Gold Diggers of 1937
Encyclopedia
Gold Diggers of 1937 is a 1936 Warner Bros.
movie musical
directed by Lloyd Bacon
with musical numbers created and directed by Busby Berkeley
, and starring Dick Powell
and Joan Blondell
, who were married at the time, and Victor Moore
. The film features songs by the teams of Harold Arlen
and E.Y. Harburg and Harry Warren
and Al Dubin
, and was based on the play Sweet Mystery of Life by Richard Maibaum
, Michael Wallach and George Haight, which ran very briefly on Broadway
in 1935. Warren Duff wrote the screenplay, apparently with the assistance of Tom Warren
, who's billed as "Screenplay constructor".
Gold Diggers of 1937 was the fourth in Warner Bros.' series of "Gold Digger" films, following Gold Diggers of Broadway (1929), which is now lost, Gold Diggers of 1933
, which was a remake of the earlier film, and the first to feature Busby Berkeley's extravagant production numbers, and Gold Diggers of 1935
. It was followed by Gold Diggers in Paris
(1938).
), who always thinks he is about to die, is going to mount a new show, but his partners Morty Wethered (Osgood Perkins
) and Tom Hugo (Charles D. Brown) lost the money for the show in the stock market. On the advice of chorus girl Genevieve Larkin (Glenda Farrell
), they insure J.J. for a million dollars, so that when he dies, they will have the money they need to produce the show. Genevieve's friend, ex-chorus girl Norma Perry (Joan Blondell
) is sweet on insurance salesman Rosmer "Rossi" Peck (Dick Powell
), and he writes the policy.
When Rossi's boss, Andy Callahan (William B. Davidson
) finds out how old J.J. is , he is afraid he wil not pass the physical, but when Hobart does, Rossi decides he has to keep J.J. alive as long as possible, to reap the rewards of his sale. On the other hand, Morty and Hugo have everything to gain if J.J. dies, and they try to help things along. When that fails, they talk Genevieve into seducing J.J., but she ends up falling in love with him instead. Rossi finds out the reason for the insurance policy, and talks his boss, Callahan, into investing in J.J.'s show, to save the company the money it would have to pay if J.J. dropped dead after learning he was broke and could not put on the show. When the show is a success Genevieve and J.J. get married, and so do Norma and Rossi.
Cast notes
The production numbers were created, designed, staged and directed by Busby Berkeley
. Originally, all the songs for the film was to have been written by Harold Arlen
and E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, but Berkeley was dissatisfied and brought in Harry Warren
and Al Dubin
, who has contributed songs to his previous Warner Bros. films. Their song "With Plenty of Money and You", which was subtitled "The Gold Diggers' Lullaby" became a hit.
. Gold Diggers of 1937 marked Victor Moore's return to the screen after a two-year absence following Gift of Gab
, during which he starred in Anything Goes
on Broadway.
The film was in production at Warner Bros. Burbank
studio beginning in mid-July 1936, and premiered on 26 December 1936. It went into general release two days later.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
movie musical
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
directed by Lloyd Bacon
Lloyd Bacon
Lloyd Francis Bacon was a screen, stage, and vaudeville actor and film director.-Life:Bacon was born in San Jose California, the son of actor Frank Bacon, later the co-author and star of the long running Broadway show 'Lightnin' , and Jennie Bacon. He was not related to actor Irving Bacon whom he...
with musical numbers created and directed by Busby Berkeley
Busby Berkeley
Busby Berkeley was a highly influential Hollywood movie director and musical choreographer. Berkeley was famous for his elaborate musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric patterns...
, and starring Dick Powell
Dick Powell
Richard Ewing "Dick" Powell was an American singer, actor, producer, director and studio boss.Despite the same last name he was not related to William Powell, Eleanor Powell or Jane Powell.-Biography:...
and Joan Blondell
Joan Blondell
Rose Joan Blondell was an American actress who performed in movies and on television for five decades as Joan Blondell.After winning a beauty pageant, Blondell embarked upon a film career...
, who were married at the time, and Victor Moore
Victor Moore
Victor Frederick Moore was an American actor of stage and screen, as well as a comedian, writer, and director.-Personal life:...
