Dames (1934)

I don't recall even hearing about 'Dames' until I learned that director Edger Wright ('Shaun of the Dead', 'Baby Driver') had included it on a list of his favorite films, #22 sandwiched between 'Fury Road' and 'Halloween'. If he had just wanted to include  a Busby Birkley musical in his list there are more famous examples so why this one? I had to investigate.

Eccentric Bufflo millionaire Hugh Herbert must determine if his cousin Guy Kibbee's family is morally worthy to inherent $10 million. Herbert comes to visit, Kibbee and kin want to put on their best face, but Guy ends up being blackmailed by Joan Blondel, while his daughter Ruby Keeler ends up in a racey Broadway show being put on by  distant cousin Dick Powell with whom she is in love.

Birkley's quarkiest musical its a solid three stars for the first two acts, but the last act is four stars, boasting the strangest, trippyist musical numbers to come out of the pre code era, which is really saying something. I get why this is on Wright's list. I give it ***1/2