I saw Busby Berkeley's "The Gang's All Here" at Film Forum.

And learned that in a musical you can sing about anything--even polka dots--and for a super long time.

At first it seems kind of random, but if you hold on, you'll see that the song's elevation of polka dots to a pattern worthy of an elaborate song and dance (and probably cinema's finest use of adult voices synced to bow-tie wearing boys, and curly-haired, bottle red girls) enables the film to transition into primitive green screened, disembodied heads (POLKA DOTS!) of all of the characters, efficiently wrapping up the narrative in the most insane way I've ever seen.

Interestingly, this is the only time that all of the characters are together on screen, therefore, the "here" in "The Gang's All Here" can only refer to the whole stinking gang being in the polka dots. What?!

What I wouldn't give to have been in the room when Berkley pitched this idea. "No, no, not a polka! Polka dots! The dots! We'll sing about 'em! We'll get the honeys to hold onto 'em! It'll be a sensation!"

 

It really makes me rethink the patterns in my life that deserve a verse or two. Flannel? A peter pan collar? A fine layer of cat fur? Busby Berkeley pipe dreams?