I Only Have Eyes For You | Dames | Warner Archive

[@teijaflink2226]

The camera work on this is real artistry, makes this scene breathtaking.

[@rjmcallister1888]

The song is 90 years old now, and it's still one of the most beautiful ever, generating hit covers into the 1970's. The other women must have been a bit jealous, but Ruby Keeler was one of the brightest stars of the time. Busby Berkeley brought the song to life visually, with help from Keeler and the mighty Warner/Vitaphone Orchestra. The sequence actually ran some nine minutes.

[@FabioCassano-VisualCreator]

A rare case of a sequence that can both break your brain and melt your heart.

[@iainrobb2076]

One of the greatest and most influential sequences in cinema history. Too few people point out, for example, that Berkeley seems to have been an influence on Orson Welles.

[@davidahlstrom7533]

Nothing like the 1930s arrangements of music. Its music before the world went drum -happy. The string instruments lead the music and the music stops back when the singer is singing.

[@ClayDress]

People have been "drum-happy" a lot longer than eighty years. See In The Hall of The Mountain King.

[@bobobeebee9554]

I really like your description...

[@Robbie1949]

I have been playing organ since I first started learning in 1968. The rhythm of the music has always been a part of music in general since we left the church chants behind us. If you look at music through the ages, this is typically the early 1930's and some composers wrote some interesting pieces later on in the decade well into the 1940's where because of the huge loss of life in the 2nd word war a lot of sentimental ballads were written and a lot of up tempo songs that were not really that well thought out. Some were musically very interesting and catchy but others were not. As the 1950's dissolved into the next several decades pop music became in general worse in quality except for notable exceptions where composers actually learnt their craft. I have been reading & playing some new (to me) sheet music from the 1930-40's and a lot of it is rather good musically. Perhaps it's time modern audiences were introduced to something different than the bass & noise orientated pop music that is ruining their hearing, some will be stone deaf at age 60. Human eardrums and cochlea don't do well being subjected to huge db levels especially through high sound intensity headphones.

[@danielthoman7324]

gigolo Joe music 🎶 🎵

[@peteratkinson922]

By the mid-thirties the harder edge of swing gradually emerged. Something was lost however intangible. But this is only my Umble opinion😅

[@WondrousEarth]

Ruby Keeler, a favorite all time actress ... beloved in America at that time, and for vintage movies buffs, for those of us now too ☺

[@wandawoman8392]

I've never really understood why she was such a big star. Her dancing was mediocre and clunky, her voice was barely passable and there were much prettier girls around at the time.

[@b1940RLG]

She had the girl next door charm. She was adorable. They loved that, as we do, too.

[@beyourself2444]

She couldn’t dance,sing or act and she wasn’t a looker either.

[@aestroai8012]

I know the Berkeley musicals wore out their welcome fast, but I never get sick of seeing these scenes. As a film student I marveled at the precision it took to make something like this. That being said, I do wonder if this was too avant garde for people back in '34? Did they get it, or did they want to get back to the story?

[@henrykwieniawsky5893]

From what I‘ve gathered, people back then were rather fond of the big glamorous escapism of Berkeley sequences

[@jeremynv89523]

I read that immediately after they showed "By The Waterfall", the preview audience erupted in whistles and cheers, and gave a standing ovation. We have to remember that we cannot see the scenes as they did, because the studios filmed the original prints on nitrate, which shows brilliant blacks and whites. We only see a washed-out version here.

[@elderlypoodle9181]

Bring this back 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻😁

[@wardarcade7452]

@@henrykwieniawsky5893 Absolutly! Decades later, Kitty Carlisle was asked how the studios were clueless as to how unrealistic these spectacles were- and she replied the studios knew exactly how unrealistic they were because THAT is what the audiences struggling with widespread unemployment, the Dust Bowl and other effects of the Depression CRAVED! They eagerly saved up the admission of a dime to temporarily escape their struggles while enjoying the fantasies of the big silver screen!

