365 Days: #7 42nd Street (1933)

Here's a movie I enjoy watching from time to time, with an all star cast, great music, and Busby Berkeley dance numbers. This film introduced me to Dick Powell, which made my later discovery of him in film noir all the more delightful. 

#7  42nd Street

Julian Marsh is the greatest musical comedy director of his time with a reputation for driving his performers to exhaustion in order to elicit top notch performances in his Broadway shows. He has signed a contract to do one last show in a desperate attempt to make enough money to recover from the Wall Street crash and retire, despite warnings from his doctor that he is headed for another nervous breakdown, and that too much excitement could prove fatal. He assembles a talented cast, but when his headlining diva gives the air to the show's investor, and then gets sidelined with a broken ankle, he reluctantly takes a chance on a rookie chorus girl to save the production.

"Oh, honey. I've been for you ever since the day you walked in on me in my BVDs."

This is a fun and entertaining film that does not ignore the tribulations of the Depression, with Bebe Daniels playing a Broadway star who has to hide her relationship with her former vaudeville partner, played by George Brent, to put up with the advances of the investor in order to secure a job that's scarce during the times. It's an uplifting movie to watch during troubled times. I still don't really understand the appeal of Ruby Keeler, but she certainly does carry off the part of the ingénue. 

Casting call

Enjoying the legs.

George Brent and Bebe Daniels

"Besides, darling, I've been getting myself some education
 and I've discovered they have a name for a man who doesn't work
 and who accepts money from a woman.
It isn't a very nice name, Dot."

Rehearsal

Gandhi makes a cameo appearance.

Ned Sparks mans the bar.

Ruby Keeler 

This picture led to my collecting more Busby Berkeley choreographed films, as well as more movies with Dick Powell. The dance numbers are pretty fantastic to see.

Una Merkel and Ginger Rogers are impressive the way they continue to sing so well with fruit in their mouths. I enjoy both these actresses, though if Ginger Rogers had been given more air time, she would have stolen the show. 

365 Days: #4 Stranded (1935)

I am following up yesterday's flick with another appearance by Kay Francis, who is accompanied by George Brent. While both actors drew me to the film, what interested me most was seeing the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, which is an integral part of the story. 

#4 Stranded

Lynn Palmer works for Traveler's Aid and helps people, while Mack Hale is a construction manager for the Golden Gate Bridge. They fall in love and plan to marry, but when Mack insists that she quit her job, it's a dealbreaker, and the marriage is off. Meanwhile, Mack is being threatened by a racketeer, aptly named Sharkey, who demands that he pay $5000 a month in protection money, but when he refuses, Sharkey hires men to infiltrate the crew and sabotage work on the bridge, with disastrous results. Lessons are learned in the process.

"Don't be humble. You'll break my heart if you're ever humble. Never lose your arrogance. That's the you I love."

I found this movie quite interesting as it has a lot going on and is not just the simple, straightforward fluffy romance I was expecting. There is some underlying social commentary in seeing all the different people Lynn helps, from the lone waif on a train (hard to imagine a time when parents put their toddlers on a train alone with a note pinned to them); to the unwed mother; the tittering immigrant brides; and the proud, old man who shoots and kills himself rather than accepting charity. When Mack gives her an ultimatum, Lynn asserts herself by refusing to give up her job that is more of a calling than a job, without a second thought. Then there's the racketeer who Mack refuses to bow down to, actively fighting him off, set against the backdrop of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, which opened two years after this film was made. The scenes of its construction were a treat to see.