Gold Diggers of 1933 (Warner Bros.) (1933)

—_—— = Novelty Twist Given “Gold Diggers’’ Song One of the novelty song numbers in the Warner Bros. special musical and dramatic production, ‘‘Gold Diggers of 1933,’’ which opens at the Theatre on was the idea of Ginger Rogers, one of the members of the all star cast. She had hummed the tune of ‘“‘We’re in the Money’’ so many times she sang the words in Pig Latin to vary the monotony. Director Mervyn LeRoy heard her, and was struck by the novelty of the queer play of words. He ordered Ginger to sing in pig Latin when the shot was taken. So Ginger’s own version of the song is in the picture. Gold Diggers Thumbs Down on Using Pants The Hollywood actresses’ craze for men’s pants didn’t get anywhere on the Warner Bros. lot. Aline MacMahon, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler and Ginger Rogers, members of the all star cast of ‘‘Gold Diggers of 1933,’’? which comes to the.................... Theatre on! ..0.0s..422.<--: , as well as the 200 pretty chorus girls in the picture, all put thumbs down on pants. While not working in costume on the stages, they all decided to wear slacks, and girls in slacks were seen everywhere on the lot, but pants were noticeably absent except on the male members of the cast, which includes Warren William, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee and Ned Sparks. ‘*Gold Diggers’? is a mammoth musical and dramatic spectacle based on a play by Avery Hopwood and directed by Mervyn LeRoy, with Busby Berkeley doing the dance numbers. ‘Gold Diggers”? Chorus Girls, Learn Quickly In the training of a giant chorus, girls learn to work together in their numbers far more quickly than men, according to Busby Berkeley, who trained the choruses for the Warner Bros. picture, “Gold Diggers of 1933,” now at the Theatre. In fact, he says, it is pos sible to teach intricate and difficult dance numbers to a group of one hundred girls in less than five days: while it was found difficult, during the war, to teach a simple marching step to a platoon of the like number of men in less than five weeks. Joan Blondell’s Father Going Back on Stage Joan Blondell, one of the members of the all star cast of Warner Bros. “Gold Diggers of 1933,” now at the Theatre, has at last consented to let her father, the Blondell, go to work again. The famous head of the Blondell family went into retirement from the stage shortly after Daughter Joan became a movie star. Recently, he has been giving his act with Joan’s younger sister in Joan’s place for benefits and charity bazaars around Los Angeles. Joan, finding that her efforts to make him happy by letting him retire, is going to make him happier by letting him get back into acting harness again. Blondell Saved Time by Riding Bicycle to Cafe Joan Blondell was kept so busy on the production of Warner Bros.’ “Gold Diggers of 1933,” now at the Theatre, that she found little time to eat. To expedite matters she brought her bicycle to the studios and used it to make trips to and from the stages to the cafe and her dressing room. Chorines Label Selves “‘Berkeley’s Buddies” Berkeley ’s Buddies. That’s what seventy-five girls used by Busby Berkeley in one of his dance ‘Gold Diggers of 1933,’’ which opens at ensembles for Warner Bros. Theatre on labeled themselves. All of them, as well as the fifty boys in the dance numbers, bought themselves an outfit consisting of white duck pants, white sweat shirts, and white shoes. And on the back of the sweat shirts they stencilled their slogan. Berkeley’s Buddies. The outfits are replicas of that worn by Berkeley when he is training his gigantic choruses for such pictures as ‘‘Forty-Second Street’’ and ‘‘Gold Diggers of 1933.’ Gorgeous Girls Feature “Gold Diggers of 1933” More beauty is said to be found in Warner Bros.’ “Gold Diggers of 1933,” which comes to the ; MHOAtLe OW 5.2.0.5 base , than any other production on the screen. Besides the four feminine members of the all star cast, Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Aline MacMahon and Ginger Rogers, there is a chorus of 200 specially picked beauties. They were selected by Busby Berkeley, noted dance director, from 10,000 applicants for their pulchritude and personality. “Gold Diggers” is a mammoth musical and dramatic picture produced by Warner Bros. from the play by Avery Hopwood. The male members of the all star cast are Warren William, Dick Powell, Guy Kibbee, Ned Sparks and Robert Agnew. Mervyn LeRoy directed. 