[@susanconnolly5510]

We all wish for the"old" days

[@merrickying4264]

There are lots of movies just as good as Dames (1934), but there has never been a better one: a true masterpiece.

[@thebeatnumber]

Ruby Keeler was one of the most naturally beautiful women to ever grace the silver screen.

[@leelarson107]

Yeah, and all that wasted on Al Jolson. She should have married James Stewart instead.

[@thebeatnumber]

@@leelarson107 Well, Jimmy Stewart married the great love of his life, Gloria McLean and they were happily married for over 40 years before she passed away sometime in the 90s. I think sometimes in love things don't always work out the way we'd like them to, but they certainly did for Jimmy.

[@JoMarieM]

@@leelarson107 At least, later on, she got to marry a guy who WAS good to her, and she got the family she had always wanted. Too bad that she had to waste 11 years of her life with Al, who didn't appreciate her!

[@LeDisGoFreak77]

The production, technicality & attention to detail of this musical number is unparalleled even by today's standards...& without the use of CGI's.👯‍♀️👯‍♀️👯‍♀️👯‍♀️😲😱🤯

[@honey_bee65]

I loooooove the Busby Berkeley musicals

[@zzzbbbooo]

Me too - fabulous. Not a huge fan of Ruby Keeler, however.

[@cjurschik]

You will be. We all end up being.

[@unclenogbad1509]

Only Busby Berkely could make sense of this much insanity - wonderful stuff. No wonder Sergei Eisenstein was so keen to meet him when he visited Hollywood. Just look at those swooping camera angles and wide shot compositions. An often-underrated genius.

[@kevinbyrne4538]

Now I know where all of those bizarre parades and demonstrations honoring dictators came from: Busby Berkeley

[@unclenogbad1509]

@@kevinbyrne4538 You're right. Hadn't thought of it before, but yes.

[@annarodriguez9868]

​@@kevinbyrne4538I always thought those parades were very choreographed for their newsreels that were shown in their theaters to generate loyalty to the war effort.

[@kevinbyrne4538]

@@annarodriguez9868 -- Yes. But even now dictators still have parades that are choreographed. Apparently they like such extravagant displays.

[@carpediem4290]

Beautiful and amazing.. even 90 years ago!!!! Thanks...

[@janedoe805]

Ruby Keeler certainly was a Cutie-Pie! Paired with favorite song & dance man, Dick Powell. He did it all from Song & Dance man to Tough Guy Private Eye Philip Marlowe in “Murder, My Sweet” 1944

[@StanleyKewbeb1]

This video is missing like the first five minutes of the song. But the part where Ruby Keeler comes up out of her own eye is still BB's greatest idea.

[@myronbledsoe44]

This video is missing black people..😢

[@alanlawrence2954]

This 1930s lighting cameraman was a genius... The overall resolution, black background, high key white frocks. The images look better than some pro videos shot in the 80s.

[@wygtam]

A lot of mechanical engineering involved in the set here; those platforms inside the wheel had to kept level as it rotated. I'd be curious to see the mechanism.

[@donherley1811]

Yes, I was intrigued by the wheel also. I think it would have been simpler than you'd expect. The step each girl was standing upon would have been a simple swivel step down (like a crankshaft journal; possibly ratchet locked to give a staggered locking platform) so as to use the person's weight to automatically maintain the level platform. The choreography in those days was phenomenal.

[@wygtam]

@@donherley1811 I think you're right about the crankshaft, though they still would have had to remain pretty stationary.

[@donherley1811]

@@wygtam Happy to hear from someone as mechanically nerdy as myself. Rock on!

[@lilioshka]

@@donherley1811 That's what I thought!

[@johnlorenzen4633]

@@donherley1811 wow thanks! These sets were a marvel

[@rocketsroar1]

The great thing here is that despite all the dozens of RK look-alikes on the screen, whenever the camera gives us a good look at the face of one, it's the actual Ruby Keeler!

[@caroleann_2142]

The sweet Ruby Keeler, 42nd St, Footlight Parade with Cagney what a Gem & Fantastic tap artist was once married to Al Jolson too.❤😊

[@toddbelcher222]

Totally beyond FLAWLESS!!!!!!

