Chorus girls Carol (Joan Blondell), Pollu (Ruby Keeler) and Trixie (Aline McMahon) all room together but can't find a job. Because of the Depression nobody can afford to put on a musical. However piano player Brad (Dick Powell) can help someone put on a musical and that leads to a big hit show. There's more to the plot than that but who really cares? This movie was done to show some incredibly elaborate Busby Berkley numbers and it DOES give you that!
Right from the slam-bang opening of Ginger Rogers singing "We're in the Money" (with one entire verse in Pig Latin!) this movie never stops. It moves VERY quickly, there's tons of overlapping dialogue and there are plenty of wisecracks and risqué jokes (mostly from McMahon). This is also an odd musical that uses the Depression as a main plot focus--back in 1933 people went to see musicals to FORGET about the Depression! The elaborate Berkley musical numbers are incredible to watch--especially "Pettin in the Park" and the one with all the chorus girls having glow in the dark violins! Also it ends on a downbeat note with the depressing "Remember My Forgotten Man" number. Still this isn't TOO depressing---just very interesting. Easily one of the best musical from the 1930s. Highly recommended.
Right from the slam-bang opening of Ginger Rogers singing "We're in the Money" (with one entire verse in Pig Latin!) this movie never stops. It moves VERY quickly, there's tons of overlapping dialogue and there are plenty of wisecracks and risqué jokes (mostly from McMahon). This is also an odd musical that uses the Depression as a main plot focus--back in 1933 people went to see musicals to FORGET about the Depression! The elaborate Berkley musical numbers are incredible to watch--especially "Pettin in the Park" and the one with all the chorus girls having glow in the dark violins! Also it ends on a downbeat note with the depressing "Remember My Forgotten Man" number. Still this isn't TOO depressing---just very interesting. Easily one of the best musical from the 1930s. Highly recommended.