Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935) in Color — Starring Dick Powell & Adolphe Menjou

Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935) — Buy This Classic in Color

Gold Diggers of 1935 is a classic film originally shot in black and white that showcases Busby Berkeley’s most ambitious and visually stunning choreography in a sparkling Depression-era comedy of schemes and romance. This restored, professionally colorized version brings the famous ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ number and every glamorous set piece to vivid life through meticulous frame-by-frame colorization. Download your instant, DRM-free copy today for just €15.00 and watch the film that contains Berkeley’s greatest single musical number in breathtaking color.

Plot Summary

At a luxurious New England resort hotel, a tangled web of romantic schemes and financial cons plays out among guests and staff alike. Dick Curtis is a young medical student working as a hotel clerk to pay his way through school, and he falls for the lovely Amy Prentiss, the sensible daughter of a stuffy society matron who disapproves of anyone without a substantial fortune. Meanwhile, the eccentric and easily manipulated millionairess Mrs. Prentiss is being pursued by Nikolai, a bogus Russian nobleman whose aristocratic title is as false as his accent, while the sharp-tongued and irrepressibly resourceful secretary Ann Prentiss schemes to extract money from the wealthy and hopelessly oblivious Humboldt Pease. As charity show fundraiser Moselle Humphries works to organize a grand theatrical benefit at the hotel, all these romantic and financial intrigues converge backstage, leading to a series of comic complications, mistaken identities, and unexpected revelations that expose everyone’s true motives and genuine feelings. The film builds to Busby Berkeley’s legendary ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ sequence — a breathtaking, self-contained dramatic musical masterpiece that tells the tragic story of a Broadway baby’s rise and devastating fall over the course of a single night, rendered in visual imagery so powerful and innovative that it essentially stands as one of the greatest short films ever made within a feature film. This classic movie wraps razor-sharp Depression comedy around some of the most spectacular musical sequences ever filmed.

Cast & Crew

• Starring: Dick Powell, Gloria Stuart, Adolphe Menjou, Glenda Farrell, Hugh Herbert, Alice Brady, Frank McHugh
• Director: Busby Berkeley
• Runtime: 95 minutes
• Year: 1935
• Rated: Passed
• Genre: Comedy
• Country: United States

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

The colorization process transforms Gold Diggers of 1935’s opulent resort settings and spectacular musical numbers into a dazzling visual experience. Every scene has been professionally colorized with meticulous attention to the elaborate costumes, the geometric patterns of Berkeley’s overhead choreography, and the dramatic light-and-shadow contrasts of the ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ sequence that shift from warm golden tones to stark, haunting nighttime imagery. The luxurious resort hotel interiors glow with rich wood tones and deep carpet colors, while the grand ballroom scenes shimmer with elegant formal wear. The colorized version also reveals the scale and ambition of the ‘Words Are in My Heart’ number, where dozens of white grand pianos glide across a vast black stage in elaborate geometric formations. The restored print delivers exceptional clarity, doing full justice to some of the most ambitious cinematography of the 1930s. Now also available in colour.

Buy your instant, DRM-free MP4 download today and experience Berkeley’s greatest musical spectacles in magnificent color.

Historical Significance

Gold Diggers of 1935 marked Busby Berkeley’s directorial debut, giving him creative control over not just the musical numbers but the entire film for the first time in his extraordinary career. The ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ sequence won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and is widely considered Berkeley’s masterwork — a nine-minute mini-film within the film that tells a complete, heartbreaking story with devastating emotional impact, choreographing over a hundred dancers in formations that still stagger the imagination today. The sequence influenced generations of filmmakers and music video directors with its audacious visual storytelling and its willingness to fuse spectacle with genuine tragedy. Dick Powell continues his run as Warner Bros.’ top musical leading man, delivering his characteristic charm and easy singing style. Gloria Stuart brings intelligence and warmth to her role, decades before her celebrated comeback as Old Rose in James Cameron’s Titanic (1997). Glenda Farrell delivers her trademark rapid-fire wise-cracking wit as the scheming secretary, and Hugh Herbert provides his signature befuddled comedy relief. Alice Brady is superb as the overbearing society matron. This film cemented Berkeley’s reputation as one of cinema’s most daring and innovative visual artists. Through colorization, this landmark musical dazzles anew.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized frame-by-frame
• Audio: Original English mono
• Price: €15.00
• Delivery: Instant download, DRM-free

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: What is Gold Diggers of 1935 about?
A: A group of schemers and romantics at a luxury resort hotel pursue love and money, all building toward a spectacular charity show with unforgettable musical numbers.

Q: Who stars in this film?
A: Dick Powell and Gloria Stuart lead the cast, with scene-stealing performances from Glenda Farrell, Adolphe Menjou, and Hugh Herbert.

Q: What is the famous musical number?
A: ‘Lullaby of Broadway’ is a nine-minute sequence considered one of the greatest musical numbers in cinema history. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Q: Did Busby Berkeley direct the entire film?
A: Yes, this was Berkeley’s first time directing an entire feature, not just the musical sequences. It gave him full creative control and the result is one of the most visually unified musicals of the era.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: You receive a professionally colorized MP4 file that was originally shot in black and white and has been restored and colorized frame-by-frame.

Q: Is the download DRM-free?
A: Yes, your purchase is completely DRM-free. You can watch it on any device that plays MP4 files.

Q: How do I receive my purchase?
A: After payment, you receive an instant download link. No waiting, no subscriptions.

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• Carnaval Atlântida (1952)
• The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951)
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• The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
• Follow the Fleet (1936)