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IMDbPro

Why Be Good?

  • 19291929
  • TV-GTV-G
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
470
YOUR RATING
Colleen Moore in Why Be Good? (1929)
ComedyDramaMusic
A flapper with a dubious reputation enjoys a vivacious night of dancing and finds herself romantically linked to her boss.A flapper with a dubious reputation enjoys a vivacious night of dancing and finds herself romantically linked to her boss.A flapper with a dubious reputation enjoys a vivacious night of dancing and finds herself romantically linked to her boss.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
470
YOUR RATING
    • William A. Seiter
    • Paul Perez(titles)
    • Carey Wilson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Colleen Moore
    • Neil Hamilton
    • Bodil Rosing
    • William A. Seiter
    • Paul Perez(titles)
    • Carey Wilson(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Colleen Moore
    • Neil Hamilton
    • Bodil Rosing
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 19User reviews
    • 14Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos42

    Neil Hamilton and Colleen Moore in Why Be Good? (1929)
    "Why Be Good?" Colleen Moore, Neil Hamilton 1929 First National **I.V.
    Colleen Moore in Why Be Good? (1929)
    Neil Hamilton and Colleen Moore in Why Be Good? (1929)
    Colleen Moore in Why Be Good? (1929)
    Neil Hamilton and Colleen Moore in Why Be Good? (1929)
    Dixie Gay, Collette Merton, and Colleen Moore in Why Be Good? (1929)
    Bodil Rosing in Why Be Good? (1929)
    Eddie Clayton, Neil Hamilton, Edward Martindel, and Colleen Moore in Why Be Good? (1929)
    Eddie Clayton, Dixie Gay, Neil Hamilton, Edward Martindel, Collette Merton, Colleen Moore, Louis Natheaux, and Lincoln Stedman in Why Be Good? (1929)
    Neil Hamilton and Edward Martindel in Why Be Good? (1929)
    Colleen Moore in Why Be Good? (1929)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Colleen Moore
    Colleen Moore
    • Pert Kelly
    Neil Hamilton
    Neil Hamilton
    • Winthrop Peabody Jr.
    Bodil Rosing
    Bodil Rosing
    • Ma Kelly
    John St. Polis
    John St. Polis
    • Pa Kelly
    • (as John Sainpolis)
    Edward Martindel
    Edward Martindel
    • Winthrop Peabody Sr.
    Eddie Clayton
    • Tom
    Lincoln Stedman
    Lincoln Stedman
    • Jerry
    Louis Natheaux
    Louis Natheaux
    • Jimmy Alexander
    Collette Merton
    • Julie
    Dixie Gay
    • Susie
    Mischa Auer
    Mischa Auer
    • Man Dancing at The Boiler
    • (uncredited)
    Bobby Burns Berman
    • Night Club Show Host
    • (uncredited)
    Phyllis Crane
    Phyllis Crane
    • Salesgirl
    • (uncredited)
    Andy Devine
    Andy Devine
    • Young Man at The Boiler
    • (uncredited)
    Jean Harlow
    Jean Harlow
    • Blonde on Rooftop Bench at Junior's Second Party
    • (uncredited)
    Phil Harris
    Phil Harris
    • Drummer in Band at The Boiler
    • (uncredited)
    Earl McCarthy
    • Party Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Jack O'Shea
    Jack O'Shea
    • Man at Dance Contest
    • (uncredited)
      • William A. Seiter
      • Paul Perez(titles)
      • Carey Wilson(screenplay) (story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film was lost for decades until it was found in the late 1990s. The sole known 35mm nitrate print was discovered in an Italian archive. The print had been donated by actor Antonio Moreno who starred in Colleen Moore's Synthetic Sin (1929). The following message is included at the end of the newly preserved film--"Warner Bros. gratefully acknowledges the following people who made the re-discovery and preservation of this film possible: Joseph Yranski, Ron Hutchinson, The Vitaphone Project, Matteo Pavesi of Cineteca Italiana de Milano, Gian Luca Farinelli of Cineteca de Bologna."
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      Pa Kelly: And what's more, no decent girl would wear a dress like that.

      Pert Kelly: Well, I'm wearing it--and I'm decent!

      Pa Kelly: I've got half a mind to put you in a reform school. You're headed straight for perdition!

      Pert Kelly: Pop, listen to me! This is 1929, not 1899--I contribute as much money to this house as you do--and as long as I think it is harmless, I'm going to wear what I like, and do what I like! I want to go out, and dance, and have fun, as long as I can, as much as I can!

    • Connections
      Featured in Why Be Good? Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema (2007)
    • Soundtracks
      I'm Thirsty for Kisses - Hungry for Love
      (uncredited)

      Music by J. Fred Coots

      Lyrics by Lou Davis

      Sung during the opening credits, beginning scenes and at the end by Eddie Willis, Carlton Boxeil, Stanley McClelland and Fred Wilson

      Played often throughout the picture as Pert and Junior's theme

    User reviews19

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Colleen Moore's Final Silent Film
    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.
    helpful•27
    1
    • drednm
    • Nov 7, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 23, 1929 (Denmark)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • First National Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 24 minutes
      • Black and White

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