''Dance, Little Lady'' is a 1954 British drama film directed by Val Guest and starring Terence Morgan,

Mai Zetterling Mai Elisabeth Zetterling (; 24 May 1925 – 17 March 1994) was a Swedish film director, novelist and actor. Early life Zetterling was born in Västerås, Sweden to a working class family. She started her career as an actor at the age of 17 at D ...

Guy Rolfe Guy Rolfe (born Edwin Arthur Rolfe, 27 December 1911 – 19 October 2003) was a British actor. Career Rolfe was born in Kilburn, London. Before turning to acting at the age of 24 he was a professional boxer and racing driver, making his stage ...

and Mandy Miller. The film was made by independent producer George Minter and distributed by his

Renown Pictures Renown Pictures Corporation is a British film distributor founded by producer George Minter in 1938. Releases Renown's releases include: * '' Scrooge'' (1951) * ''Grand National Night'' (1953) * ''Dance, Little Lady'' (1954) * ''Svengali'' (1 ...

. It was shot in Eastmancolor at the Walton Studios near London. The film's sets were designed by the

art director Art director is the title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film industry, film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and ...

Frederick Pusey.

Plot

Prima ballerina Nina Gordon is being financially exploited by her husband Mark (Terence Morgan). On the night of her triumphant Royal Opera House debut, she discovers he is also being unfaithful. Distraught, she leaves the party they were attending. However, Mark pulls up in their car and she gets in and he drives off at speed into the night. There is a car crash and Nina's leg is badly broken. Learning that she'll never dance again, Nina is abandoned by Mark. But with the help of a sympathetic doctor (Guy Rolfe), Nina recovers the use of her legs, and begins to live her life vicariously through her talented daughter (Mandy Miller). When Mark reenters Nina's life, intending to take control of the daughter's dancing career, he finds the tables are turned on him.

Cast

* Terence Morgan as Mark Gordon *

as Nina Gordon *

as Dr. John Ransome * Mandy Miller as Jill Gordon *

Eunice Gayson Eunice Elizabeth Sargaison (17 March 1928 – 8 June 2018), known professionally as Eunice Gayson, was an English actress best known for playing Sylvia Trench, James Bond's love interest in the first two Bond films ('' Dr. No'' and '' From Russi ...

as Adele *

Reginald Beckwith William Reginald Beckwith (2 November 190826 June 1965) was an English film and television actor, who made over one hundred film and television appearances in his career. He died of a heart attack aged 56. Beckwith was also a film critic and ...

as Poldi *

Ina De La Haye Ina De La Haye (1906–1972) was a Russian Empire born actress and singer known for her performances in Britain on stage, film and television. She was also known as Ina Delahaye.Wearing p.56 She was married to Colonel J. V. Delahaye from 1930 to ...

as Mme. Bayanova * Harold Lang as Mr. Bridson * Lisa Gastoni as Amaryllis * Jane Aird as Mary * David Poole as Dancer *

Maryon Lane Maryon Lane (15 February 1931 – 13 June 2008) was a South African ballet dancer who became well known in Britain as a ballerina of the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet and as a soloist with the Royal Ballet. Early life and training Maryon Lane w ...

as Dancer * Richard O'Sullivan as Peter * William Kendall as Mr. Matthews * Joan Hickson as Mrs. Matthews * Alexander Gauge as Joseph Miller *

Vera Day Vera Day (born 4 August 1935) is an English film and television actress. She was born in London just before the war and grew up in Forest Gate, East London. Early career Leaving school at 15, she had various jobs before finding employment in ...

as Gladys * Gabrielle Blunt as Switchboard Operator * Marianne Stone as Nurse * Helen Goss as Neighbour * Joan Benham as Nurse * Molly Lumley as Dresser * Jane Asher as Child * Ronald Dorey as Fire Engine Driver

Critical reception

The

Radio Times ''Radio Times'' (currently styled as ''RadioTimes'') is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in May 1923 by J ...

wrote, "the dance sequences are fine, but the poor production values ruin the look of the film" ; while TV Guide called it "a trite film" ; but

Sky Movies Sky Cinema is a British subscription film service owned by Sky Group (a division of Comcast). In the United Kingdom, Sky Cinema channels currently broadcast on the Sky satellite and Virgin Media cable platforms, and in addition Sky Cinema ...

wrote, "Terence Morgan makes the best impression, as a sponger as smooth as he is nasty, in this ballet-orientated story, tailored to the talents of Britain's then screen wonder child, Mandy Miller. It bases its appeal on a blend of small-girl sentiment, highly coloured melodramatics and ballet (the dance ensembles are very well done). Mai Zetterling and Guy Rolfe provide rather limp support to Mandy's undeniable charm, but the story's fiery climax is most effective."

References

External links

* 1954 films 1954 drama films British drama films 1950s English-language films Films directed by Val Guest Films shot at Nettlefold Studios Films set in London {{1950s-UK-film-stub 1950s British films