Ten Cents a Dance (1931)

Men pay a dime to dance with Barbara and her fellow taxi dancers. She marries Eddie and plans to quit dancing. Before she does, she meets a handsome and rich gentleman.

Directors:

Lionel Barrymore, Edward Buzzell (uncredited)

Writers:

Lorenz Hart (based on the popular song by), Dorothy Howell (continuity)

Stars:

Barbara Stanwyck, Ricardo Cortez, Monroe Owsley

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Barbara O'Neill
Ricardo Cortez	...	Bradley Carlton
Monroe Owsley	...	Eddie Miller
Sally Blane	...	Molly
Blanche Friderici	...	Mrs. Blanchard
Phyllis Crane	...	Eunice
Olive Tell	...	Mrs. Carlton
Victor Potel	...	Smith, a Sailor
Al Hill	...	Jones, a Sailor
Jack Byron	...	Leo
Pat Harmon	...	Casey, the Bouncer
Martha Sleeper	...	Nancy Clark
David Newell	...	Ralph Clark
Sidney Bracey	...	Wilson, Carlton's Butler
Harry Todd	...	Mr. Carney

Storyline

Men pay a dime to dance with Barbara and her fellow taxi dancers. She marries Eddie and quits dancing, but before that, she meets with the handsome and very rich Bradley. Barbara eventually starts dancing again, since her marriage is plagued by financial tension, and Bradley begins visiting her again. Eddie becomes jealous, accusing his wife of infidelity. He sees that alleged infidelity as an excuse to steal money from Bradley.

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Plot Keywords:

taxi dancer | f rated | number in title | 

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Taglines:

She was a dance hall hostess but the band never played "Home Sweet Home" for her. (Studio publicity sheet).

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 March 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

A diez centavos el baile

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.19 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Barbara O'Neill: I don't love you. I don't even think of you enough now to hate you!

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Connections

Alternate-language version of Carne de cabaret (1931)

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Soundtracks

Ten Cents a Dance
(uncredited)
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart

User Reviews

a dime is a bargain for a dance with Babs but ...

... I wouldn't give you a plugged nickel for that heel husband of hers.

When we first meet Barbara O'Neill (Barbara Stanwyck) she's hustling dances at a dime a piece in a cheap Depression era dance hall. She seems to have a good enough head on her shoulders, one good enough to prevent her from descending down into prostitution or believing the lies of the customers that might want things to go further. This is not the tough hardened Stanwyck of Baby Face. However she genuinely likes Bradley Carlton (Ricardo Cortez), a wealthy businessman who just enjoys talking to her. She asks him for one favor, and that not for herself - to hire an out of work and soon to be homeless young guy who lives at the same boarding house she does, Eddie Miller (Monroe Owsley). She gets her favor.

For some reason the common sense Barbara has with men in the dance hall seems to elude her when it comes to Eddie. Beggars can't be choosers, but unfortunately so many are and Eddie is no exception. When he learns Barbara is working in a dance hall, not a dance school as she told him, he busts in and insists she quits and manages to fit a proposal somewhere in there too. The two hastily marry, and Eddie, once so grateful for a forty dollar a week job that would keep him fed and a roof over his head soon wants more than he has - more of a job, a higher class lifestyle, maybe even a higher class woman. I'll let you watch and see where all of this goes.

It was fun to see Ricardo Cortez playing a good guy for a change - not a doormat - just a good guy. I also really liked the playing of the title song in its entirety after the movie ends - it was a nice Depression era touch.