Dance Girl Dance | |
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Directed by | Frank Strayer |
Written by | Robert Ellis |
Based on | a story by
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Produced by | Maury M. Cohen |
Starring | Alan Dinehart Evalyn Knapp Edward Nugent |
Cinematography | M. A. Anderson |
Edited by | Roland Reed |
Music by | Lee Zahler |
Production company | Invincible Pictures Corp. |
Distributed by | Chesterfield Motion Pictures Corp. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 7 reels |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Dance Girl Dance is a 1933 American pre-Code musical film directed by Frank Strayer from an original screenplay by Robert Ellis. The picture stars Alan Dinehart, Evalyn Knapp, and Edward Nugent, and premiered on September 1, 1933.
"Pitter and Pat" are a Vaudeville song and dance team composed of Joe Pitt and Sally Patter, who live together, although they are unmarried. After a show in a small town, Joe blames Sally for their lack of success, and runs off with Cleo Darville, a showgirl in another act. Unbeknownst to Joe is that Sally is pregnant. Sally goes to New York and talks to their agent, Lou Kendall, who gets her a job as a chorus girl in the Carlton Nightclub, owned by "Val" Wade Valentine. Val falls in love with Sally, who wants to be given a chance to star in the show. Val is impressed with her, and asks her to understudy Claudette, the star of the show and the mistress of Phil Norton, who is the money behind the show. Just as she is beginning to show her abilities, she passes out during a dance number, and it is discovered she is pregnant. Val gives her the money so that she can go away and have her child. After the birth of her child, she returns to New York, where she becomes a star in the show.
One night, Joe returns to New York, having broken up with Cleo. He sees Sally in the show, but is down on his luck and looking for work. That night, Val proposes to Sally, but she tells him she needs to think about it. Joe appears, without revealing their relationship, Sally convinces Val to give Joe a shot. Joe visits Sally at her apartment, and finds out about the baby. He offers to come back if she will ever forgive him and take him back. After he leaves, Val arrives and proposes again, letting her know that he knows about the baby, but it does not matter. She politely declines his offer of marriage.
Joe has gotten a job singing to sell soap. Val finds him and offers him a job. He is in an act with another man, but the act fails. However, when the orchestra plays the song that Sally had composed, and she joins him from her box seat, they are a success. The act is reformed and Sally marries Joe.
In July 1933 it was announced that Alan Dinehart and Ada May had been contracted to star in the film. Maury Cohen, the producer, was also attempting to add Sari Maritza and Skeets Gallagher to the cast. [3] In early August, it was announced that Frank Strayer was directing for Invincible Pictures, and it was being produced at Mack Sennett Studios. Also added to the cast were Evalyn Knapp, Edward Nugent, Gloria Shea, Theodore von Eltz, and George Grandee. [4] Pearl Eaton was signed on to do to the choreography, with songs by Harry Carroll. [5] Lee Zahler was hired to supervise the film's music, and co-wrote the theme song to the film, "Seeing is Believing". [6] The film premiered on September 1, 1933. [7]
Harrison's Reports gave the film a good review, calling it "a well produced independent picture..." which was "...good entertainment". They enjoyed the musical numbers and felt it held the attention of the audience. They complimented the ability of Ada May, but felt that the acting of Evalyn Knapp was sub-par. [1] Hollywood Filmograph gave the film a glowing review, praising the acting of Knapp and Alan Dinehart. They particularly enjoyed the work of Mae Busch and Ada May, and also praised Gloria Shea, Eddie Nugent, as well as the comedic musical talents of George Grandee. They enjoyed the musical numbers and especially gave praise to choreographer Pearl Eaton and cinematographer M. A. Anderson. [8]
Sally Rand was an American burlesque dancer, vedette, and actress, famous for her ostrich-feather fan dance and balloon bubble dance. She also performed under the name Billie Beck. Rand got her start as a chorus girl before working as an acrobat and traveling theater performer. Her career spanned more than forty years and she appeared on stage, screen and in television. Through her career she worked alongside Humphrey Bogart, Karl Malden and Cecil B. DeMille. She was a trained pilot and briefly dated Charles Lindbergh.
Louise Beavers was an American film and television actress who appeared in dozens of films and two hit television shows from the 1920s to 1960. She played a prominent role in advancing the lives of Black Americans through her work and collaborated with fellow advocates to improve the social standing and media image of the Black population.
Reefer Madness is a musical satire of the 1936 propaganda film and cult classic Reefer Madness that opened in Los Angeles in 1998. The book and lyrics were written by Kevin Murphy and the book and music by Dan Studney. Directed by Andy Fickman, it was initially shown at the Hudson Theater on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles. The Off-Broadway production ran from September 15 to October 28, 2001, at the Variety Arts Theatre. Rodgers and Hammerstein Theatricals now administers the stock/amateur rights, and the show has been produced by local theater groups in several cities, including Long Island, Toronto, Seattle, Philadelphia, Charleston, Sacramento, Raleigh, Norfolk, Minneapolis, and London. The 2008 production at the Studio Theater in Washington, D.C. won two Helen Hayes Awards, for directing and outstanding Resident Production.