[@way2muchNFO]

This makes me cry for some reason, oh and the quality is amazing!

[@costernocht]

I know what you mean!

[@Corinthian44]

To all of us who can remember , or appreciate such times , we all cry . Best wishes to you !

[@ronbenoit5237]

These were the kind of films the kids watched on Los Angeles TV in the 1950's. We were fans of performers who, in some cases, were dead or hadn't performed in years.

[@nickfanzo]

One of the best movies ever made. This and gold diggers of 1933

[@blackmooncultx9552]

This is so crazy and beautiful. This gave me chills.

[@chapsnaps1]

Busby Berkeley didn't get enough recognition for his talent during his lifetime. Ruby Keeler must have done okay out of it - she was going on round the world cruises until extreme old age. "Pettin' in the Park" is my favourite, with the extremely naughty Billy Barty, and the roller blinds. They would never get away with it today!

[@kingusmcgee]

Harry Warren composed those beautiful melodies.

[@ninjastah]

Kingsley Pedlar he is a genius! I keep playing this over and over it's very soothing! Hits me right in the feels

[@alvexok5523]

The most beautiful part of the song I think is as soon as they're done showing all the pictures of Ruby's face, when they start showing Ruby and all of the chorus girls dressed like Ruby, and the women start singing. They sing so beautifully. And Ruby sings along too since we see her lips move. And those beautiful white dresses. And the beautiful close-up of Ruby before the camera pulls back with the women singing so beautifully

[@sutlers2day]

He was my husband's uncle and he was a really good man too.

[@charlesgaskell5899]

IMDb lists an uncredited Ray Heindorf as the music arranger for the film - presumably (or possibly) the orchestrator?

[@harrywarrenfans4291]

@@sutlers2day Harry Warren is my cousin's first cousin, twice removed (her paternal grandmother's first cousin). He was certainly a musical genius with a golden ear.

[@joeok8641]

One of best ever musicals, along with Roberta.

[@varietyguy]

What about “Footlight Parade?” “Gold diggers of 1933?”

[@lenhummel5614]

*Silly and spectacular ALL AT THE SAME TIME !*

[@mtlicq]

Agreed. That is lovely, but creepy at the same time

[@misterhot9163]

But you haven’t lived until you’ve heard Ginger Rogers sing “We’re in the money” in pig Latin 😆

[@Corinthian44]

Please don't forget , the great Harry Warren and Al Dubin , who wrote these great standards .

[@shawnkinneen6121]

Nancy griffin and chieftains

[@misterhot9163]

Pure escapism at its best!!

[@johnlorenzen4633]

The set and dancers are...cosmic.

[@stephenindc9102]

Done without any zoom lenses ... which were being developed at that time ! All dolley and tracking; real work.

[@Catdaddy510]

Thanks for that knowledge

[@edwardbaranowski4703]

How did he get the shot at 2:25? Amazing!

[@steveliveshere]

Edward Baranowski Edward It was filmed using a hydraulic crane that the cameraman & focus puller could ride on and could move both laterally & horizontally. Berkeley’s overhead style shoots resulted in many innovations including very large and tall (sometimes literally through the roof) film sets. Another innovation Berkeley pushed for was the specialised crane that could be used in these large spaces.

[@trax-3987]

Looking at wiki it seems zoom lens was used in films as early as 1927. But it probably wasn't popular for a long time. Quite a few cinematographers were hostile. I recall the quote from James Wong Howe - "Zoom lenses are for commercials".

[@nancilucey2835]

These musicals were all filled with great American Standards... Unforgettable!

[@youminholastransit3218]

The sets were so creative and surreal back then. No crazy animations or effects

[@Jotage1950]

My country is Uruguay and I knew this song back in the 50's from the hand of The Flamingos I loved it although the version did not appeal to me, then in the 70's I heard the magnificent version of Art Garfunkel and it was magical, the song I was attracted to such an extent that I looked for what was the oldest version, when I saw this gem I could not believe that in the 30's these visual wonders could be created with so few resources, this song will remain in my heart and ears for many years more, thanks.

