WARNING:This blog contains copious amounts of adultGAY material. If that's offensive to you, please leave now. All pix have been gleaned from the internets so, if you see a picture of yourself that you don't wish to have posted here, please leave a comment on the post and I will remove it with my apologies. I REPEAT:If you see a picture of yourself that you don't wish to have posted here, please leave a comment on the post and I will remove it with my apologies.
This old movie buff is overjoyed to see these GIFs. These are from two of Berkeley's movies, "42nd Street" and "Footlights Parade." These are from what I consider my "pick-me-up" movies when I've had a very bad day. Produced after the stock market crash and at the beginning of the depression era, these movies were pure fluff and escapism for theatre goers in the 30s to take their collective minds off the hard times in which they lived. And for those who could afford a ticket, it worked. That's Ruby Keeler in the center at the top, playing prop violins with the chorus girls which were outlined with neon lights for a segment later with the studio lights out. The song is "The Shadow Waltz." Very impressive! If anyone is interested in seeing some of these Black and White gems, Turner Classic Movies is their home. "Footlights Parade" is your starting point: fast-paced, funny and downright dazzling for the time. It features three lengthy scenes and the swimming pool segment will amaze you. Enjoy...
I am also old enough to remember the Jackie Gleason show and the June Taylor dancers. They would have similarly choreographed and filmed routines--but not at the scale of Berkeley.
6 comments:
He did some pretty fascinating routines...filmed from above made them kaliedoscopic.
This old movie buff is overjoyed to see these GIFs. These are from two of Berkeley's movies, "42nd Street" and "Footlights Parade." These are from what I consider my "pick-me-up" movies when I've had a very bad day. Produced after the stock market crash and at the beginning of the depression era, these movies were pure fluff and escapism for theatre goers in the 30s to take their collective minds off the hard times in which they lived. And for those who could afford a ticket, it worked.
That's Ruby Keeler in the center at the top, playing prop violins with the chorus girls which were outlined with neon lights for a segment later with the studio lights out. The song is "The Shadow Waltz." Very impressive!
If anyone is interested in seeing some of these Black and White gems, Turner Classic Movies is their home. "Footlights Parade" is your starting point: fast-paced, funny and downright dazzling for the time. It features three lengthy scenes and the swimming pool segment will amaze you. Enjoy...
Milleson - Wow, you sure have a good memory!
I am also old enough to remember the Jackie Gleason show and the June Taylor dancers. They would have similarly choreographed and filmed routines--but not at the scale of Berkeley.
"You're going out there a chorus girl, you've just gotta come back a star!"
Correction: "youngster" not "chorus girl".
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