Side Show is a 1931 American pre-Code musical comedy drama film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Winnie Lightner, Charles Butterworth, Evalyn Knapp and Donald Cook. It was produced and released by Warner Bros. The film was based on a story by William K. Wells. Although it was planned and filmed as a full-scale musical, most of the songs were cut from the film before release due to the public tiring of musicals.
Theodore von Eltz was an American film actor, appearing in more than 200 films between 1915 and 1957. He was the father of actress Lori March.
Evalyn Knapp was an American film actress of the late 1920s, 1930s and into the 1940s. She was a leading B-movie serial actress in the 1930s. She was the younger sister of the orchestra leader Orville Knapp.
Mason Alan Dinehart Sr. was an American actor, director, writer, and stage manager.
The Millionaire is a 1931 all-talking pre-Code comedy film produced and distributed by Warner Bros. and starring George Arliss in the title role. The film is a remake of the 1922 film titled The Ruling Passion, which also starred Arliss. The film was based on the short story "Idle Hands" by Earl Derr Biggers. In one of his early film roles, James Cagney had a brief but key appearance as a life insurance salesman. The supporting cast features Florence Arliss, David Manners, Evalyn Knapp, Noah Beery Sr., Cagney, J. Farrell MacDonald, Charley Grapewin and Tully Marshall.
The Perils of Pauline is a 1933 American Pre-Code film serial, and sound film remake, of the Pathé original. The 12-chapter "cliffhanger" was produced by Universal Studios. Evalyn Knapp, herself a graduate of Pathé silent short subjects, starred as the heroine, Pauline Hargraves. Historic newsreel footage of the 1930 flight of the Dornier Do X seaplane is featured in chapter eight.
The Strange Love of Molly Louvain is a 1932 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Ann Dvorak and Lee Tracy. The script was based on the play Tinsel Girl by Maurine Dallas Watkins.
This Is My Affair is a 1937 American period crime film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Robert Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, Victor McLaglen and Brian Donlevy. It was produced and released by 20th Century Fox.
Theresa Harris was an American television and film actress, singer and dancer.
Beyond Victory is a 1931 American pre-Code war film starring Bill Boyd, James Gleason, Lew Cody, and ZaSu Pitts. While John Robertson received directing credit, Edward H. Griffith supposedly took extensive re-takes after production ended and the film was deemed not audience ready. Two actresses with major roles in the original version were completely cut from the final release, Helen Twelvetrees and June Collyer. The original screenplay was written by Horace Jackson and James Gleason. While the film might not have made a profit at the box office, it was well received by critics.
Professional Sweetheart is a 1933 American pre-Code romantic comedy directed by William A. Seiter from a screenplay by Maurine Watkins. It stars Ginger Rogers in her first film for RKO Radio Pictures, with Norman Foster, ZaSu Pitts and Frank McHugh. The film is a satire of the radio industry.
Danger Patrol is a 1937 American drama film directed by Lew Landers from a screenplay by Sy Bartlett based on a story by Helen Vreeland and Hilda Vincent. Produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, it was released on December 3, 1937, and stars Sally Eilers, John Beal, and Harry Carey.
Big Town Girl is a 1937 American drama film directed by Alfred L. Werker and written by Lou Breslow, Robert Ellis, Helen Logan and John Patrick. The film stars Claire Trevor, Donald Woods, Alan Dinehart, Alan Baxter, Murray Alper and Spencer Charters. The film was released on December 3, 1937, by 20th Century Fox.
Good Sport is a 1931 American comedy film directed by Kenneth MacKenna and written by William Hurlbut. The film stars Linda Watkins, John Boles, Greta Nissen, Minna Gombell, Hedda Hopper and Alan Dinehart. The film was released on December 13, 1931, by Fox Film Corporation.
Jimmy and Sally is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy-drama film directed by James Tinling and written by Paul Schofield and Marguerite Roberts with additional dialogue by William Conselman. Starring James Dunn, Claire Trevor, Harvey Stephens, Lya Lys, and Jed Prouty, the story concerns a self-centered publicist who relies on his secretary's creativity but takes her affection for him for granted. After a series of publicity blunders and being fired several times, he humbly acknowledges that he is the one responsible for letting their relationship collapse. Though she has accepted a marriage proposal from another publicist in his absence, the girl still loves him, and ultimately chooses him.
He's a Honey is a 1932 short musical comedy film directed by Walter Graham. It stars Harry Barris and features Helen Mann, Eleanor Hunt, and Edgar Kennedy. Its working title was Wedding Night.
Orville Knapp was an American dance bandleader born in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the brother of Evalyn Knapp.