. The film features songs by the teams of Harold Arlen
Harold Arlen
Harold Arlen was an American composer of popular music, having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known the world over. In addition to composing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, including the classic 1938 song, "Over the Rainbow,” Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the...
and E.Y. Harburg and Harry Warren
Harry Warren
Harry Warren was an American composer and lyricist. Warren was the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song eleven times and won three Oscars for composing "Lullaby of Broadway", "You'll Never Know" and "On the Atchison,...
and Al Dubin
Al Dubin
Alexander "Al" Dubin was an American lyricist. He became known through his collaborations with the composer Harry Warren.-Life and works:...
, and was based on the play Sweet Mystery of Life by Richard Maibaum
Richard Maibaum
Richard Maibaum was an American film producer, playwright and screenwriter best known for his adaptations of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels....
, Michael Wallach and George Haight, which ran very briefly on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
in 1935. Warren Duff wrote the screenplay, apparently with the assistance of Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Tom Warren born 14 January 1983 in Sevenoaks, Kent, England is a rugby union player for Gran Parma Rugby in the Italian Super 10.He previously played for London Irish in the Guinness Premiership.Tom Warren's position of choice is as a prop.-External links:...
, who's billed as "Screenplay constructor".
Gold Diggers of 1937 was the fourth in Warner Bros.' series of "Gold Digger" films, following Gold Diggers of Broadway (1929), which is now lost, Gold Diggers of 1933
Gold Diggers of 1933
Gold Diggers of 1933 is a pre-code Warner Bros. musical film directed by Mervyn LeRoy with songs by Harry Warren and Al Dubin , staged and choreographed by Busby Berkeley...
, which was a remake of the earlier film, and the first to feature Busby Berkeley's extravagant production numbers, and Gold Diggers of 1935
Gold Diggers of 1935
Gold Diggers of 1935 is a Warner Bros. musical film directed and choreographed by Busby Berkeley and starring Dick Powell, Gloria Stuart, Adolphe Menjou, Winifred Shaw, Alice Brady, Hugh Herbert and Frank McHugh...
. It was followed by Gold Diggers in Paris
Gold Diggers in Paris
Gold Diggers in Paris is a 1938 Warner Bros. movie musical directed by Ray Enright with musical numbers created and directed by Busby Berkeley, starring Rudy Vallee, Rosemary Lane, Hugh Herbert and Allen Jenkins.-Plot:...
(1938).
Plot
Meek, aging, hypochondriac stage producer J.J. Hobart (Victor MooreVictor Moore
Victor Frederick Moore was an American actor of stage and screen, as well as a comedian, writer, and director.-Personal life:...
), who always thinks he is about to die, is going to mount a new show, but his partners Morty Wethered (Osgood Perkins
Osgood Perkins
Osgood Perkins was an American actor.-Life and career:Perkins was born James Ripley Osgood Perkins in West Newton, Massachusetts, the son of Helen Virginia and Henry Phelps Perkins. He is a descendant of a Mayflower passenger John Howland. Perkins made his Broadway debut in 1924 in the George S...
) and Tom Hugo (Charles D. Brown) lost the money for the show in the stock market. On the advice of chorus girl Genevieve Larkin (Glenda Farrell
Glenda Farrell
-Career:Farrell came to Hollywood towards the end of the silent era. Farrell began her career with a theatrical company at the age of 7. She played Little Eva in Uncle Tom's Cabin...
), they insure J.J. for a million dollars, so that when he dies, they will have the money they need to produce the show. Genevieve's friend, ex-chorus girl Norma Perry (Joan Blondell
Joan Blondell
Rose Joan Blondell was an American actress who performed in movies and on television for five decades as Joan Blondell.After winning a beauty pageant, Blondell embarked upon a film career...
) is sweet on insurance salesman Rosmer "Rossi" Peck (Dick Powell
Dick Powell
Richard Ewing "Dick" Powell was an American singer, actor, producer, director and studio boss.Despite the same last name he was not related to William Powell, Eleanor Powell or Jane Powell.-Biography:...
), and he writes the policy.
When Rossi's boss, Andy Callahan (William B. Davidson
William B. Davidson
William B. Davidson was an American film actor. He attended Columbia University where he played football. He became a popular football star. This fame eventually led to his foray into motion pictures after he had spent some time as a lawyer...
