I had to see Dames three times, in order to like it. The idea to make Joan Blondell sing, is not quite genius, because she actually can’t. Her husband certainly is a marvelous singer, but when should he teach her? As we all know, the last thing those stars have is time.
Miss Blondell can be extremely funny. She even shows that in her laundry song, although my ears suffered lots of pain. They really mixed up styles as from My Forgotten Man (Gold Diggers of 1933) and Shuffle Off to Buffalo (42nd Street) — an absolutely tasteless brew and truly tough to digest. In her final song Try to See It My Way, Blondell is wonderfully crazy. It’s faster, so she couldn’t extend those penetrating long off-key notes. Yes, Joan Blondell is still a wonderful comedienne.
Ruby Keeler seems not to have such comedic natural — she just keeps being cute, as ever. The second thing she really can and should do is dancing. So why was she allowed just one short try-out scene? It is great, so that was all? I’m really very disappointed. Her film lover Dick Powell is not supposed to disappoint anyone. His once more beautiful voice might make you cry, people! You bet he can….
After all Dames’ story is an amusing farce on this year’s Hays Code fuss. You might even recognize our dearest Legion of Decency….
Clarissa Smith — August 16, 1934
You need to take a lesson from my Canadian-born father and start rooting for the country of your citizenship: America. Few things are more annoying than someone who becomes a citizen on paper, but not with their heart.
Wait a minute: Can you sing the Star Spangled Banner by heart, and in more than one key??
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P.S.: I killed your link. No advertising. Thanks for being funny though.