54 Illuminated Violins Make Amazing Display One of the unique scenes in the Warner Bros. picture, “Gold Diggers of 1933,’ which opens at the Theatre on the song and dance number with 54 illuminated violins. Girls of the chorus play on these instruments in a gigantic ensemble, the lights being arranged to take the shape of the fiddle and bow, so that the musie can be heard and the instruments seen playing the air after the figures of the players are blacked out, giving a startling effect. “Gold Diggers’ is a mammoth musical and dramatic spectacle based on Avery Hopwood’s play and directed by Mervyn LeRoy. There is a noted all star cast which includes Warren William, Joan Blondell, Aline MacMahon, Ruby Keeler, Guy Kibbee Dick Powell, Ned Sparks and Ginger Rogers. Ruby Keeler Shows New Artistry in New Film Ruby Keeler, one of the big hits of the picture, “42nd Street,” and a member of the all stdr cast ‘ot Warner Bros.’ “Gold Diggers of 1933,” which comes to the Theatre ons -..ve-..6..s-04 , is still as modest as a violet as far as her personal attainments are concerned. But she has gathered confidence in her work in this, her second picture. The wife of Al Jolson, she had never before tried to play in pictures until cast for “42nd Street,” although she was well known as a musical comedy star. While excellent in her first picture she shows a deft touch that comes with experience and confidence in her second one, which is a gigantic musical and dramatic spec »tacle said to far surpass its predeces sor. CURRENT Ruby Wears Platinum Wig in ‘“‘Gold Diggers” Ruby Keeler, whose hair is brown, wears a platinum blonde wig in the Warner Bros. picture, “Gold Diggers of 1933,” which opens at the ............ Theatre on And with a pure white costume she is said to be ravishing. This is Miss Keeler’s second picture, the first being “42nd Street,” which brought forth the comment from Odd McIntyre, the famous columnist, that she was the most attractive newcomer in pictures. Miss Keeler, who is Al Jolson’s wife, has long been known on the musical comedy stage as a sensational tap dancer. 4 Former Chorus Girls Star in “Gold Diggers” The four feminine stars of Warner Bros. gigantic musical and dramatic production, “Gold Diggers of 1933,” which opens at the Theatre on cence ue anes » were all at one time chorus girls on the stage. This is of special note as they play the roles of chorus girls in the pic ture. he actresses are Joan Blondell and Aline MacMahon both of whom served their apprenticeship in dramatic productions on the stage, and Ginger Rogers and Ruby Keeler’ who worked their way up from the chorus in musical comedy to stellar roles. The male members of the all star cast include Warren William, Guy Kibbee, Dick Powell and Ned Sparks. Mervyn LeRoy directed the production with Busby Berkeley staging the stupendous chorus of 200 girs. : . Stars Enjoyed Tea on “Gold Diggers’’ Set Tea took the place of cocktails on the set of the Warner Bros. picture, ‘‘Gold Diggers of 1933,’’ during its production. Ruby Keeler, Ginger Rogers, Joan Blondell and Aline MacMahon. took a cup of the beverage every afternoon at four o’clock regularly during the making of the picture. The old English custom was ascribed to the influence of George Arliss who was working on ‘‘Voltaire’’? at the studio at the same time. ‘‘Gold Diggers,’’? a mammoth musical and dramatic spectacle with an all star cast, is now showing at the Theatre. ‘Gold Diggers’”’ Halted Star’s Polo Practice Warren William, who heads the all star cast of the Warner Bros.’ picture, “Gold Diggers of 1933,” now showing at the Theatre, was busy throughout the production trying to connive a way to get time off to practice polo. He recently took up the game and feared he would become rusty if he did not keep up his practice daily. Mervyn LeRoy, the director, proved to be the best conniver, however, for William got but three chances to try his skill during production. Ginger Rogers’ Red Hair Takes on Platinum Hue Ginger Rogers, who has won widespread screen fame as a red head, wears a platinum blonde wig in one sequence of “Gold Diggers of 1933,” the Warner Bros. all star production now at the Theatre. The sequence is a cabaret scene, in which Ginger, with her white wig and a very transparent costume of black chiffon and jet beads, sings a torch song with the orchestra. And a very dashing Ginger she is, but so different from her usual well known Titian beauty that many of her closest associates passed her by on the set without recognizing her. Chicago White Sox Team Saw ‘‘Gold Diggers’? Made Joan Blondell and Ruby Keeler entertained the members of the Chicago White Sox on the set of the Warner Bros. picture “Gold Diggers Of, 193357 MOW., ab. ChE A.......3.-,..0.-000054>Theatre one afternoon during the production. Wives of the players who were there were mighty glad they had gone along after they had looked over the chorus of 200 “Gold Diggers” beauties who take part in the film’s dance ensembles. Mervyn LeRoy Springs One On Ginger Rogers Ginger Rogers, member of the all star cast of the Warner Bros. picture, “Gold Diggers of 1933,” now at the Theatre, complained to Director Mervyn LeRoy that since the earthquake, which happened during the production of the picture, that she couldn’t keep any food on her stomach. “What did you expect?” said the unsympathetic LeRoy. “You can’t eat your quakes and have them.” Ned Sparks Gets Chance To Relax Frozen Face Ned Sparks, member of the all star cast of Warner Bros.’ “Gold Diggers of 1933,” now at the makes it an event every time he relaxes his frozen pan into a smile. He has three opportunities to do this in “Gold Diggers,” making two more than the average movie part allows him. Dick Powell Picked-up Roller Skating Stunts Dick Powell says he feels like a boy again. Reason is he had to do roller skating stunts for the Warner Bros. picture, “Gold Diggers of 1933,” now at the Theatre. Dick kept in practice by skating to and from lunch on the cement walks on the Warner Bros. lot. ‘Gold Diggers’ ’”’ Beauties Win Chance In Pictures Several of the chorus girls who had bit parts in “42nd Street,” also appear in the Warner Bros. mammoth musical and dramatic spectacle, “Gold Diggers of 1933,” now showing at the Theatre. Their work in the former picture was so outstanding they were given contracts and more important roles in “Gold Diggers.” The studio is now grooming them for stellar parts. “Gold Diggers” Chorus Strong On Personality Busby Berkeley, who selected 200 beauties from 10,000 applicants for his choruses in the Warner Bros. picture, “Gold Diggers of 1933,” now at the Theatre, picks all sizes, shapes and complexions. He has but one major standard, personality. He allows five years leeway for age, all his girls being between sixteen and twenty-one. 2 Stars Wear Same Gown and Neither Got Angry Imagine Joan Blondell and Ginger Rogers wearing the same gown in the same picture. It actually happens in “Gold Diggers of 1933,” Warner Bros.’ musical and dramatic spectacle which opens at the Theatre on It’s a nice gown, too,—one of the studio designer’s finest—and is extremely becoming to both young ladies. That Joan and Ginger are still on speaking terms is due entirely to the fact that a particular bit of action in the story revolves around their exchange of dresses in a certain scene, The Harder He Works The More He Smokes The harder Mervyn LeRoy works the more cigars he smokes. On an, ordinary picture he will use ten to fifteen in a day. While directing the Warner Bros. picture, “Gold Diggers of 1933,” which comes to the .......... lee MhHeatre. Ono t Sacw sa tees -5 NO used an average of twenty-five. Not that he smokes them up. He takes a few puffs, forgets to draw through them and then chews them up. “Gold Diggers” is a mammoth musical and dramatic spectacle with an all star east headed by Warren William and Joan Blondell. Dick Powell Plays Many Musical Instruments Dick Powell, member of the all star cast of the Warner Bros. musieal and dramatic spectacle, “Gold Diggers of 1933,” which comes to {He eee) ec MheatrecOn hie. é; Pas oF , amused himself during the production by trying out every instrument in the orchestra. He is an expert on the saxophone, trumpet, clarinet, banjo, violin and piano. He can play other instruments passably well. William Acts Better With Walking Stick Warren William always feels easier in his picture roles if he can earry a walking stick. His part in the Warner Bros. picture, “Gold Diggers of 1933,” which comes to the Theatre on Seer , is quite to his taste. He portrays the character of a very dignified gentleman of an aristocratic family from Boston’s Back Bay. And such a gentleman would just as soon appear in public in his night gown | as without stick, top hat and spats. Dance Director Found Faces To Stir Millions The poet Kit Marlowe referred to the beauty of Helen of Troy as “the face that launched a_ thousand ships.” But dance director Busby Berkeley, in his current hunt throuhout the country for beauties to play in the Warner Bros. production, “Gold Diggers of 1933,” now ab thet ws. eerie ke Theatre, went him several better. Busby, in his search for 200 chorus girls, laid down the standard that their faces must be able to palpitate millions of hearts. And he elaims he found them for this picture. Making Screen Musicals Requires Much Ingenuity The most serious difficulty the talkies have hurdled has been the marriage of music with the photographed story of the motion picture. Director Mervyn LeRoy faced that problem with his current productior for Warner Bros “Gold Diggers of 1088" now At the s.30.:-.coeeeee Theatre. To place not alone music, but songs and dances logically into a picture calls for some ingenuity. It calls for a story too, of course — and that “Gold Diggers” has, the story of Avery Hopwood’s famous play. The songs and dances were another matter. They had to become part of the picture. LeRoy solved the difficulty when he decided to put the entire theatrical productions which the play only hinted at, on the screen. A giant musical comedy within a screen drama—that’s what “Gold Diggers” has become. All Shorts in this section can be adapted to Advance or Current use with slight revision. Page Seventeen