) finds out how old J.J. is , he is afraid he wil not pass the physical, but when Hobart does, Rossi decides he has to keep J.J. alive as long as possible, to reap the rewards of his sale. On the other hand, Morty and Hugo have everything to gain if J.J. dies, and they try to help things along. When that fails, they talk Genevieve into seducing J.J., but she ends up falling in love with him instead. Rossi finds out the reason for the insurance policy, and talks his boss, Callahan, into investing in J.J.'s show, to save the company the money it would have to pay if J.J. dropped dead after learning he was broke and could not put on the show. When the show is a success Genevieve and J.J. get married, and so do Norma and Rossi.
Cast
- Dick PowellDick PowellRichard Ewing "Dick" Powell was an American singer, actor, producer, director and studio boss.Despite the same last name he was not related to William Powell, Eleanor Powell or Jane Powell.-Biography:...
as Rosmer "Rossi" Peck - Joan BlondellJoan BlondellRose Joan Blondell was an American actress who performed in movies and on television for five decades as Joan Blondell.After winning a beauty pageant, Blondell embarked upon a film career...
as Norma Perry - Glenda FarrellGlenda Farrell-Career:Farrell came to Hollywood towards the end of the silent era. Farrell began her career with a theatrical company at the age of 7. She played Little Eva in Uncle Tom's Cabin...
as Genevieve 'Gen' Larkin - Victor MooreVictor MooreVictor Frederick Moore was an American actor of stage and screen, as well as a comedian, writer, and director.-Personal life:...
as J. J. Hobart - Lee DixonLee Dixon (actor)Lee Dixon was an actor in 1930s and 1940s. He appeared in Hollywood musicals and other films, as well as on the Broadway stage.-Career:...
as Boop Oglethorpe - Osgood PerkinsOsgood PerkinsOsgood Perkins was an American actor.-Life and career:Perkins was born James Ripley Osgood Perkins in West Newton, Massachusetts, the son of Helen Virginia and Henry Phelps Perkins. He is a descendant of a Mayflower passenger John Howland. Perkins made his Broadway debut in 1924 in the George S...
as Morty Wethered - Charles D. Brown as Mr. Tom Hugo
- Rosalind Marquis as Sally LaVerne
- Irene WareIrene WareIrene Ware was an American Hollywood movie actress of Swedish-Austrian ancestry. Born with maiden name Ahlberg. She was also an American beauty queen, and she was Miss United States for the Miss Universe competition International Pageant of Pulchritude 1929...
as Irene (Sally's pal) - William B. DavidsonWilliam B. DavidsonWilliam B. Davidson was an American film actor. He attended Columbia University where he played football. He became a popular football star. This fame eventually led to his foray into motion pictures after he had spent some time as a lawyer...
as Andy Callahan - Olin HowlandOlin HowlandOlin Howland was an American film actor. From 1909 to 1927 he appeared on the Broadway stage while balancing a career in silent movies. In 1921, he appeared in the play Two Little Girls in Blue with Oscar Shaw and the Fairbanks Twins. He was in Janice Meredith with Marion Davies...
as Dr. MacDuffy - Charles HaltonCharles HaltonCharles Halton was a stern-faced American character actor who appeared in over 180 films.One of his most memorable portrayals was as Carter, the bank examiner in It's a Wonderful Life...
as Dr. Bell - Paul Irving as Dr. Warshof
- Harry C. BradleyHarry C. BradleyHarry C. Bradley was an American painter of pin-up art.Not much is known about Bradley. He was a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based artist working in the 1940s and 1950s. He painted one of the most successful and enduring pin-up images of all time, Sitting Pretty, for Joseph C. Hoover and Sons of...
as Dr. Henry - Joseph CrehanJoseph CrehanJoseph Crehan was an American film actor. He appeared in over 300 films between 1916 and 1965.He was born in Baltimore, Maryland and died in Hollywood, California from a stroke.-Selected filmography:...
as Chairman of insurance convention - Susan FlemingSusan FlemingSusan Fleming was an American actress known as the "Girl with the Million Dollar Legs" for a role she played in the W. C. Fields film Million Dollar Legs...
as Lucille Bailey (Hobart's secretary)
Cast notes
- Jane WymanJane WymanJane Wyman was an American singer, dancer, and character actress of film and television. She began her film career in the 1930s, and was a prolific performer for two decades...
is among the chorus girls, whose only line is "Girls, we're saved!".
