A flapper with a dubious reputation enjoys a vivacious night of dancing and finds herself romantically linked to her boss.
Crazy Rich Asians star Gemma Chan gets real about her favorite movies, her "Queer Eye" desires, and her biggest TV crush.
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: Why Be Good? (1929)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
Learn more
People who liked this also liked...
Synthetic Sin
(1929)
Comedy
Director:
William A. Seiter
Stars:
Colleen Moore,
Antonio Moreno,
Edythe Chapman
Terje Vigen
(1917)
Drama
|
War
Director:
Victor Sjöström
Stars:
Victor Sjöström,
August Falck,
Edith Erastoff
Craig's Wife
(1936)
Certificate: Passed
Drama
Director:
Dorothy Arzner
Stars:
Rosalind Russell,
John Boles,
Billie Burke
Comedy
|
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
Michael Curtiz
Stars:
Warren William,
Margaret Lindsay,
Donald Woods
Show People
(1928)
Comedy
|
Romance
Director:
King Vidor
Stars:
Marion Davies,
William Haines,
Dell Henderson
Footlights and Fools
(1929)
Drama
|
Musical
Director:
William A. Seiter
Stars:
Colleen Moore,
Raymond Hackett,
Fredric March
Ladies in Love
(1936)
Comedy
|
Romance
Director:
Edward H. Griffith
Stars:
Janet Gaynor,
Loretta Young,
Constance Bennett
Suddenly
(1954)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Film-Noir
Director:
Lewis Allen
Stars:
Frank Sinatra,
Sterling Hayden,
James Gleason
The Racket
(1928)
Certificate: Passed
Crime
|
Drama
|
Film-Noir
Director:
Lewis Milestone
Stars:
Thomas Meighan,
Louis Wolheim,
Marie Prevost
Beyond the Rocks
(1922)
Certificate: Passed
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Sam Wood
Stars:
Gloria Swanson,
Rudolph Valentino,
Edythe Chapman
Death Watch
(1980)
Drama
|
Sci-Fi
Director:
Bertrand Tavernier
Stars:
Romy Schneider,
Harvey Keitel,
Harry Dean Stanton
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview: | |||
| Colleen Moore | ... | Pert Kelly | |
| Neil Hamilton | ... | Winthrop Peabody Jr. | |
| Bodil Rosing | ... | Ma Kelly | |
| John St. Polis | ... | Pa Kelly (as John Sainpolis) | |
| Edward Martindel | ... | Winthrop Peabody Sr. | |
 |
Eddie Clayton | ... | Tom |
|
|
Lincoln Stedman | ... | Jerry |
| Louis Natheaux | ... | Jimmy Alexander | |
|
|
Collette Merton | ... | Julie |
|
|
Dixie Gay | ... | Susie |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
A young shop girl is dance mad, even winning prize cups in competitions. Circulating with lots of people gives her a dubious reputation, but we see it's unwarranted. The son of the owner of the department store she works in falls for her without realizing her status. at length, he puts her to a test to see just what kind of girl she is. Written by WesternOne
Taglines:
A whoopee picture about the wild younger set. The real low down on flaming youth-right from the shoulder, right to your heart. You are the loser if you don't see "Why Be Good." (print ad- Anniston (Ala.) Star, 24 March 1929) See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
10 April 1930 (Finland) See more »Also Known As:
That's a Bad Girl See more »Filming Locations:
Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USACompany Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Vitaphone) (Western Electric Equipment) (musical score and sound effects)| Silent (alternate version)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1
Edit
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Armstrong
Pantomimed by Junior's friends in the car outside Pert's house
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Vitaphone production reels #3091-3098 See more »Goofs
When the Store Manager takes Pert Kelly's file from the file cabinet he takes it from the drawer beneath the one marked O-P, not from the drawer marked K, as would be expected. See more »Soundtracks
You're the Flower of My Heart, Sweet Adeline(uncredited)
Music by Harry Armstrong
Pantomimed by Junior's friends in the car outside Pert's house
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
Explore popular and recently added TV series available to stream now with Prime Video.
Colleen Moore stars as Pert Kelly, a sales girl in a department store by day and a jazz baby by night. One night she meets a guy (Neil Hamilton) who happens to be the son of the department store owner. They hit it off, but when she's late for work the following morning, she's called into his office and they discover who they are. She's fired by the store owner, but she thinks the son did it. Rich daddy tries to protect his son from that kind of girl and talks him into testing her by taking her to a hotel to see how she reacts. Is she a good girl? Does it matter? After all, why be good? Moore is terrific as the dance-crazed flapper (who still lives at home with mom and pop). With her signature hair-do and skimpy dresses, she the very picture of the silent flapper. Hamilton is also good as the naïve son. Co-stars include Jack Norton as the drunken boyfriend, Bodil Rosing as the mother, John St. Polis as the father, and Edward Martindel as the store owner. Look fast for Grady Sutton, Mischa Auer, and Jean Harlow among the revelers.
This film was recently released on DVD after a massive effort to restore its video elements from several sources and its excellent Vitaphone soundtrack. After being listed as a lost film for many decades, we now have a shiny new version restored and available.