''Dance Girl Dance'' is a 1933 American pre-Code

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as breaks ...

directed by Frank Strayer from an original screenplay by Robert Ellis. The picture stars

Alan Dinehart Mason Alan Dinehart Sr. (born Harold Alan Dinehart; October 3, 1889 – July 18, 1944) was an American actor, director, writer, and stage manager. Biography Dinehart initially studied to be a priest, but he turned to the theater instead. ...

, Evalyn Knapp, and Edward Nugent, and premiered on September 1, 1933.

Cast list

as "Val" Wade Valentine * Evalyn Knapp as Sally Patter * Edward Nugent as Joe Pitt * Ada May as Claudette * Mae Busch as Lou Kendall * Theodore von Eltz as Phil Norton * Gloria Shea as Cleo Darville * George Grandee as Mozart

Plot

"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.

Production

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 Sari Maritza (born Dora Patricia Detring-Nathan; 17 March 1910 – July 1987) was a British film actress of the early 1930s. Early years Born Dora Patricia Detring-Nathan in Tianjin, China, Maritza was the daughter of Major Walter Si ...

and

Skeets Gallagher Skeets may refer to: People * Skeets Gallacher (1925–2013), British boxer * Richard "Skeets" Gallagher (1891–1955), American actor * Skeets Herfurt (1911–1992), American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist * Skeets Martin (1875–1944), American ...

to the cast. In early August, it was announced that Frank Strayer was directing for Invincible Pictures, and it was being produced at

Mack Sennett Studios Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American film actor, director, and producer, and studio head, known as the 'King of Comedy'. Born in Danville, Quebec, in 1880, he started in films in th ...

. Also added to the cast were Evalyn Knapp, Edward Nugent, Gloria Shea, Theodore von Eltz, and George Grandee. Pearl Eaton was signed on to do to the choreography, with songs by

Harry Carroll Harry Carroll (November 28, 1892, in Atlantic City, New Jersey – December 26, 1962, in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania) was an American songwriter, pianist, and composer. Biography Carroll taught himself how to play the piano and began playing in mo ...

. Lee Zahler was hired to supervise the film's music, and co-wrote the theme song to the film, "Seeing is Believing". The film premiered on September 1, 1933.

Reception

Harrison's Reports ''Harrison's Reports'' was a New York City-based motion picture trade journal published weekly from 1919 to 1962. The typical issue was four letter-size pages sent to subscribers under a second-class mail permit. Its founder, editor and publisher ...

'' 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. ''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.

References

External links

* * * {{Frank R. Strayer 1933 musical films 1933 films American musical films Films directed by Frank R. Strayer Films scored by Lee Zahler American black-and-white films Chesterfield Pictures films 1930s American films 1930s English-language films English-language musical films