[@SydLightbodyOfficialMusic9]

This is incredible. And the arrangement is beautiful, rousing! Wow!

[@patsysolatzzo2962]

I think anyone who doesn’t see her beauty is missing the point entirely. Told from the man’s point of view, he only sees her. Only her beauty is what matters and is true. so it doesn’t matter how many other girls who can sing and dance better or have better looks are out there ❤

[@CuteCritters]

not even high but that just tripped me out so hard

[@wolfgangtrubshaw5549]

This is absane and insane on so many levels …

[@Ubu987]

It's insurd!

[@electric_girl]

It*s perfect*✨🌠🌟🧐😍👁️✨👁️✨👁️‍🗨️✨👀✨

[@poorthing]

Don't mind admitting I had to check Urban dictionary for absane.

[@poorthing]

What 2020 female or male or....? Wants to put on that twirly gown and step into a 1930 Busby dance sequence?

[@mikecloud1257]

@@poorthing Those moving heads are creepy but in general, I like the music and dances.

[@1Shao_]

This is my first time hearing this ✨🥺 it’s so beautiful 😪

[@varietyguy]

First time? How’s that?

[@upulinisomasiri105]

This is beyond that time .so beautiful song thanks for posting this.

[@artdecotimes2942]

"that time"..what? you don't even know "that time", shut the fuck up

[@robinshallrestoreamends]

I can only imagine being one of those showgirls. It would drive me nuts if I had put in all this work only to hold up a picture of one movie star who's already had a lot of success.

[@alvexok5523]

Ruby Keeler is so lovely and beautiful. Especially in the middle section of this song when she and all the other women in matching white dresses are dancing and singing so beautifully. When the women sing in their beautiful melodic soprano voices, Ruby's mouth moves along with the other women's making it look like she's singing those high soprano notes also. Well, I'd like to think anyway that she is, but she probably isn't because Ruby never has really sang soprano when actually hearing her sing. At one point earlier on in the song, Ruby talks her line "now you don't know if you're in a garden, do you? come on, answer me. Or on a crowded avenue?". But it's still really cute the way she does it. I really love Ruby in many ways

[@geraldrembert8321]

I heard this song in an old movie I saw on TV back in the late fifties. It was up beat. And this is the movie. WOW

[@gleamtarrest6310]

That singing is spooky!

[@TomokoAbe_]

this is truly lovely

[@rainlori]

Surely Ruby Keeler rising up out of one of her own eyeballs is a cinematic highlight of the 20th century.

[@robertcoogan6421]

This was way before "Matrix", and every girl is Ruby Keeler!

[@harleancarpenter8043]

Yes, Warners employed a mad scientist to transform every chorus girl temporarily, just for this number, lol

[@allenrichards4176]

If I'm going to see 30 pictures of someone's face dancing around, I'm gonna pick Ruby over most others. Also, the part of the song after the pictures of her face with all the Ruby Keelers dancing around in those beautiful white dresses is absolutely wonderful, and the singing at that point in the song is so beautiful. I see and hear 30 angels from heaven during that part of the number

[@canalsoloparaverunvideodem8451]

it made me think of the video for "let forever be" by the chemical brothers. this is so trippy!

[@beowulf916]

If anyone's looking for the version of this song from the movie A.I., this is it.

[@TheQwennjay]

Thx

[@Catdaddy510]

Ive searched for years lol. Thanks

[@metalgrinch]

THANK YOU! Finally!

[@EequalzMc2BigE]

Hey Joe! What do you know?

[@barryobrien7935]

I think I read somewhere that this Harry Warren/Al Dubin song is the most recorded song in history, is that true? In any event isn’t this fabulous? I keep rewatching thanks to KZbin even though this is but a segment of the sweeping presentation of this song. Think of the work, camera set-ups, editing that made it appear Ruby Keeler was everywhere! What genius. Truly some of the most talented people in the world were working in the LA film industry in the thirties and forties.

