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Dance, Girl, Dance

  • 1940
  • Approved
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
Maureen O'Hara, Lucille Ball, and Louis Hayward in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)
In celebration of Pride, we recognize these unsung heroes of LGBTQ+ film history and the movies that changed the face of the film industry forever.
Play clip5:20
Watch Unsung Heroes of LGBTQ+ Film History
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When a troupe of danseuses becomes unemployed, one of them takes up burlesque dancing while another dreams of performing ballet.When a troupe of danseuses becomes unemployed, one of them takes up burlesque dancing while another dreams of performing ballet.When a troupe of danseuses becomes unemployed, one of them takes up burlesque dancing while another dreams of performing ballet.

  • Directors
    • Dorothy Arzner
    • Roy Del Ruth
  • Writers
    • Tess Slesinger
    • Frank Davis
    • Vicki Baum
  • Stars
    • Maureen O'Hara
    • Louis Hayward
    • Lucille Ball
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    2.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Dorothy Arzner
      • Roy Del Ruth
    • Writers
      • Tess Slesinger
      • Frank Davis
      • Vicki Baum
    • Stars
      • Maureen O'Hara
      • Louis Hayward
      • Lucille Ball
    • 40User reviews
    • 32Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos1

    Unsung Heroes of LGBTQ+ Film History
    Clip 5:20
    Watch Unsung Heroes of LGBTQ+ Film History

    Photos27

    Maureen O'Hara, Lucille Ball, Mary Carlisle, Louis Hayward, and Lorraine Krueger in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)
    Maureen O'Hara, Lucille Ball, and Louis Hayward in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)
    Lucille Ball in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)
    Lucille Ball in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)
    Lucille Ball and Louis Hayward in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)
    Maureen O'Hara in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)
    Maureen O'Hara, Mary Carlisle, Lola Jensen, and Lorraine Krueger in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)
    Maureen O'Hara, Lucille Ball, and Mary Carlisle in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)
    Louis Hayward in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)
    Lucille Ball in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)
    Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)
    Lucille Ball in Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Maureen O'Hara
    Maureen O'Hara
    • Judy O'Brien
    Louis Hayward
    Louis Hayward
    • Jimmy Harris
    Lucille Ball
    Lucille Ball
    • Bubbles
    Virginia Field
    Virginia Field
    • Elinor Harris
    Ralph Bellamy
    Ralph Bellamy
    • Steve Adams
    Maria Ouspenskaya
    Maria Ouspenskaya
    • Madame Lydia Basilova
    Mary Carlisle
    Mary Carlisle
    • Sally
    Katharine Alexander
    Katharine Alexander
    • Miss Olmstead
    Edward Brophy
    Edward Brophy
    • Dwarfie Humblewinger
    Walter Abel
    Walter Abel
    • Judge
    Harold Huber
    Harold Huber
    • Hoboken Gent
    Ernest Truex
    Ernest Truex
    • Bailey #1
    Chester Clute
    Chester Clute
    • Bailey #2
    Lorraine Krueger
    Lorraine Krueger
    • Dolly
    Lola Jensen
    • Daisy
    Emma Dunn
    Emma Dunn
    • Mrs. Simpson
    Sidney Blackmer
    Sidney Blackmer
    • Puss in Boots
    Vivien Fay
    Vivien Fay
    • The Ballerina
    • (as Vivian Fay)
    • Directors
      • Dorothy Arzner
      • Roy Del Ruth(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • Tess Slesinger
      • Frank Davis
      • Vicki Baum
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Lucille Ball and Maureen O'Hara became inseparable friends while shooting this film, and remained lifelong friends until Ball's death in 1989. O'Hara was having lunch with her when Ball first saw her future husband Desi Arnaz.
    • Quotes

      Judy O'Brien: Go on, laugh, get your money's worth. No-one's going to hurt you. I know you want me to tear my clothes off so you can look your fifty cents' worth. Fifty cents for the privilege of staring at a girl the way your wives won't let you. What do you suppose we think of you up here with your silly smirks your mothers would be ashamed of? We know it'd the thing of the moment for the dress suits to come and laugh at us too. We'd laugh right back at the lot of you, only we're paid to let you sit there and roll your eyes and make your screamingly clever remarks. What's it for? So you can go home when the show's over, strut before your wives and sweethearts and play at being the stronger sex for a minute? I'm sure they see through you. I'm sure they see through you just like we do!

    • Connections
      Featured in Precious Images (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Beer Barrel Polka
      (uncredited)

      aka "Roll Out the Barrel"

      Music by Jaromir Vejvoda

      Lyrics by Wladimir A. Timm (song Skoda lásky)

      English lyrics by Lew Brown

      Played at the Palais Royale Club

      Danced and sung by Lucille Ball and the chorus girls

    User reviews40

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Lucille Ball Steals the Show
    This is not a great musical, but you must see it for the performances of Lucille Ball (playing a character named Bubbles) and Maureen O'Hara (playing a good girl names Judy). Ball singing and dancing "The Beer Barrel Polka" and "Jitterbug Bite" with the Bailey Brothers Burlesque Theater is worth her weight in gold. Plus, the film is directed by Dorothy Azner, Hollywood's one female director of note between the silent era and Ida Lupino's directorial debut in 1950. --Musicals on the Silver Screen, American Library Association, 2013
    helpful•3
    1
    • LeonardKniffel
    • Apr 9, 2020

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 30, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Dance, Girls, Dance
    • Filming locations
      • RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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