Dancing Lady
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Movie Reviews of Dancing Lady
Movie Review: "My Dancing lady, There is nobody like you..."
Summary: 5 Stars
And no movie like this one! If you have never seen a Joan Crawford movie before, this is the one to see. Every one will love it,and there is something in it for everyone I promise...the suprisingly talented and moreover stunningly beautiful 1933 incarnation of Joan Crawford is one you wont believe. Joan is Janie Barlow;a street smart,no-nonsense, ambitious and beautiful aspiring dancer.She is determined to make herself succeed in this business, no matter what the pratfalls, waiting to catch a break and relying on her sheer will and hard work to dance her way to the top .....and "yes, it's GOT to be dancin!".Sound familair?
One night, the burelesque house where janie is dancing at is raided,and her indignation worsens when she gets put in the slammer, however she is delighted when rich playboy Todd Newton(husband number two,Franchot Tone)bails her out.But much like our Joanie, our Janie is no fool, and wholeheartedly insists she will pay him back with the cash and nothing else.Undeterred, she hikes it to Broadway "uptown where it's art" to get a hold of "Patch" Gallagher(Clark Gable)the shows cranky but equally no-nonsense producer.Janie knows early on she wants the part and the producer, but not if Todd has anything to say about it....perfection pretty much ensues in some of the memorable scenes I have ever seen ,beautiful cinematography and the direction is very clever especially during janie's relentless pursuit of "patch" early on in the movie.Although it was common for joan to portray a character like this in part to appeal to depression era audiences, it was the combination of her fierce independence and wise-cracking gusto that made this one work.Her sexual chemistry with Gable is so powerful, they not only made 7 more movies together,but you can feel it this radiate out of the tv 74 years later.This movie does have something for everyone... Fred Astaire in his movie debut makes a luminious vision dancing with joan/janie and LOOK CLOSELY and you will spot the munchkinland and Emerald City sets( during the Bavaria and Rythym of the Day sequences)which would be used 6 years later in The Wizard of Oz.Also of interest: this film is pre-code meaning there is sex, sex SEX..in a tasteful and funny manner ,of course.I I cannot say enough about this film... go watch it.
Movie Review: fine MGM film with great acting and show stopping musical numbers
Summary: 5 Stars
Dancing Lady is a wonderful early MGM musical. The convincing acting impressed me and the plot moves along at a good pace.
The action begins with Janie Barlow (Joan Crawford) and her pal Rosette (Winnie Lightner) dancing in a burlesque show. One drunken man nearly tears off Janie's blouse leaving her almost topless; and that's precisely the moment when the cops raid the place. They're all hauled off to jail. However, Janie gets out pretty quickly--it seems that a very wealthy would-be suitor, Tod Newton (Franchot Tone), bails Janie out to get to know her better. Eventually Tod helps get Janie a small part in an upcoming Broadway production. It is during rehearsals that Janie becomes much more familiar with the director Patch Gallagher (Clark Gable).
Of course, Tod has his eyes on Janie; and he tries to woo her every way that he can. He arranges with the head boss to have Janie paid for rehearsing, although in reality Tod is paying her through the head boss. Tod takes Janie to his home for a fancy swim and he eventually goes to extremes to win Janie's love.
Meanwhile, during rehearsals for the show Patch starts to have feelings for Janie even though he tries to fight them off. Janie does seem more comfortable with Patch than she is with Tod, too.
What happens next? The plot could go anywhere from here. Will Janie marry Tod as he wants her to? What will happen, if anything, between Patch and Janie? What happens when the production is suddenly closed down? How will the show go on--if it goes on at all? No spoilers here, folks, you'll just have to watch the film to find out.
The choreography is wonderful in every dance scene; and the theater scenes within the movie are very well done. The cinematography works well, too.
Overall Dancing Lady is a fine early MGM musical that some say is MGM's answer to 42nd Street. This is a wonderful movie for fans of Joan Crawford and Clark Gable. Look also for a great performance by Franchot Tone as Tod Newton; and there's also some comic relief by The Three Stooges. In addition, there are numerous stunning visual effects and a show stopping number or two toward the end of the film even if the Bavarian number is a bit unusual.
