It's a musical without all the extra stuff

Office Blues (1930)
Starring: Ginger Rogers, Clairborne Bryson, and E.R. Rogers
Director: Mort Blumenstock
Rating: Six of Ten Stars

A secretary (Rogers) fantasizes about having a romantic relationship with her stern boss (Bryson) while ignoring the coworker who carries a torch for her (Rogers).

Do you like the musicals from the early talkies period? Would you like them even more if there were the barest minimum of all that dialogue and stuff between the songs and production numbers? Well, then "Office Blues" is for you!

"Office Blues" is a short (barely nine minutes log) musical that still manages to offer two really catchy songs and a big production number. There isn't much time for comedy or drama (although the prematurely balding coworker who's pining for the boss's beautiful secretary offers a bit of both), but I think lovers of music from this era will enjoy this film a lot. Personally, my favorite part is the production number and the costumes worn by the chorus line.

Fans of Ginger Rogers should also definitely check this out. It's one of her earliest starring roles--she was 18 at the time this was filmed--and it's clear that she excelled in song, dance, and acting. To say that she is "radiant" and "lights up the screen" in this "Office Blues" is not overstating her screen presence here. (Although she is made to look even more spectacular due to the fact that her co-stars have the charisma of dish rags.)

"Office Blues" is embedded below for your viewing convenience and pleasure. I hope you enjoy it!