Dance, Fools, Dance (1931)

After the death of her father and loss of the family fortune, Bonnie gets a job as a cub reporter while her brother becomes involved in bootlegging.

Director:

Harry Beaumont

Writers:

Aurania Rouverol (story), Richard Schayer (continuity)

Stars:

Joan Crawford, Lester Vail, Cliff Edwards

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Joan Crawford	...	Bonnie
Lester Vail	...	Bob
Cliff Edwards	...	Bert Scranton
William Bakewell	...	Rodney
William Holden	...	Stanley Jordan
Clark Gable	...	Jake Luva
Earle Foxe	...	Wally (as Earl Foxe)
Purnell Pratt	...	Parker (as Purnell B. Pratt)
Hale Hamilton	...	Selby
Natalie Moorhead	...	Della
Joan Marsh	...	Sylvia
Russell Hopton	...	Whitey

Storyline

After her father Stanley Jordan loses his wealth in market, Bonnie goes to work as a cub reporter. Her brother Rodney is the wheel man in a gangland massacre. Bert, a reporter on Bonnie's paper, is murdered while investigating. Bonnie gets to know gang leader Jake Luva and learns how the gang works and that her brother is involved. By the time it's over her wealthy friend Bob sees how wonderful she is and falls in love with her for good.

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Plot Keywords:

reporter | nightclub | bootlegging | murder | wheel man | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 February 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

Danzad, locos, danzad

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In real life, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre occurred on February 14, 1929 while the Stock Exchange Crash happened on October 29, 1929. In this film the Crash occurs first.

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Goofs

When Rodney comes into the yacht cabin to find Bonnie blow-drying her hair, she looks up at him and her hair is a frizzy mess. In the very next shot, her hair is perfectly styled.

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Quotes

Bob: You know I'm very much in love with you, don't you?
Bonnie: Are you?
Bob: I'm crazy about you, and you know it.
Bonnie: I didn't know.
Bob: Well, you know it now.
Bonnie: What about it?
[She takes a drink]
Bob: That's it... what? Are you going to make me stand around on ceremony?
Bonnie: Think I'm so old-fashioned?
Bob: I hope not.
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Indie Sex: Censored (2007)

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Soundtracks

"Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor, Op.27 No.2 (Moonlight Sonata)"
(1800-01) (uncredited)
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
Played on piano by Natalie Moorhead
Reprised on piano by Joan Crawford in a swing version

User Reviews

Dancing, fighting, undies, what more could you want?

This is the third Crawford film that I have seen, the others were "Whatever happened to Baby Jane" and "Mildred Pierce". What a beauty she was back then and what a personality too. Much different than the one she would show later in her film career. This movie was a joy to watch.

This is a story about a girl who's wealthy father dies leaving her and brother penniless. She finds a job as a reporter and her brother a job as a bootlegger with the mob. Newcomer Clark Gable plays the head of the mob. Trouble happens and kid brother talks then sister comes running to help, though she has to deal with Gable first. This is the movie that put Gable on the map. It would be the first of nine films they would star together at M-G-M.

The storyline is typical but Crawford and Gable made it good. The supporting cast is good as well. This was Lester Vail's first film(though he only made four more). William Bakewell, playing the brother, was funny when he was telling Bonnie to become a runway model and did that strike a pose! Hello!!

I would recommend this film to anyone who wants a glimpse into Crawford's early work.