[@markberryhill2715]

I think I've heard somewhere "Stardust" is the no.1 on most played and recorded,but I could be wrong,feel free to fact check me anytime! Lol

[@rubyparchment5523]

Imagine having to hire 100 dancers with Keeler’s exact measurements. Then having to do their hair!

[@franktarantino7607]

Just beautiful

[@hildashaw746]

Ruby Keeler at her best and I have to admit I knew every word of the song - loved it ,thanks for sharing doubt if girls would be allowed on that wheel or the staircase these days ,what with health & safety rules & union regulations ! Well done girls , all with a lovely smile too.

[@jamesryan6008]

Funny you should mention safety. If you see, Gold Diggers of 1933, while watching "The Shadow Waltz", keep in mind that an earthquake struck while it was being filmed. J

[@jamessmithe5490]

The inventiveness is extraordinary; and it all had to be done for real.

[@petersmith4455]

Ruby Keeler better looking than todays girls, lovely musical

[@varietyguy]

Absolutely!!!

[@ron101346]

Imaginery film of Busby Berkeley directing this movie: "Cut! Cut! Cut! Dancer #37: you put your left foot first instead of your right. Everybody start over from the top!"

[@MrClarkkerr]

Pure cinema.

[@mariaconstanza9002]

Amo todos los musicales antiguos.❤

[@globaleye8]

Long live girlie girls...

[@douglasjackson2361]

Back in the 30's the price of a movie ticket was only a nickel - still less than a dollar in today's money. People flocked to the theater to be entertained and forget the struggles of the Depression for a little while. It is also well understood that Busby Berkeley was a master at 'painting with light' in these days of B&W films.

[@annarodriguez9868]

Minimum wage was 25 cents which would be $10 a week IF you had a job during the depression.

[@tennesseewarminster8591]

Wow...what a beautiful video

[@Tatiana_Palii]

I feel dizzy and nauseous watching this, even though it's beautiful

[@orchardist6529]

They certainly put the work all together in those far off wonderful days of entertainment.

[@datadog7179]

Beautifully done fantasy!

[@finn-fredriklange6610]

I love the era❤️

[@robertoterradez2611]

I expert in cinema and busby berkeley is the great Master in choreography and others things of the musical cinema

[@rogeralsop3479]

Wonderful song.

[@globaltvandmovies4905]

Great production.

[@Eric-yj5xg]

is that the factory where they made all those 30s ladies?

[@spuriouslathos2518]

This song might be the classic, but your profile picture gave me mad flashbacks.

[@Eric-yj5xg]

@@spuriouslathos2518 right? msn ftw

[@reggie18b]

I wish they'd re-open it.

[@CliveStaplesElvis]

They don't show him carrying her across rows and rows of train tracks at the very end! That's the best part.

[@misterhot9163]

I know!! I was disappointed they cut that part out , too.

[@harrywarrenfans4291]

You also don't see the train's destination as shown in the film. The NYC subway line Keeler and Powell are supposed to be riding is the present-day #1 train to 242nd Street/Van Cortlandt Park. The sequence ends at the end of the line in the train yards.

[@deputyruff7771]

I'm sure it's the arrangement, but I half-expected to look at the video and see the Munchkins singing the song. Bless the Flamingos and Art Garfunkel from rescuing this tune from obscurity.

[@shaanz2.087]

Stunning fascinating visuals

[@megs9418]

i was there and loved it!

[@Conn30Mtenor]

Ruby was embarrassed by this. You gotta admit, though....it's brilliant

[@cjurschik]

Did you notice guys the connection to the Gondry video to "Let Forever Be"?

[@Kieran84ire]

YES!

[@elderlypoodle9181]

Absolutely amazing !

[@jatigre1]

I remember the first time I heard that last chorus on AI (Artificial Intelligence) when Gigolo Joe was doing his thing. I thought I'd never hear where it came from. They're like Angels singing. If I ever want to see an image of Heaven, this would be it. And I'd like to date all of them!

