Dames
This
film was essentially a remake of the Gold Diggers franchise that had been
so successful for Busby Berkeley and Warner Brothers. Returning to the
screen with the same roster of talent, this film had some of Harry Warren
and Al Dubins standards that remain today as classics. The story runs
90 minutes and brings back the talents of Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Joan
Blondell and many others. The story is just thick enough to support the
songs and highlights that ever popular backstage theme. Dick Powell, plays
the young broadway songwriter who is looking to find a backer to mount
his show. Joan Blondell, the wise cracking chorine, is responsible for
shakin' down the rich guy for the backing money. Ruby, the wide eyed romantic
interest, is there to support the cast as the ingenue.
Harry
and Al wrote some of the most memorable songs for this film, that lived
on well beyond their time. "I Only Have Eyes for You" remains perhaps
the most famous, and was recently elected by the American Society of Composers,
Authors and Publishers as the most recorded song in the 20th century top
ten. In the sequence, one of Berkeley's best, Dick and Ruby meet in front
of a movie theater, then take a subway ride and fall asleep. Powell dreams
of hordes of girls who all appear wearing Ruby's face in mask form. Each
has a piece of a jigsaw puzzle on their back, and they put together Ruby's
face by grouping the puzzle pieces together! Like many of the tunes, Al
Dubin had an idea that became fodder for Busby. In this case, He came
up with the idea that all the girls that Dick Powell Dreams about - look
like Ruby Keeler! So, masks were made and the rest is film history.
The
Original Movie Poster
The
chorus girls form Ruby's face.
The
choreography treatment for "The Girl at the Ironing Board" seqence is
unusual for Busby, in that is required only one girl; Joan Blondell, sings
in her pajamas. However, Busby was not a man to do things simply. The
many crew members above Joan's head manipulating the dancing pajamas in
the sequence made up for the lack of on screen talent. Dames, was the
title song and another Busby extravaganza. For this number, girls dressed
in black and white outfits form patterns and sequences on the floor. The
variety of camera angles makes for vintage Busby Berkeley. It was said,
that reviewers were looking for some kind of new achievement in this film.
Suffice to say, Busby did what he did best, and honed his camera techniques
and expanded on the sheer variety of what one could do with a few hundred
extra beautiful girls.
The chorus
girls in a Buzby Berkely geometric.
The
chorus girls in the elaborate bathtub scene.
Part of the treatment of "I Only Have Eyes For You" had dozens of Ruby Keeler look-alikes spinning around on ferris-wheel contraptions.
The real Ruby is the one standing on the steps.
