We Were Dancing (1942)

Director:

Robert Z. Leonard

Writers:

Noel Coward (play)
Claudine West (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

8 February 1943 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Playmates Of Millionaires, But They Don't Have A Dime To Dance On!

Plot Keywords:

Polish American | Austrian American | Hat | Inn | Hollywood California

Cast

Norma Shearer	...	Victoria Anastasia 'Vicki' Wilomirska
Melvyn Douglas	...	Nicholas Eugen August Wolfgang 'Nikki' Prax, aka Mr. Manescu
Gail Patrick	...	Linda Wayne
Lee Bowman	...	Hubert Tyler
Marjorie Main	...	Judge Sidney Hawkes
Reginald Owen	...	Major Berty Tyler-Blane
Alan Mowbray	...	Grand Duke Basil
Florence Bates	...	Mrs. Elsa Vanderlip
Heather Thatcher	...	Mrs. Tyler-Blane
Connie Gilchrist	...	Olive Ransome
Nella Walker	...	Mrs. Janet Bentley
Florence Shirley	...	Mrs. Charteris
Russell Hicks	...	Mr. Bryce-Carew
Norma Varden	...	Mrs. Bryce-Carew

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Polish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #7883) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Loew's

Trivia:

Many cast members in studio records/casting call lists did not appear or were not identifiable in the movie. These were (with their character names, if any): Philip Ahn (Chinaman), Meeka Aldrich (Housemaid), Richard Alexander (Moving man), Polly Bailey (Flower woman), Alex Callam (Clerk), Bill Fisher (Train conductor), Dennis Hoey (Prince Wilomirsky), Esther Michelson (Headwaiter's wife), Harold Minjir (Beverly), Alan Napier (Captain Blackstone), Lionel Pape (Englishman), John Piffle (Dutchman), Paul Porcasi (Manager of Duquense), George Reed (Butler at Blane's house), Sig Ruman (Baron Prax), Tim Ryan, Charles Sullivan (Train announcer), Jacques Vanaire (Beverly's assistant) and 'Ian Wolfe'. Also, Ava Gardner supposedly made her motion picture debut in this film in a crowd scene, but she is not identifiable.

Movie Connections:

Version of Meet Me Tonight (1952)

Soundtrack:

The Wedding March

Norma Glorious... Don't Miss This !

For all the new scholarship about this neglected actress, people still need to see her in action. Yes-- let's accept the fact that, by 1942, Norma Shearer was past caring about a career in the movies, and let's take this romp for what it is: fun, vibrant, and a showcase for Norma. Her penultimate film brings out her exquisite comic timing, and her bursts of Polish round out the very amusing character of Vicky. Realize that Norma is winking at the camera and her public all through this film, asking only that we accept it on its terms: a fun exercise to help finish out her career (though there is evidence that she, in retrospect, didn't care much for it).