[@kentclark6420]

All those Ruby's? Might get repetitive, but fun!

[@Berry-fr5wj]

Ruby Keeler, I only have eyes for you

[@cindylawrence1515]

You'll NEVER see this quality again.....

[@wvanderwahl]

I couldn't agree more. That era is long gone. The world today and what is considered tasteful is very different .

[@artdecotimes2942]

I don't want to say I would kill myself any moment if it meant living at the time right and dying right before the 21st century, but in a less edgy pretenses...I would

[@dominiquerobinson3530]

She reminds me of Joan Cusack. 1:14

[@anastasiaromanov3863]

Lovely !!!!!!!!!!!

[@paulmason6474]

You have to think how much they had to practice. Sometimes on the set at 7.00 am and finishing at 4.00 am the next morning… harsh conditions

[@francesquinn-escott744]

Harry Connick Jr sang this and I couldn't find where it came from - till now. Thanks!

[@jotashock]

Que elegancia la época de mi abuela 😍❤ Gracias KZbin por recomendarme esto jeje

[@TheCaptain64]

Blimey ya think this is by The Flamingos 1959 then find out it was first released 25yrs earlier

[@varietyguy]

Of course! From The Great American Songbook produced during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

[@aestevalis0]

That actress looks a lot like Masie Williams.

[@douglasjackson2361]

Ruby Keeler starred in a number of these musicals back in the day. Films like 42nd Street, among others.

[@lohphat]

Remember that microphones then were pretty weak. The sound was mixed in later. The sound of the set mechanics was probably loud enough if it were a live recording. First the vocals and instrumentals were recorded then played back during filming so they could sing along.

[@countrypaul]

Considering the available technology, this is astounding. Even today, I think it's pretty damn cool!

[@charlesgaskell5899]

You can hear a big change in sound when they sing a capella

[@artdecotimes2942]

@@countrypaul even today, I hear that everyday...today is pathetic and has never upholded anything interesting.

[@samazwe]

@@charlesgaskell5899 I get goosebumps all the time when it kicks in

[@edwardbaranowski4703]

Some parts had to have been filmed in reverse, like when the chorines pull their skirts over their heads to form the jigsaw puzzle of Ruby.

[@SydLightbodyOfficialMusic9]

Edward Baranowski yeah maybe but if you look closely it’s like they shift to make it more together, something seemingly in normal time

[@XX-gy7ue]

SPECTACULAR

[@tellhockey-mn2rq]

Music by the great Harry Warren with lyrics by Al Dubin

[@robertrstevens]

* In an earlier time of depression, a girl was complaining of the negativity and NAY NAY NAYs all around her. To cheer her up, he played her a little song; and here it is -- as only Busby Berkeley and Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell could deliver: ..................... "I only have AYEs for you!"

[@sillysausage2244]

Buzz: I made a video to show how I feel about you... Ruby: 😱😱😱

[@camila28081]

Me encanta esta melodía

[@darwinsilva551]

Hermosa melodía... no como las músicas actuales

[@jamesbrady5663]

This is only five years before Gone with the Wind and Wizard of Oz but it seems much older.

[@newking70]

Seems closer to a talking 1920s film.

[@varietyguy]

“The Jazz Singer” (WB, 1927) was lensed seven years before “Dames” but seems 20 years earlier. It’s mostly the technology and the world evolving.

[@alg11297]

Maybe he was influenced by MC Escher that odd ball artists with the stairs that go up and wind up down.

[@アリアーヌ]

舞台装置と美しい女性達、ひらめくフリルスカート！アングルも素晴らしい！

[@33maple]

Ruby Keeler born in Dartmouth Nova Scotia my hometown

[@OPS5255]

I did not know that.

[@dfghdfghuytiu8207]

Directed by Cyriak. Not many people know that.

[@gordonkemp1620]

Gee what a swell dame, this broad is gorgeous.

[@hotjazzbaby]

It’s actually much longer. Warner is just so cheap for cutting it...

[@Younguitarplayer]

Wow, this is narcotic ...!!!