Songs
Busby Berkeley
Busby Berkeley was a highly influential Hollywood movie director and musical choreographer. Berkeley was famous for his elaborate musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric patterns...
. Originally, all the songs for the film was to have been written by Harold Arlen
Harold Arlen
Harold Arlen was an American composer of popular music, having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known the world over. In addition to composing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, including the classic 1938 song, "Over the Rainbow,” Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the...
and E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, but Berkeley was dissatisfied and brought in Harry Warren
Harry Warren
Harry Warren was an American composer and lyricist. Warren was the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Song eleven times and won three Oscars for composing "Lullaby of Broadway", "You'll Never Know" and "On the Atchison,...
and Al Dubin
Al Dubin
Alexander "Al" Dubin was an American lyricist. He became known through his collaborations with the composer Harry Warren.-Life and works:...
, who has contributed songs to his previous Warner Bros. films. Their song "With Plenty of Money and You", which was subtitled "The Gold Diggers' Lullaby" became a hit.
- "All's Fair in Love and War" - by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics) - The staging for this number utilized 104 women in white military uniforms tapping in military formations and geometric patterns.
- "With Plenty of Money and You (The Gold Diggers' Lullaby)" - by Harry Warren (music) and Al Dubin (lyrics)
- "Speaking of the Weather" - by Harold Arlen (music) and E.Y. Harburg (lyrics)
- "Let's Put Our Heads Together" - by Harold Arlen (music) and E. Y. Harburg (lyrics)
- "Life Insurance Song" - by Harold Arlen (music) and E. Y. Harburg (lyrics)
- "Hush Mah Mouth" - by Harold Arlen (music) and E. Y. Harburg (lyrics) (deleted from final print)
Production
Although Busby Berkeley had directed Gold Diggers of 1935, for this film the director's chair was occupied by Lloyd Bacon, who had collaborated with Berkeley on 42nd Street42nd Street (film)
-Cast:*Warner Baxter as Julian Marsh, director*Bebe Daniels as Dorothy Brock, star*George Brent as Pat Denning, Dorothy's old vaudeville partner*Ruby Keeler as Peggy Sawyer, the newcomer*Guy Kibbee as Abner Dillon, the show's backer...
. Gold Diggers of 1937 marked Victor Moore's return to the screen after a two-year absence following Gift of Gab
Gift of Gab (film)
Gift of Gab is a 1934 black-and-white film released by Universal Pictures. Edmund Lowe stars as a man with the "Gift of Gab" — he can sell anyone anything. The film costars Ruth Etting, Ethel Waters, Victor Moore, and Gloria Stuart, and features Boris Karloff and Béla Lugosi.Ruth Etting sings...
, during which he starred in Anything Goes
Anything Goes
Anything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, heavily revised by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London...
on Broadway.
The film was in production at Warner Bros. Burbank
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
studio beginning in mid-July 1936, and premiered on 26 December 1936. It went into general release two days later.
Awards and honors
In 1937, Busby Berkeley was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Dance Direction for the "All's Fair in Love and War" production number.See also
- The Gold DiggersThe Gold Diggers (1923 film)The Gold Diggers is a Warner Bros. silent film directed by Harry Beaumont with screenplay by Grant Carpenter based on the play of the same name by Avery Hopwood which ran for 282 performances on Broadway in 1919 and 1920. Both the play and the film were produced by David Belasco...
- Gold Diggers of Broadway
- Gold Diggers of 1933Gold Diggers of 1933Gold Diggers of 1933 is a pre-code Warner Bros. musical film directed by Mervyn LeRoy with songs by Harry Warren and Al Dubin , staged and choreographed by Busby Berkeley...
- Gold Diggers of 1935Gold Diggers of 1935Gold Diggers of 1935 is a Warner Bros. musical film directed and choreographed by Busby Berkeley and starring Dick Powell, Gloria Stuart, Adolphe Menjou, Winifred Shaw, Alice Brady, Hugh Herbert and Frank McHugh...
- Gold Diggers in ParisGold Diggers in ParisGold Diggers in Paris is a 1938 Warner Bros. movie musical directed by Ray Enright with musical numbers created and directed by Busby Berkeley, starring Rudy Vallee, Rosemary Lane, Hugh Herbert and Allen Jenkins.-Plot:...