A flapper with a dubious reputation enjoys a vivacious night of dancing and finds herself romantically linked to her boss.
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Title: Why Be Good? (1929)
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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:
Flaming Youth - 1929 Model! See more »Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
23 May 1929 (Denmark) 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
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(uncredited)
Music by Maceo Pinkard
Played during the Charleston contest
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Soundtrack to reel 1 recorded February 11 and 19, 1929; Soundtrack to reel 2 recorded February 13 and 14, 1929; Soundtrack to reel 3 recorded February 14, 1929; Soundtrack to reel 4 recorded February 13, 1929; Soundtrack to reels 5, 6, 7, and 8 recorded February 15, 1929. See more »Goofs
When Peabody, Sr. enters the Store Manager's office he calls him Ralph. But the name on the Manager's door is H.B. Lewis. See more »Soundtracks
Sweet Georgia Brown(uncredited)
Music by Maceo Pinkard
Played during the Charleston contest
See more »
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Dreadful picture. One of the worst pictures I have seen from 1929. The main characters awaken absolutely no sympathy from the viewer. Watching the 30 year old Colleen Moore trying to act like a dumb teenager is absolutely ridiculous. Furthermore, the thought of someone like Neil Hamilton (or any sane person for that matter) falling in love with such a silly ridiculous person (dressed in some of the most ridiculous fashions I have seen) is beyond belief. Almost every other women in the picture, including the extras, are much more attractive that she is. I am also shocked on how bad the Synchronized Score is, especially as this is a First National picture, as all other example of Synchronized musical scoring I have heard from 1928-1929 for First National pictures are quite elegant and tasteful. The music in the dancing sequences is crass and annoying and I find it hard to believe that the extras were dancing to anything even remotely sounding like that.
If you look at film trade reviews from the period, the film did very poorly upon release. I'm surprised that First National produced two expensive all talking musicals ("Smiling Irish Eyes" and "Footlights and Fools" with Technicolor sequences) in 1929 after this disaster.. again starring Colleen Moore... which are lost but frankly after seeing this film it is no great loss if her acting in those pictures was even remotely similar to that she gives in the disaster known as "Why Be Good"