Enjoy!
Movie Review: Joan Crawford's Face
Summary: 5 Stars
There are a number of reasons you might find MGM's 1933 massive hit DANCING LADY entertaining. It was absolutely designed to be the most entertaining production the movies could offer in its day. MGM put together a great cast, with Joan Crawford and Clark Gable who had already proved to be box office dynamite with earlier pairings films such as POSSESSED. The amazing sexual chemistry is again much in evidence here. Gable is starting to come into his own about this time, and Crawford is continuing to grow as an actress.
The musical numbers are lovely. DANCING LADY was, after all, the film which introduced us all to the timeless standard "Everything I Have is Yours," to which Crawford dances with her husband, Franchot Tone. An interesting bit of trivia about this movie: Crawford was romantically involved with both of her leading men. I think it shows on the screen!
The musical finale is also very amusing; in one number, "That's the Rhythm of the Day," the performers are dressed in vintage 1700s costumes, but as they walk into town they are physically transformed into modern, depression-era Adrian designs! Horse-drawn carriages are transformed into super luxury automobiles! It is one of the most fabulous moments in the film, but there are many more!
There are many ways to find DANCING LADY entertaining, but the best aspect of the film has to be Joan Crawford's face. How people can watch this film and not be moved by it is beyond my understanding. It is one of the most exquisite faces a camera has ever captured, and quite possibly the inspiration for that remarkable picture book, "Four Fabulous Faces."
As an MGM musical, it's very good. As a vehicle for Joan Crawford's face, it's simply great.
Movie Review: "Occupation: Hipswinging!"
Summary: 5 Stars
Janie Barlow (Joan Crawford) is a dancer; she'll do anything to dance, including dance in a strip show. She's quite a beautiful girl, and despite her low standards, she draws the attention of a wealthy playboy Tod Newton (Franchot Tone). He uses his monetary influence to get her a small part in a big show, directed by Patch Gallagher (Clark Gable). He takes a shine to her, but hides it by being mean to her. She's torn between Tod and her career, which seems to be flourishing in front of her very eyes.
I've always loved Joan Crawford, especially the gorgeous Joan of the early '30s, so this movie is an absolute delight for me. It helps that two wonderful actors join her: hubby Franchot Tone and lover Clark Gable. They're flanked by some major stars making early film appearances: the Three Stooges, Fred Astaire, and Nelson Eddy. Not bad for an early musical. This one is pretty innovative too with all of the moving camera shots and Busby Berkeley-like dancing sequences. This film is completely saccharine and not the kind of film you learn something from, but it is completely entertaining and a joy to watch.
Also included on this DVD are two musical shorts featuring one or more of the Three Stooges. Plane Nuts stars Ted Healy and his Stooges in a cute short with the group in their very early stage. Each stooge is very funny in his own right, but it is interesting to see how differently they behaved when they first began. This short features popular music of the era. Roast Beef and Movies is a technicolor short featuring Curly Howard.
Movie Review: 7 male stars and ONE MARVELOUS JOAN
Summary: 5 Stars
Along with A WOMAN'S FACE this is one of my favorite Joan Crawford films. This is early Joan Crawford, but she was allready clearly a STAR. She has romantic scenes with Franchot Tone, trades punches and pawing with Clark Gable, trades quips with Ted Healy and the 3 stooges, and goes toe to toe with Fred Astaire in his first movie... he has only ONE line and the big production number, and struggles to sing in HER key.
Study some dance history before you fault her dancing. Joan was a nightlife and film CHARLESTON dancer. With knees akimbo - the style of the day - she flaps her way with abandon (which is what she was known for in clubs), and she holds her own with intricate tap steps that are on par with today's best. The style is dated, but so is Nelson Eddy's singing in the "Rhythm of the Day" number.
This film has 7 males stars and... JOAN - not just holding her own, but LEADING them. This plot is flimsy, but a lot sterner stuff than most musicals of that day; and very risque, too! Enjoy this teaser-to-tapper treat. Thank you Karl and Patty for the gift of an all time favorite.