Busby Berkeley Collections

[myrnaloyisdope]

Of the films in the new boxset I've only seen Gold Diggers of 1937, which isn't particularly good, though the final musical number "All's Fair in Love and War" is a definite highlight. The annoying thing is that that number is including on the best of disc in volume 1.

I'm curious to see the other films in the set, but probably not enough to actually buy the set. I adore Busby Berkeley, but it's a shame that the boxset doesn't include Wonder Bar (which is phenomenal), Fashions of 1934 (which is ok, but has Bette Davis and William Powell), or In Caliente (which I haven't seen but have heard is quite good, and number included in volume 1 is quite entertaining).

I'm not sure what factors affected the selection, though I'm pretty sure Wonder Bar was overlooked due to the "Goin' To Heaven on a Mule" number.

And dammit where's Night World? It's Universal I know, but I want it on DVD.

[Michael]

Finally made through Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. Whoa, what to say? I found it very fascinating to notice the differences between the pre-codes and the codes. 42nd Street and Gold Diggers of 1933, both pre-code, are unquestionably my faves of both sets. I really loved the flirty, naughty, free-fun-feeling nature of those two films complete with the explosion of feminine beauty that all unfortunately dimmed down in the coded films. Aline MacMahone was really a sight to behold in Gold Diggers. Impossible to take my eyes off her and she made me forget I was watching a movie. Joan Blondell was a knock out too.

[HerrSchreck]

The Lullaby of Broadway sequence is one of the high points of the entire frigging human race!

[Michael]

I agree with you both about the 14-minute sequence (available in two parts on youtube) but what about the rest of Gold Diggers of 1935? I thought it was very average, lacking the electrifying sparks and humor of 42nd Street and Gold Diggers of 1933.

[Michael]

I haven't seen Gang's All Here yet. But I'm planning to pick up the disc in a day or two. The only BB musicals I've seen are those two volumes and For Me and My Gal. The latter with Judy and Gene, although very different from BB's 30s musicals, is still amazing. Someone from this forum recommended me to watch My Gal and Summer Stock, back to back and I followed his advise. Doing that really makes both films even more poignant and moving. My Gal was Gene's first film and Judy mentored him and in Summer Stock, with Judy going through personal shit, suffering from illnesses, Gene helped her to get through the production. You will never see a more compassionate and sensitive side of Gene in Summer Stock.

[HerrSchreck]

I agree with you both about the 14-minute sequence (available in two parts on youtube) but what about the rest of Gold Diggers of 1935? I thought it was very average, lacking the electrifying sparks and humor of 42nd Street and Gold Diggers of 1933.

Well, sure. The movies themselves are more or less programmers (some of the earlier ones lot of fun Depression Era Uplifters, though). And this is why the set is the Busby Berkeley Collection and not the Lloyd Bacon, Mervyn LeRoy, Ray Enright collection.

There's just so much in Lullaby... the tune itself, the beautiful poetry of it's lyrics, it's wonderful nostalgia for both the high and the low, and the sympathy and lack of judgement the lyrics have for the lifestyle of Winnie's character. I think it's wonderful that her character lives in a slum tenement and not a typical Riverside or Park Ave French - style flat, as is usually seen in glamorpics of the era.

Her delivery, his mise en scene, especially viz the opening shot, gets to something that I worship worship worship in art: the sublime levels of eternal power achieved in the piece border on what I'd call almost "heroic" (having nothing to do with anybody's behavior being heroic or somesuch). There's a level of majesty about the thing, it's right there in Winni's face, her confidence w the cigaret, the whole thing is just so utterly confident and masterful, the power it contains... it's like Berkeley and his songwriters, his performers, etc, they all come together onscreen and for that strip of time captured forever become Heroes of the Universe.

It's a very childlike impression I'm relating, but that's what great art should do to you-- awe you to the fullest and cause you to bow. And fill you with great enthusiasms. And that's what Lullaby does to me. One of mankind's finest moments on earth furchrissakes!

[myrnaloyisdope]

It's impossible to be too effusive about the merits of Lullaby...it's quite likely my favorite piece of film ever, even edging out the first hour of The Best Years of Our Lives. It's a breathtaking sequence that despite numerous viewings still kicks my ass every time. It's only been about a year since I've had the boxset, yet I've watched that sequence probably 20 times, and each time Winni takes the dive, I'm in tears of sorrow over Winni's death and astonishment that something so marvelous could possibly exist. A brilliant sequence.

[HerrSchreck]

I could go on and on. Beyond the visual brilliance (which get's almost Metropolis-like in its grand extravegance) and the dance numbers & geometry are the lyrics themselves (and the way they're orchestrated). An invitation--

"Come on along and listen to,
the Lullaby of Broadway:"

-- not only to hear the sounds of broadway, but to hear them not as jangling, annoying noises of a jagged city cacophany, but as a song. Not just a melody, even, but a Lullaby. Total sympathy with the rhythms of urban life.

"The hip hooray and ballyhoo
(..)
the rumble of the subway trains
the rattle of the taxis.."

spoken from the standpoint of affection for and with the lingo of the snide street character. All the cheapness taken for granted or as grating, are exalted. For now, then, for anytime, this is just crystaline perfection for a city tribute. Milkmen, Broadway babies, taxis, subways, Maxies, "daffy-dills", etc.

Heaven.

[manicsounds]

Anybody having playback problems with "Gold Diggers of 1935"?
My disc is super clean, no scuffs or anything, but extras get stalled, film plays fine halfway, and one one machine, the disc doesn't load at all.

[EddieLarkin]

I watched my disc a few weeks ago, and the film played fine. Can't comment on the extras.

[domino harvey]

Anybody having playback problems with "Gold Diggers of 1935"?
My disc is super clean, no scuffs or anything, but extras get stalled, film plays fine halfway, and one one machine, the disc doesn't load at all.

My Golddiggers of 1933 disc does the same. It's getting to be a common Warner Bros problem