We didn’t have time to recap the latest Night Vale this week, and we won’t be fast passing the latest episode of Lore Olympus for another few days, so it’s time for another Watch Party! Chiming in from three different states, this time we’re watching the very fun and often bonkers pre-Code musical Gold Diggers of 1933!
The Players: Elizabeth, Hannah, and Kathryn. (With Mom chiming in via Hannah.) (Mom’s also a stage manager with 40 years experience in back stage shenanigans and opening-night champagne celebrations so she’s got opinions.)
Hannah
Ready here
Kathryn
I feel like I have to warn everyone that I found the song and dance number “Pettin In The Park” REALLY IRRITATING. The rest of the movie is a hoot
All set to press play
Elizabeth
Ready here!
Kathryn
Playing
Elizabeth
Playing!
Hannah
Now playing
Elizabeth
Did the “we’re in the money” song COME from this film?
Kathryn
I think?
I know it from Looney Toons
Hannah
Mom says what we all need is a hand to come out of the TV to hand us all popcorn
Elizabeth
Hee
Kathryn
Ginger Roberts, I do believe
Elizabeth
I heard Busby Berkeley did these big numbers focusing on everyone’s face so he could make sure a lot of people got a paycheck
Hannah
I bet he also did a lot of acid
Elizabeth
Hee
Kathryn
This Pig Latin thing was apparently a spur of the moment decision
Something Ginger Roberts was doing backstage and the director put it in the show
Hannah
Niles, I think she’s having a stroke
Kathryn
Haha
Elizabeth
I need that “flddler dumping his violin in a hole” gif for when I’m feeling particularly frustrated
Kathryn
Same
Hannah
Heh
Kathryn
“Name me a better place to starve.” Here here.
Elizabeth
I woulda dropped that glass bottle all over the courtyard
Kathryn
Not during the Depression you don’t
Hannah
I would’ve dropped it when I got it inside and was celebrating
Elizabeth
Huh, “guess the cab company” is a neat version of rock paper scissors
Kathryn
Lotta clothes getting stripped off in this flick
This guy reminds me of the straight man from every Marx Brothers movie
Elizabeth
It’s not just hair and makeup, some faces really do belong to a different decade
Hannah
Right in the boob
Elizabeth
“I gotta dig up my sex appeal, I need a steam shovel”
Kathryn
The camaraderie between all the chorus girls is nice.
“Some day you’re coming OUT of the chorus.” That sounds like a threat.
I think Trixie’s my favorite
Elizabeth
She’s definitely the sassiest
Kathryn
What’s the definition of “a torch song”?
Hannah
Holding a torch for someone?
Kathryn
Maybe?
Elizabeth
Wikipedia says it’s a sappy love song yep
Kathryn
So I guess Fay is their frenemy?
“STOP. Go on.”
All we need is this guy to tell someone they’ve got moxie.
Elizabeth
“I’ll make em laugh at you starving honey, it’ll be the funniest thing you ever did.”
“You ever see me ride a pony?”
Kathryn
Out of nowhere angel investor
Hannah
“For… reasons” Oh dude, stop that
Elizabeth
Ah well I guess if he told her the truth we’d lose a whole plot point
Kathryn
Hee, so THAT’S why he chucked the violin
Elizabeth
Hahaha
Heh, that was a random gag
Kathryn
…why are they Italian?
Hannah
Haha
Kathryn
Ugh, why does this song feel so icky
Elizabeth
The “struggle just a little” line in this song is making me uncomfortable
Hannah
Gordon looks like John Cusack
Elizabeth
Heh, she should’ve smacked that stage manager in the kisser
Kathryn
I think we should bring back the term lumbago
Hannah
If we make reservations we could have lumbago in half an hour…
Elizabeth
hee
Also YOU TELL IM TRIXIE
Kathryn
Actually implying women will have to turn tricks to survive, gotta love Pre-Code
Hannah
EW WTF WITH THE MONKEYS
Elizabeth
The policemen ogling the apes is HEY I WAS JUST TYPING THAT
Hannah
Hahaha
Kathryn
This song just goes on too long, WE WANT PLOT DEVELOPMENT
Hannah
… what?
Kathryn
Ew “For little girls who have to walk home.
Hannah
What in God’s name is happening
Kathryn
Hahaha
Apparently that little person was the inspiration for Baby Hugo in Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Hannah
Oh where have I seen the snowballs gag
EW
Kathryn
And now we have the part the audience will never see
Elizabeth
Whoops, can we pause for a second, my library DVD is having a catastrophic failure
Kathryn
Paused on the field of make-out sessions
Hannah
I’m at 40 minutes exactly
Elizabeth
Cool, all the people sitting down with the ladies kicking their legs?
Kathryn
Okay now I’m at 40 as well
Elizabeth
Ready to hit play!
Kathryn
Playing!
Elizabeth
Playing!
Kathryn
And I remembered not really getting much from this song, but I didn’t realize it was THIS LONG
Elizabeth
That is one creepy little kid
Hannah
I want to burn that child with fire
Hahaha
Kathryn
Anti-groping devices
Hannah
Chastity girdles
Kathryn
And now we’ve got Mr Nosy Parker spoiling the secret
Elizabeth
He’s mixed up in this Theater Business *AUDIBLE GASP*
Kathryn
Well in the Depression I don’t think Banking was more reputable than Music Man
This guy is SUCH a letch
“I’m going to see her.” “You can’t, I don’t know where she is.”
Elizabeth
Who the hell let them into THEIR ROOM?
