Why is Buddy Rogers singing about government programs? My thoughts on New Deal Rhythm (1933)

If you have eight minutes to spare and want to see how the 1930s tried to make government economic policies look sexy, then yes, New Deal Rhythm is worth your time.

History buffs and fans of bizarre old footage will absolutely love this. Anyone expecting a real story or actual characters will probably want to throw their screen out the window.

Basically, this is a musical commercial for Franklin D. Roosevelt's economic recovery plan.

Buddy Rogers shows up looking incredibly shiny and cheerful. He sings a song about a bird, which is supposed to represent the Blue Eagle of the National Recovery Administration. 🐦

Yes, you read that right. A song about a bird to explain why people need to go back to work.

The whole thing feels like a fever dream, honestly. It reminded me a bit of the oddball energy in Dream House, except with way more political messaging and fewer actual jokes.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of New Deal Rhythm (1933) through its definitive frames.

The Waving Arms of Progress

At one point, a bunch of girls start waving their arms around in the background. They look like they are trying to fly, or maybe they just have really bad cramps.

Then they form a giant human jigsaw puzzle to spell out the NRA emblem. It is impressive in a weird, mechanical sort of way, though slightly creepy if you think about it too much.

I spotted Marjorie Main in the background for a split second. She looks completely lost, like she took a wrong turn on her way to a different movie set.

"It’s the New Deal Rhythm, it’s got to go through!"

That lyric will absolutely get stuck in your head. I have been humming it all morning and I hate myself for it.

The camera work is pretty basic, but the way they transition from the singing to the dancing is so abrupt it makes you jump. There is a moment where the scenery moves that looks like a giant cardboard box being pushed by tired stagehands.

You can almost see their shoes at the bottom of the screen. It is these little imperfections that make these old shorts so fun to watch.

Odd things I noticed:

• Buddy Rogers smiles so hard his face must have ached for days after filming.
• The dancers are wearing outfits that look like they were made of shiny tin foil.
• The little girl, Cora Sue Collins, just stands there looking hopeful but has absolutely nothing to do.

Do not expect a masterpiece here. Just enjoy the pure, unadulterated oddness of 1930s propoganda.