[Bounci]

For my Christmas treat to you before I take a break, this is from another of those Busby Berkley musicals that were so popular in the early 1930's. This one is called Footlight Parade (1933), which starred James Cagney and (yep, you guessed it) Joan Blondell, as well as Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, and it is her who features in my first of two videos for you today. In one of the spectacular musical numbers, Ruby is called away from a sleeping Dick Powell by some water nymphs to a waterfall and is seen diving into the water seemingly naked (she certainly appears to be under the water). She appears in different costumes a number of times during this number, and pops up a number of times among the other showgirls (Wood Nymphs), whose costumes leave little to the imagination and whose swimsuits of others are somewhat transparent at times. There's also a moment where a girl swims through other girls legs and the camera has an intriguing shot looking straight up! It's a beautiful number, and one that I felt suited posting for Xmas. As usual, I have included a slo mo of Ruby Keeler's underwater swim at the end, as I didn't want to spoil what is a stunning choreographed scene even for Berkley's high standards. Enjoy.