The Busby Berkeley Collection, Vol. 2 (2008)

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/16/2008 Product Description

Not disappointed, but...

If you're looking for the great Busby Berkeley musicals, these are not they -- that would be Volume One of this collection. The only film in this set that fits that description is "Gold Diggers of 1937". The other three are some of his later and more minor efforts -- perhaps one musical number, or the finale of the film features that Berkeley magic, but not really on the grand scale of the earlier films. And, save for the the aforementioned "GD '37", the writing is fairly pedestrian. There is some deliciously snappy dialogue in "GD '37" -- and Joan Blondell (rest her soul) is always worth watching, in anything she ever put on the big or small screen -- and radio, too! November 23, 2008

Mediocre films in neat package

This collection, marketed under the name of Busby Berkeley, is not one of Warner Brother's better releases. The Berkeley name may draw the unfamiliar but it is misleading since in at least one of the films, he was brought in merely to stage the finale and as a director, except for a certain visual flair with the camera boom, there was nothing really to distinguish him from any other contract director of the time. The Warner's musicals lost a lot when the Hays Code removed their sting in 1934 and all these films are post code. Berkeley lost too since so many of his best numbers revolved around sex. Also the budgets were rapidly curtailed.

The first film and maybe the best is "Golddiggers of 1937", a cynical and not very likeable farce set around insurance salesmen. Berkeley regulars, Dick Powell and Joan Blondell, married at the time, are the leads and since Blondell is neither a singer nor dancer of any note, if at all, there is a hole in the accompanying musical numbers. The climax is the battle of the sexes number "All's fair in love and war" and Berkeley's penchant for precision marching and formations is prevalent and dreary.

"Hollywood Hotel" directed entirely by Berkeley, is overlong but the musical numbers, particularly the title number and "Let that be a lesson to You" have real visual flair, infectious orchestrations and the vocals tossed around the cast and extras. They bounce and jump off the screen. Benny Goodman and Francis Langford bring a touch of class and Harry James can be seen in Goodman's band. The screenplay is a reasonably entertaining spoof on stardom with Lola Lane playing a temperamental star and Alan Mowbray giving an hilarious spoof of a ham actor. There are lots of then topical references to Hollywood, Ronald Reagan is visible as a radio announcer and starlet Carole Landis has a bit as a hat check girl. Louella Parsons, the famous and lethal gossip columnist appears, grinning her role and sure determined to convince that she was a nice person, which she wasn't!

The remaining films are busy musical comedies populated by second string musical performers. Here are some points to note:
* Rosemary Lane, with charm to spare, has a trained operetta voice which sounds dreadful with pop numbers
* Rudy Vallee plays a very sophisticated lead in "Goldiggers in Paris" and while he is more relaxed than usual, he is no substitute for the appealing and energetic Powell.
* Ted Healy, of 3 Stooges fame, has a really sleazy screen presence. He is horrible.
* "Varsity Show" suffers from an edited print. The film's continuity suffers and at least 2 numbers from Powell and the Lane sisters are missing. This is a giant "college' musical and the finale, a tribute to Ivy league is fantastic, maybe the best number of all in the set.

The prints of the films are in great condition and the extras contain lots of pleasant cartoons, usually attached to songs from the films, all the theatrical trailers and some shorts, most of which are awful. "Goldiggers of '37" also contains the only remaining footage from "Goldiggers of Broadway", a lost 1929 early talkie and filmed in 2 strip technicolour. The footage will be of interest if you would like to see what a Broadway finale was like in the twenties, but otherwise, it is crude and stilted. A parade of performers appear, rushing on, doing their bit (maybe a dance or acrobatics or a chorus or 2), then rush off. Some are very good but the overall affect is merely busy and all the acts are anonymous.

The set is not really expensive and it has been nicely packaged but unless you are particularly interested in the music or a catalogue of Berkeley's work, I wouldn't bother. November 11, 2008

busby berkeley collection 2

nice set especially since this set, i believe. has never been on vhs. so if you are a musical fan and like films of the 30's i am sure you will like this volume 2, tho not up to volume 1 in great scenes still good. October 26, 2008

not the best berkeley but still worth the money

there is quite a difference in the overall mood in these films when compared the berkeley films of the early '30s. there is also a difference in the budget. these later examples are definitely pared down in the extravaganza department, but still entertaining and recognizable as berkeley's work. the only real disappointment is that for this dvd set, warners issued an incomplete "varsity show." is the complete film lost or was the money just not spent to restore the film. i realize it is not a great masterpiece, but why make it available when it is incomplete and when there are other interesting berkeley films that could have been included. October 23, 2008

Great collection!

Love the Busby Berkeley style. If you were a fan of the first collection, this will be an additional treat. As always, the plot is a segue to the BIG dance number - but who cares about the plot? It's a fun way to spend an evening. Pour a glass of wine and sit down to relax. Berkeley is a sure ticket to stress relief. October 16, 2008

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