Dance Hall (1950)

Episodic tale of four factory girls and their various romances at the local dance hall.

Director:

Charles Crichton

Writers:

E.V.H. Emmett (original screenplay), Diana Morgan (original screenplay)

Stars:

Natasha Parry, Jane Hylton, Diana Dors

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Natasha Parry	...	Eve
Jane Hylton	...	Mary
Diana Dors	...	Carole
Petula Clark	...	Georgie
Donald Houston	...	Phil
Bonar Colleano	...	Alec
Douglas Barr	...	Peter
Fred Johnson	...	Mr. Wilson
Gladys Henson	...	Mrs. Wilson
Dandy Nichols	...	Mrs. Crabtree
Sydney Tafler	...	Manager
James Carney	...	Mike
Kay Kendall	...	Doreen
Eunice Gayson	...	Mona
Grace Arnold	...	Mrs. Bennett

Storyline

Episodic tale of four factory girls and their various romances at the local dance hall.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1950 (UK)

Also Known As:

Le démon de la danse

Filming Locations:

Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ealing Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Shooting started with Dermot Walsh in the part of Alec, but he was dropped after the first couple of scenes as he didn't come across as an over bearing character which was what was wanted. He did a conversation scene with Donald Houston and Natasha Parry grouped together. He was replaced by Bonar Colleano.

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Soundtracks

LADY OF SPAIN
(uncredited)
Music by Tolchard Evans
Arranged by Reg Owen

User Reviews

The Palais - Saturday Entertainment up to the 70s

Yes, I too went dancing at the "Hammersmith Palais" in London from 1972-1976 and before that in 1964 I learnt the basic dance steps at a hired room of a cinema in Harrow, Middx.Dancing was certainly one method of meeting members of the opposite sex if you did not have the opportunity at work or college.At the "Hammersmith Palais" the resident orchestra was Ken Macintosh along with his regular band singers who belted out pop hits of the day.My late mother impressed upon me that dancing should be in every young man's accomplishments and there were many new dances taught to students in the 60s & 70s e.g. "The Stroll", "The Twist" "Cha-Cha-Cha" etc.

The subject film is set in 1950 when the survivors of WWII had returned to their jobs and housing was very claustrophobic, cramped and scarce with all the bomb damage around.In many cases one had to live with in-laws which this film aptly illustrates.Of course in reality the girls turning lathes in factories would have had harsh vernacular accents, not the modulated sounds taught at drama schools in the late 1940s.Most notably Diana Dors (real name Diana Fluck) appeared in one of her early films before she dyed her hair peroxide blonde which she did from the mid 1950s and which is her most popular public persona when she was billed as Britain's Marilyn Monroe.Bonar Colleano (a U.S. import), first came to my attention in the 1948 film "Sleeping Car To Trieste", here plays a dance partner of the female lead who has ambitions to win the dance competition at the "Palais".You will notice that in films of this vintage, unlike today with it's politically correct messages, almost everyone smoked which I personally put down to the stresses of living through WWII.One politely offered friends a cigarette like offering round a bag of sweets."London Live" TV station is currently running a season of Ealing Films which I am enjoying as it gives me a chance to view those Ealing films not familiar to the general public.Moderately enjoyable I rated it 6/10