Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

Director:

Mervyn LeRoy

Writers:

David Boehm (dialogue)
Erwin S. Gelsey (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

27 May 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Musical

Tagline:

The Biggest Show On Earth!

Plot:

Millionaire turned composer Dick Powell rescues unemployed Broadway people with a new play.

Plot Keywords:

Composer | Chorus Girl | Scheme | 1930s | Beautiful Woman

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Warren William	...	J. Lawrence Bradford
Joan Blondell	...	Carol King
Aline MacMahon	...	Trixie Lorraine
Ruby Keeler	...	Polly Parker
Dick Powell	...	Brad Roberts (Robert Treat Bradford)
Guy Kibbee	...	Fanuel H. Peabody
Ned Sparks	...	Barney Hopkins
Ginger Rogers	...	Fay Fortune
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Agnew	...	Dance director (uncredited)
Loretta Andrews	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Monica Bannister	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Bonnie Bannon	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Joan Barclay	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Billy Barty	...	Baby in 'Pettin' in the Park' (uncredited)
Busby Berkeley	...	Call boy (uncredited)
Audrene Brier	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Lynn Browning	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Maxine Cantway	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Margaret Cathew	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Hobart Cavanaugh	...	Dog salesman (uncredited)
Kathy Cunningham	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Virginia Dabney	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Mildred Dixon	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Patricia Douglas	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Shirley Dunstead	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Jay Eaton	...	Diner (uncredited)
Bill Elliott	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Gloria Faythe	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
June Glory	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Sam Godfrey	...	Society reporter (uncredited)
Muriel Gordon	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Ferdinand Gottschalk	...	Clubman (uncredited)
Ebba Hally	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Theresa Harris	...	Woman in Couple (uncredited)
Grace Hayle	...	Society reporter (uncredited)
Sterling Holloway	...	Messenger boy (uncredited)
Ann Hovey	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Amo Ingraham	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Alice Jans	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Fred Kelsey	...	Det. Jones (uncredited)
Charles Lane	...	Society reporter (uncredited)
Lorena Layson	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Cynthia Lindsay	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Wallace MacDonald	...	Stage manager (uncredited)
Wilbur Mack	...	Society reporter (uncredited)
Mae Madison	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Frank Mills	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Etta Moten	...	Forgotten Man singer (uncredited)
Clarence Nordstrom	...	Don Gordon (uncredited)
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Ty Parvis	...	Chorus Boy (uncredited)
Donna Mae Roberts	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Churchill Ross	...	Small Blond Man (uncredited)
Jayne Shadduck	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Bee Stevens	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Anita Thomson	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones	...	Man in Couple (uncredited)
Dorothy Coonan Wellman	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Billy West	...	Medal of Honor winner (uncredited)
Dorothy White	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Renee Whitney	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Charles C. Wilson	...	Deputy (uncredited)
Pat Wing	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Jack Wise	...	Mystery man with Bob at stage door (uncredited)
Jane Wyman	...	Gold Digger (uncredited)
Tammany Young	...	Gigolo Eddie (uncredited)

Directed by
Mervyn LeRoy

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Boehm		dialogue
Erwin S. Gelsey		writer
Avery Hopwood		play
Ben Markson		dialogue
James Seymour		writer

Produced by
Robert Lord	....	producer
Jack L. Warner	....	producer
Raymond Griffith	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Sol Polito

Film Editing by
George Amy

Art Direction by
Anton Grot

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arthur Lueker	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Buddy Longworth	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Ray Heindorf	....	music arranger (uncredited)

Other crew
Busby Berkeley	....	dance director

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1933) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. First National Films (1937) (Austria) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Entertainment (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1933) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Golddiggers of 1933 (USA) (alternative spelling)
High Life (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

According to the final shooting script, Gold Diggers was supposed to end with a reprise of "The Gold Diggers' Song (We're in the Money)," preceded by "Shadow Waltz." "Petting in the Park" was paired with "Remember My Forgotten Man" much earlier in the film.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the violin sequence, the cord for the lights on the violin disappears and reappears throughout.

Quotes:

Faneul H. Peabody: [Fay squeals when Trixie kicks her under the table] What's the matter?
Trixie Lorraine: Oh nothing, Fay had an attack of chiseling, it's chronic with her.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Untitled

THE HAPPY ENDING IS NOT THE END.

There is a pattern to 1930's Hollywood musicals; struggle to put on show proceeds alongside struggle for love to conquer all. And in the end both struggles are successfully concluded. It is a pattern that is broken by "Gold Diggers Of 1933". Sure, all of the usual elements are in place, including the Hungry, Penniless Showgirl Depression setting. But where this movie differs is in the fact that after the various plot strands are neatly tied up, it doesn't end. Instead, we are treated to the last big production number,"My Forgotten Man", as downbeat as it was possible to get in 30's Hollywood. All the Busby Berkeley musicals paid lip service to the Great Depression, but this one goes much further, as "My Forgotten Man" was the last, most enduring image of the film, and the one that audiences left the theatre with. It's placement was a brave decision on the part of whoever made it, and it would be interesting to learn of the public reaction at the time. Because while it is undoubtedly true that in an era of deprivation, you can't blithely make movies that are totally divorced from reality, it's equally true that people want to be reassured there is a better life, and they won't be scratching around in the dirt forever. Personally, I love the number, and it's placement. It's something that has fascinated me since my very first viewing 7 years ago, but it seems to be a point that not a lot of critics have picked up on. Perhaps it wasn't so unusual after all!