Gold Diggers of 1933 addresses the difficulty that most people had during the depression – while showing that some families were not affected by the economy. The film opens with the rehearsal of a play run by Barney Hopkins. The bank comes to repossess everything because he was unable to pay. They even go so far as repossessing the costumes Trixie, Polly Fay and Carol are wearing. These girls become a significant part of the film. Later in the film, these girls are unable to pay their rent and end up stealing milk from their neighbor. This is significant because they could not afford breakfast – so they each intended on eating a slice of bread and some stolen milk – but they were forced to return the milk. When the girls hear that Barney intends on putting on another show, they realize that they do not have enough “proper” clothing for them to all go out and try to be cast in the show. They end up picking one female to go, putting the best dress on her. Their neighbor, Brad, is a singer-songwriter who catches Barney’s attention when he is at the girls’ apartment discussing future productions. Brad is part of an affluent family from Boston. He offers Barney $15,000 in cash – but no one believes he can deliver the money. When he does, they think he is a thief. These instances show the class-divide caused by the depression. Those who were significantly wealthy before the depression still had money, while those that were making ends meet before were now unable to pay their bills. Foner mentions the Works Progress Administration (WPA) on page 811. This organization was most famous for its projects in the arts. Hundreds of artists were employed decorating public buildings and painting murals. It also hired writers to create “local histories and guidebooks to the forty-eight states and to record to recollections” of everyday Americans. (811) Part of the WPA, the Federal Theater Project put on plays, the Federal Music Project created orchestras and choral groups and the Federal Dance Project sponsored ballet and modern dance programs. Because of the WPA, many American were able to experience theater, music, and dance programs for the first time. The girls in Gold Diggers of 1933 would have benefited from these federal programs, but they were not created until 1934. Situations like this may have been the reason for these programs.
1. How are gender roles and sexuality represented in the film?
Gender roles and sexuality are represented in the film in a pretty traditional manner. Men in the film are shown to hold more ‘significant’ jobs than their female counterparts. The relationship between Brad and Polly is an example of this. Because Brad belongs to an affluent family, his Brother, Lawrence, comes with his lawyer to pay off Polly and end their relationship because she is not seen as a respectable female counterpart for Brad. This is mainly because of her occupation as a showgirl. Her friends pretend to be Polly and use Lawrence and his lawyer Peabody to take them out to dinner and buy them hats. This shows the societal expectation for female dependency on inherently more successful men.
I think that Gold Diggers of 1933 can be seen both as a form of entertainment and as a primary historical document. Its entertainment value lies in the content. As a musical film about the depression, it was very relatable to the average American. This would increase the volume of people willing to purchase tickets with their limited income. As for the film acting as a historical document of social critique, the film shows the struggles every day Americans experience – such as eating, paying rent and finding work. Usually, films glamorize real life. But in Gold Diggers of 1933, the situation the showgirls are in is not fluffed up. They are struggling to eat and pay their bills just like the majority of Americans. This film can be interpreted as a social critique through the analyzing the characters’ social situations as well as their overall day-to-day life.
3.Are the issues of class and social status addressed in the film? Are any New Deal values about what it means to be an American reflected in depictions of class and social status?
Issues of class and social status are addressed in the film. The most obvious example is the relationship between Brad and Polly. Because Brad is from an affluent family, he is not supposed to associate himself with showgirls like Polly. Showgirls are viewed as “parasites” and “gold diggers” which Polly’s friends easily make hilariously obvious to Brad’s brother Lawrence and his lawyer. They make Lawrence and Peabody buy them hats and expensive dinner – just because they think that showgirls are parasites. The differences between the social class of the showgirls and the social class of Brad’s family are astounding. Brad is able to give Barney $15,000 for the production of a play, while the girls are forced to steal milk from their neighbors. The New Deal values about what it means to be an American are reflected in the depictions of social class and status. The gap between classes (the gap that is supposed to be present between Polly and Brad) does not exist in their relationship. But, the mixing of social classes was not a New Deal value; the lack of this cohabitation is more of a New Deal value.
