Good to see that our friends at Warner Home Video (WHV) are bringing us more Busby Berkeley Vol. 2 this fall. The famed choreographer brought new life to the musical film with his inventive camera tricks, wild (often surrealistic) imagination, and of course, seemingly hundreds of the cutest chorus girls in Hollywood.
The first volume featured the prime titles in the Berkeley canon, such as “42nd Street” (1932), “Gold Diggers of 1933”, the fabulous “Footlight Parade” (1933), and “Dames” (1934). I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to persuade friends to take a chance on “Dames” but with no takers. Too bad, it’s their loss.
The second volume can’t match the quality of the first, but there are still pleasures galore to be had.
Volume 2 titles are:
“Gold Diggers of 1937” which boasts one of Berkeley’s best numbers, the mind-blowing “All is Fair and Love and War” highlighted by cannonballs shooting jigsaw puzzle-like images that when put together show visages of Berkeley’s chorus cuties.
“Gold Diggers of Paris” (1938), undoubtedly the weakest of the four Gold Diggers movies. I haven’t seen it in years, and have no recollection of it. It stars Rudy Vallee, which doesn’t bode well (only Preston Sturges made him palatable), but I’m looking forward to seeing it again.
“Hollywood Hotel” (1937) is a very entertaining spoof set in, you guessed it, Hollywood. The film introduced the anthem “Hooray for Hollywood.” It also features one of my favorite Berkeley numbers, “Let That Be a Lesson for You.” It will be worth buying the whole set, just to get that number. Once heard, it will stick in your mind for ever.
“Varsity Show” (1938). Rah-rah college musical featuring The Lane Sisters. But inquiring minds want to know if WHV is giving us the 120-minute version, as originally seen in 1938, or the truncated 90-minute version which plays regularly on TCM? I’m hoping it’s the former.
It’s too bad room could not be found for “Garden of the Moon” (1938), as that film contains one of my favorite 1930s songs, the incredible “Girl Friend of the Whirling Dervish” Now, that’s a song title.
All films contain short subjects and cartoons from the era which often yield surprises. For instance, the “Dames” DVD contains an early 1930s Technicolor short called “Good Morning Eve”, which boasts some of the most eye-popping Technicolor I’ve ever seen. It also affords the rare opportunity to see Vernon Dent, frequent Three Stooges foil, in three-strip Technicolor. I take my small pleasures where I can.
Showing posts with label Vernon Dent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vernon Dent. Show all posts
Million Dollar Legs (1932)
Monday, January 21, 2008
“If you laid all the athletes in this country end to end, they’d stretch 480 miles.”
“How do you know?”
“We did it once.”
The country is Klopstockia, were all the men are named George and all the women are named Angela. All Klopstockians are also splendid super athletes, and when the country is looking to emerge from heavy debt, traveling brush salesman Migg Tweeney (Jack Oakie) convinces the President of Klopstockia (W.C. Fields) to enter his country in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles to show the world the supreme athletic abilities of the Klopstockian people.
The country is in disarray, not too surprising when President Fields’ cabinet meetings include arm wrestling matches with his cabinet members (played by such familiar faces as Hugh Herbert, Billy Gilbert, Irving Bacon and frequent Three Stooges foil Vernon Dent). Fields also practices weight lifting by hoisting his Major Domo (silent film comedian Andy Clyde) over his head as warming up exercises.
The movie is “Million Dollar Legs” (1932) and watching it may put you in mind of the Marx Brothers classic “Duck Soup.” (1933). Both involve mythical European countries and contain satirical jabs at government stupidity. Both are also highly surreal in the way a lot of early 1930s comedies are. The film’s leading lady Angela (of course) is played by starlet Susan Fleming, who later became Mrs. Harpo Marx, another “Duck Soup” connection.
“Million Dollar Legs” was out of circulation for many years until its issue years ago on VHS. (It has yet to earn a DVD release). I think its lack of availability kept it from being more celebrated. If you like “Duck Soup” you’d probably also like “Million Dollar Legs”.
Like Duck Soup’s lady spy Vera Marcal, “Million Dollar Legs” has a woman spy also, Mata Machree (Lyda Roberti), known as “The Woman No Man Can Resist.” She’s hired by the Klopstockian cabinet to distract the Olympics team so the country won’t win any medals, forcing President Fields’ resignation and the country’s take over by the cabinet. Watching over all this and taking copious notes, while popping up in the oddest places, like a painting on the wall, is a spy played by cross-eyed silent film comedian Ben Turpin.
This is a very funny film, and well worth an investment of its 61-minute running time. There’s a lot of classic comedy on display here, especially the athletic abilities of Klopstockia. Even though Klopstockia is thwarted at every turn, they manage to arrive at the Olympics. President Fields even takes part in the weight lifting competition (wearing a top hat). Against Fields, Mata Machree didn’t stand a chance.
Rating for “Million Dollar Legs”: Three and a half stars.
“How do you know?”
“We did it once.”
The country is Klopstockia, were all the men are named George and all the women are named Angela. All Klopstockians are also splendid super athletes, and when the country is looking to emerge from heavy debt, traveling brush salesman Migg Tweeney (Jack Oakie) convinces the President of Klopstockia (W.C. Fields) to enter his country in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles to show the world the supreme athletic abilities of the Klopstockian people.
The country is in disarray, not too surprising when President Fields’ cabinet meetings include arm wrestling matches with his cabinet members (played by such familiar faces as Hugh Herbert, Billy Gilbert, Irving Bacon and frequent Three Stooges foil Vernon Dent). Fields also practices weight lifting by hoisting his Major Domo (silent film comedian Andy Clyde) over his head as warming up exercises.
The movie is “Million Dollar Legs” (1932) and watching it may put you in mind of the Marx Brothers classic “Duck Soup.” (1933). Both involve mythical European countries and contain satirical jabs at government stupidity. Both are also highly surreal in the way a lot of early 1930s comedies are. The film’s leading lady Angela (of course) is played by starlet Susan Fleming, who later became Mrs. Harpo Marx, another “Duck Soup” connection.
“Million Dollar Legs” was out of circulation for many years until its issue years ago on VHS. (It has yet to earn a DVD release). I think its lack of availability kept it from being more celebrated. If you like “Duck Soup” you’d probably also like “Million Dollar Legs”.
Like Duck Soup’s lady spy Vera Marcal, “Million Dollar Legs” has a woman spy also, Mata Machree (Lyda Roberti), known as “The Woman No Man Can Resist.” She’s hired by the Klopstockian cabinet to distract the Olympics team so the country won’t win any medals, forcing President Fields’ resignation and the country’s take over by the cabinet. Watching over all this and taking copious notes, while popping up in the oddest places, like a painting on the wall, is a spy played by cross-eyed silent film comedian Ben Turpin.
This is a very funny film, and well worth an investment of its 61-minute running time. There’s a lot of classic comedy on display here, especially the athletic abilities of Klopstockia. Even though Klopstockia is thwarted at every turn, they manage to arrive at the Olympics. President Fields even takes part in the weight lifting competition (wearing a top hat). Against Fields, Mata Machree didn’t stand a chance.
Rating for “Million Dollar Legs”: Three and a half stars.
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