[Bounci]

This week's Pat of Appreciation comes from the Pre-Code era of cinema, and from Gold Diggers of 1933, no less (made in 1933, coincidentally!). It involves a group of out of work showgirls during the Depression taking a chance with Ned Sparks' broke theatre director in trying to get a show on stage to make it a success just so they can pay the bills. It's very prevalent in today's climate, and has a cast of ladies that include Ginger Rogers, Ruby Keeler, Aline McMahon and Joan Blondell (who seems to of been in everything back then). As well as being a superb film, it has two scenes where ladies' bottoms get due attention: one by a man, and another by a woman! The first scene in the video comes around 28 mins into the actual film and appears AFTER the 2nd scene in the video, which appears first in the film. It's not as confusing as it sounds, but I shall explain.

In the first scene in the video, a casting director calls out the girls to go on stage ready for a first performance, and as they all come out to get ready, the director moves behind a lagging showgirl late for her call and gives her bum several pats to encourage her to get a move on and not be late again. The reason I put this scene first in the video is because the 2nd (main) scene involves no less than Ginger Rogers! In this scene (which has some interesting dialogue back then), Ginger has turned up to tell the girls that their old boss Barney (Ned Sparks) is planning to put on a new show, but Joan Blondell has nothing to wear to impress that might persuade him to give them a part in his show. After looking out of a window to attract cab drivers going past, Ginger grumbles "Ah, I look much better in clothes than any of you. If Barney could see ME in clothes..." "He wouldn't recognize you," replies Aline, cutting her short. Then she notices Ginger's dress and tells her to take it off, but Ginger complains that it belongs to a drug store where she's a hostess there, and tries to resist. That's when Aline slaps Ginger's backside, telling her to stand still, before taking the dress off of her. When she and Joan Blondell leave the flat, Ginger tells her to watch herself in the clinches due to the dress, and Joan replies "I'd like to meet that druggist!" What that might mean is anyone's guess, but it sure is suggestive!