Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Dames (1934)
Dames
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Photos (see all 7 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
7.1/10   442 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 22% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Robert Lord (story) &
Delmer Daves (story) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Dames on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 September 1934 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Musical more
Plot:
Multi millinaire Ezra Ounce wants to start a campain against 'filthy' forms of entertainment, like Broadway-Shows... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 win more
NewsDesk:
Toronto’s got The (Edgar) Wright Stuff
 (From Fangoria. 24 February 2009, 2:26 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Slight plot, great music, and Busby Berkley. Isn't that enough? more

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Joan Blondell ... Mabel Anderson
Dick Powell ... James 'Jimmy' Higgens
Ruby Keeler ... Barbara Hemingway, aka Joan Grey
Zasu Pitts ... Matilda Ounce Hemingway (misspelled Mathilda in opening credits)
Guy Kibbee ... Horace Peter Hemingway

Hugh Herbert ... Ezra Ounce
Arthur Vinton ... Bulger, Ounce's Bodyguard
Phil Regan ... Johnny Harris, Songwriter
Arthur Aylesworth ... Train Conductor
Johnny Arthur ... Billings, Ounce's Secretary
Leila Bennett ... Laura, Matilda's Maid
Berton Churchill ... Harold Ellsworthy Todd
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bess Flowers ... (scenes deleted)
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
91 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Finland:(Banned) (1936) | USA:Approved (PCA #103)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the "Dames" number, Dick Powell as a Broadway producer doesn't want to see composer George Gershwin, but when asked by his secretary about seeing Miss Dubin, Miss Warren and Miss Kelly, he lets them enter his office. Al Dubin and 'Harry Warren' wrote the music, and Orry-Kelly was costume designer of this picture. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: While Joan Blondell is singing "The Girl at the Ironing Board", a stage hand is seen in the background hanging a clothesline. more
Quotes:
Barbara Hemingway: I'm free, white, and 21. I love to dance AND I'm going to dance. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Ask the Dust (2006) more
Soundtrack:
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
17 out of 19 people found the following comment useful:-
Slight plot, great music, and Busby Berkley. Isn't that enough?, 18 June 2004
8/10
Author: d_john2 from Oregon

Dick Powell and the music of Warren and Dubin is reason enough to watch this otherwise average musical. Busby Berkley's choreography is an aquired taste - I prefer the elegance of Hermes Pan/Fred Astaire and the expert tapping of George Murphy and Eleanor Powell, or even the highly entertaining Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Shirley Temple duets. But these all came later than DAMES and Berkley's eye-candy style is highly entertaining and, sometimes, memorable.

I never thought Ruby Keeler was terribly talented and her lack of acting ability does show, especially in the company of such accomplished players as Joan Blondell, Powell, Hugh Herbert, and Guy Kibbee. Keeler's acting is passable, if a bit clumsy, and I find her dancing adequate. (She was called, in some 1930s circles, "The Stomper" for her heavy-footed tapping.)

What makes this film a winner is the music. The title song is wonderful and the splendid "I Only Have Eyes For You" is one of the best songs ever written for a movie. That song is fully performed twice, once about midway into the film and, differently, near the end. The later performance is fine, the former one of the screen's greatest musical numbers. Powell sings it with his beautiful high tenor and Berkley provides probably his best ever production. I dare the viewer to not get goose bumps when watching this.

Take away the music and Busby Berkley and you're left with not much except a (mostly) great cast. I give "DAMES" my highest rating for the music and production numbers and a solid middle ranking for the plot. One could do a lot worse than spend 90 minutes with DAMES.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Dames (1934)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Drinking game for Dames bettiegia
Scheduled for DVD CCB-2
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Ziegfeld Girl Reckless This Is the Life Gone with the Wind The Palm Beach Story
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.