Dames
(1934)
90 mins | Musical comedy | 1 September 1934
Cast:
Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler [ More ]Director:
Ray EnrightWriters:
Delmer Daves, Robert LordCinematographers:
Sol Polito, George Barnes, Sid HickoxEditor:
Harold McLernonProduction Designers:
Robert Haas, Willy PoganyProduction Company:
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.The 1934 Wampus Baby Stars back up Joan Blondell in "The Girl at the Ironing Board" number. Studio records reveal that Warner Bros.' publicity department created the term "cinematerpsichorean" to describe Busby Berkeley's choreography, and that at the request of Hal Wallis, the characters "Johnny Harris" and "Buttercup Balmer" were named after two men who owned a string of theaters in Pennsylvania. According to studio records, Ruth Donnelly was considered for the role of "Mathilda" and Hobart Cavanaugh was considered for "Ellworthy Todd." According to a news item in DV, the studio had Berkeley's revolving stage design (also used in Gold Diggers of 1935) patented. Warner Bros. believed that if the stage design was protected by a patent, there would be little chance of other studios copying his technique which depended on the revolving stage. According to news items in HR, Warner Bros. was sued by Goldwyn for using Berkeley, who had last worked for Goldwyn on his 1932 film The Kid from Spain. Berkeley claimed that Goldwyn secured his contract through misrepresentation and deceit, and therefore he could work where he wanted. No information was found regarding the outcome of the lawsuit. Modern sources add the following credits: Pat Harper, Ruth Eddings, De Don Blunier, Gloria Faythe, Diana Douglas (Chorus girls); Lester Dorr (Elevator starter); Eddy Chandler (Guard); Harry Holman (Spanish War veteran); Fred "Snowflake" Toones (Porter); and Eddie Kane (Harry, the stage manager). ...
The 1934 Wampus Baby Stars back up Joan Blondell in "The Girl at the Ironing Board" number. Studio records reveal that Warner Bros.' publicity department created the term "cinematerpsichorean" to describe Busby Berkeley's choreography, and that at the request of Hal Wallis, the characters "Johnny Harris" and "Buttercup Balmer" were named after two men who owned a string of theaters in Pennsylvania. According to studio records, Ruth Donnelly was considered for the role of "Mathilda" and Hobart Cavanaugh was considered for "Ellworthy Todd." According to a news item in DV, the studio had Berkeley's revolving stage design (also used in Gold Diggers of 1935) patented. Warner Bros. believed that if the stage design was protected by a patent, there would be little chance of other studios copying his technique which depended on the revolving stage. According to news items in HR, Warner Bros. was sued by Goldwyn for using Berkeley, who had last worked for Goldwyn on his 1932 film The Kid from Spain. Berkeley claimed that Goldwyn secured his contract through misrepresentation and deceit, and therefore he could work where he wanted. No information was found regarding the outcome of the lawsuit. Modern sources add the following credits: Pat Harper, Ruth Eddings, De Don Blunier, Gloria Faythe, Diana Douglas (Chorus girls); Lester Dorr (Elevator starter); Eddy Chandler (Guard); Harry Holman (Spanish War veteran); Fred "Snowflake" Toones (Porter); and Eddie Kane (Harry, the stage manager).
Horace P. Hemingway, his wife Mathilda, and daughter Barbara, will inherit ten million dollars from Mathilda's eccentric cousin Ezra Ounce if their lives can pass Ezra's moral scrutiny. Unfortunately, Barbara is in love with Jimmy Higgens, a black sheep member of the Ounce family and an aspiring actor. Their chances of meeting Ezra's requirements are further jeopardized by Mabel Anderson, a showgirl who blackmails Horace after she sleeps in his train compartment. Horace, innocent of any indiscretion, but afraid of losing Ezra's millions, pays off Mabel. With Horace's money, Mabel and Jimmy put on a lavish Broadway musical, featuring Barbara. Meanwhile, Ezra has formed the Ounce Foundation for the Elevation of American Morals and plans to stop the indecent show on opening night by hiring a group of thugs to start a fight when he waves his handkerchief. As the curtain is about to go up, Barbara is delayed, and Mabel goes on in her place. Barbara finally arrives to take her role in the romantic number with Jimmy, but during the performance, Ezra, Horace and Mathilda get drunk on Ezra's health elixir. While Mabel is singing her next song, she waves to Ezra and he inadvertently waves back with his handkerchief. The fight breaks out on cue, the police arrive, and everyone except Mathilda lands in jail, happily drunk on ...
Horace P. Hemingway, his wife Mathilda, and daughter Barbara, will inherit ten million dollars from Mathilda's eccentric cousin Ezra Ounce if their lives can pass Ezra's moral scrutiny. Unfortunately, Barbara is in love with Jimmy Higgens, a black sheep member of the Ounce family and an aspiring actor. Their chances of meeting Ezra's requirements are further jeopardized by Mabel Anderson, a showgirl who blackmails Horace after she sleeps in his train compartment. Horace, innocent of any indiscretion, but afraid of losing Ezra's millions, pays off Mabel. With Horace's money, Mabel and Jimmy put on a lavish Broadway musical, featuring Barbara. Meanwhile, Ezra has formed the Ounce Foundation for the Elevation of American Morals and plans to stop the indecent show on opening night by hiring a group of thugs to start a fight when he waves his handkerchief. As the curtain is about to go up, Barbara is delayed, and Mabel goes on in her place. Barbara finally arrives to take her role in the romantic number with Jimmy, but during the performance, Ezra, Horace and Mathilda get drunk on Ezra's health elixir. While Mabel is singing her next song, she waves to Ezra and he inadvertently waves back with his handkerchief. The fight breaks out on cue, the police arrive, and everyone except Mathilda lands in jail, happily drunk on elixir.
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