Hannah
This house full of ladies really rings true. Feels like college
Kathryn
And we have a misunderstanding
Hannah
“Don’t bother to explain, that would ruin the plot”
Kathryn
And Trixie comes swanning in
And zeros in on the easy target
Hannah
Hahaha “Peabody you’re disgusting”
Kathryn
Fanny never stood a chance…
How much is $75 in today’s money?
Hannah
Lord probably like $300?
Maybe more?
Kathryn
That sly devil look on Trixie’s face
Elizabeth
Ooo I love Polly’s dress, I’d wear that
Hannah
That is sleek
Kathryn
Jezuz, Google says $75 is almost 1900 dollars
Elizabeth
Yikes!
Hannah
Wowsa
Elizabeth
Pat on the leg under the table VERY Pre-Code
Kathryn
Hee, I love that the ladies are the ones getting handsy first
Mmm, now I want some champagne
Hannah
He feels way too authentically Sarasota ew
Elizabeth
Eeek, champagne headaches are no joke
Hannah
Mom was just exclaiming that it’s the worst drink in the world
*drink
*DRUNK
Elizabeth
hahaha
Kathryn
Ahahahaha
Hannah
Haha wtf and all I’ve had is milk
Elizabeth
Did you go grab some milk after that first scene because I sure did
Hannah
Hah no I guess I was ahead of the game there
Elizabeth
Oooooo that is a FANCY lighter
Kathryn
I don’t smoke and I kinda want that lighter
Elizabeth
I love that the only people not in on the secret are the two guys, it’s fun when everybody else is in on the gig
Kathryn
Well-behaved dog
Hannah
I just realized Fanny is absolutely my friend big J
Absolute idiot for a flirty woman digging for cash. He once went to the ATM machine in a strip club three times
Elizabeth
Ohhhhh nooo
Kathryn
Yuck
It is fun to watch Brad play along with this
Hannah
Hahaha light as a heifer
EW I HATE HIM
… haha why did that trigger champagne
Elizabeth
Uh oh Brad’s brother is gonna make a move
Hahaha, I love how there’s now layers to this plan
Kathryn
Now I want that drinks cabinet
Elizabeth
Feeding him more alcohol is just cruel
Hannah
That’s what we need to bring back
(Drinks cabinets, not cruelty)
Elizabeth
hahahah
Hannah
Aaaaand out
Elizabeth
Uh oh, Trixie’s Got An Idea
Kathryn
Aw, Carol is a little disappointed that nothing will have happened
Um, where is your dog, Trixie
Hannah
Hahaha
Elizabeth
Fanny’s probably looking after Fanny
Okay champagne and then liquor is the REAL worst drunk
Kathryn
“Oh no, I just had 1930’s SEX “
Hannah
HAHAHA
Jeeeesus
Elizabeth
Man alive she is RUTHLESS
Kathryn
He’s kind, he’s good, he thinks show girls are parasites, what’s the problem?
Elizabeth
He threatened to cut off his brother’s inheritance, what’s not to like?
Kathryn
And NOW the cat’s outta the bag
Hee, framing the check is a nice touch
Hannah
Knee him in the balls and run
Elizabeth
Agreed!
Kathryn
Cheap and vulgar wins the day!
Elizabeth
Aw, he’s still a jerk, what a surprise
Hannah
Mom just said “yuck” to backstage confusion
Elizabeth
So disorganized!
Kathryn
It’s not just the face and hair, every male singer from this time period sounds the same
Elizabeth
Lot of high tenors for sure
Hannah
Hey Brad your torch songs suck, get a drum set
Kathryn
Ha!
Elizabeth
hahaha
Hey I think he’s really playing that fiddle
Kathryn
Or he’s really good at faking it
Elizabeth
Better than most for sure
Kathryn
These ladies however
Elizabeth
Now these ladies are definitely NOT but that’d be I WAS JUST TYPING THAT
Kathryn
Hahaha
Hannah
Heh
Kathryn
Wow, what a set piece
Elizabeth
I do like the glowing fiddles
Hannah
You can see where Fantasia got a lot of ideas
Kathryn
Actual electricity, apparently, with minor shocks to the actresses
Elizabeth
I noticed the cords and wondered how safe that was
Hannah
I feel like it doesn’t help faking the instrument when they can’t touch the bow to anything
Elizabeth
Oh yeah that’d be an extra layer of tough
Kathryn
And now I kinda want a neon violin
Hannah
Oh! I think Ayla has one that glows
Elizabeth
oooooo
Kathryn
Wow, they really want is to know what the name of the next number is
Aw, you go, Trixie
“SCRAM”
Elizabeth
Wow he changed his mind FAST
Kathryn
Did he KNOW the cop was an actor?
Elizabeth
Unclear
Wasn’t there something about the director casting the African American actress and getting flack for it?
Kathryn
I think the singer her is Etta Moten, but that’s not who’s playing the singer.
Not sure why Etta couldn’t just be the actress instead of having someone else lip sync
Now THIS is a set piece
Elizabeth
Man alive
Hannah
That is… very expensive
Elizabeth
Lotta actors getting a paycheck on this one
Hannah
Exactly!
Elizabeth
So interesting to end it with that number
Hannah
No wonder EVERYBODY had to get to the stage
Kathryn
That is a powerful and WEIRD note to end on
I read some trivia that said the director wanted to make it clear that while the main characters have a happily ever after, there were a ton of people still suffering
Elizabeth
Makes sense that you’d wanna emphasize that in 1933