diggers films. It promises that this will be the greatest Gold Digger film yet.
The Romance of Robert Burns (15:46) is a Technicolor depiction of the famous Scot poet. It gives us the story behind the words to “Auld Lang Syne.” Owen King, who plays Burns, looks like Alan Cumming.
Double Talk (10:36) is an Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy comedy. Edgar runs an orphanage. He’s trying to unload Charlie on a woman. But the rascal puppet screws up the adoption process.
Porky’s Five & 10 (7:09) is a Looney Tunes cartoon directed by Bob Clampett. Porky hits the ocean with a boat full of stuff to sell in a tropical 5 & Dime store. Fsh pirate his cargo. The fish sing “Hooray for Hollywood” as featured in Hollywood Hotel.
Hollywood Hotel Trailer (4:17) has an operator tell you what to expect in this film. They sell the glamor and romance of the town.
A Neckin’ Party (11:02) is an Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy short. The dummy is in a nightclub looking proper in a monocle, top hat and a tux with tails. Edgar talks him into visiting his cattle ranch to experience life in Mexico. Charlie goes for the senorita.
Have You Got Any Castles (7:25) is a Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Frank Tashlin. The books in a library come alive and perform the song featured in Varsity Show.
Varsity Show Trailer (2:39) promises plenty of romance and song with plenty of “college pep.”
The Candid Kid (20:48) is supposed to be a Josephine Huston vehicle, but is noted for an early performance by Phil Silvers (Sgt. Bilko). A camera club has a contest to see who can take the most outlandish candid photo. Phil has to be in a padded cell eating a hot tamale. He’s persistent.
Cinderella Meets a Fella (8:25) is a Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Tex Avery. It’s a play on Cinderella doing her best to meet Prince Charming. However the royalty is played by Egghead.
Love and Curses (8:24) is a Merrie Melodies cartoon directed by Ben Hardaway & Cal Dalton. We’re taken back to the Gay 1890s to see how a dastardly villain tried to break up a loving couple.
Gold Diggers in Paris Trailer (2:28) pushes the unique talents of the Schnickelfritz Band.
The Busby Berkeley Collection, Volume 2 is a perfect companion to Volume 1. It wraps up the surviving Gold Diggers titles. The inclusion of the cartoons that dealt with the songs and stars of these films allows a viewer to fully appreciate what the gang at Termite Terrace were animating.
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Warner Home Video presents The Busby Berkeley Collection, Volume 2. Starring: Dick Powell, Rosemary Lane, Ted Healy. Boxset Contents 4 Movies on 4 discs. Rating: Not Rated. Released on DVD: Sept. 16, 2008. Available at Amazon.
