Maurice Chevalier’s secretaries.
Does Maurice Chevalier really NEED so many secretaries? Of course he does — he’s Maurice Chevalier! And do their secretarial dresses really need to be backless? Yes, they do. He’s Maurice Chevalier!
From FOLIES BERGERE, a 20th Century Fox musical comedy that makes a pretty good job of impersonating the Busby Berkeley style:
Girls in stockings with umbrellas dancing on lightning bolts. It’s a visual treat and a health and safety nightmare.
Gisela Verbisek as Al-Long in BRIDE OF THE GORILLA.
They must have had a roaring time on that set with lines like, “You’re just Al-Long for the ride!” or, “I’ll go Al-Long with you on this one!” How they must have laughed.
Theory: did writer-director (auteur!) Curt Siodmak have a drinking buddy called Al Long?
Hmm, maybe this guy? A fellow screenwriter. Oddly, I just watched one of his films, FOLIES BERGERE, which was not at all bad. More on it later, maybe.00
Shadowplay
