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:
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
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(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Played when Junior's friends pour themselves beer
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Deleted scenes included one in which Pert goes to visit her sister, and an extra scene at the end in which she calls up her father to tell him she just married Winthrop Peabody, Jr. 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 »Quotes
Pert Kelly: Her husband cannot be as pretty as you... He must have a beard and glasses!See more »
Soundtracks
Hello Montreal(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Played when Junior's friends pour themselves beer
See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.