gridoon2018
"Dancing Lady" covers all the bases: there is flirty comedy (the gym and the swimming sequences are subtly erotic), snappy transitions, comedic cameos (from May Robson to the Three Stooges!), love-triangle drama, swank, cheesecake, singing, dancing, and a long, wonderful, surreal production number at the end (I award *** out of 4 and not **1/2 to this movie on the basis of that number alone). Joan Crawford, in one of her very few musical roles, is surprisingly proficient at tap-dancing; she even holds her own when partnered with Fred Astaire, in his movie debut! She also displays her magnificent, strong legs, which are deservedly praised by Clark Gable; their on-screen pairing is one of those old-movie things that absolutely cannot be replicated today. All in all, "Dancing Lady" is an enjoyable cinematic potpourri.
rickrudge
Dancing Lady (1933)Janie Barlow (Joan Crawford) is an aspiring dancer who is stuck playing in sleazy vaudeville shows. She has dreams of dancing on Broadway. The theater she works in is raided and a rich playboy, Tod Newton (Franchot Tone) bails her out of jail and sets her up in the Broadway show that he's producing. He seems madly in love with her. The harried director, Patch Gallagher (Clark Gable) is trying hard to make his show a success when the producer brings in this girl out of nowhere. Patch works Janie hard and she shows some talent. He's even beginning to like her, a lot, but the producer owns the show.This movie has some great guest stars like Fred Astaire, Sterling Holloway, Gloria Foy, Nelson Eddy, as well as Ted Healy and his Stooges (the original 3 stooges). But, it's mostly that young Clark Gable that catches your eye. However, this is Joan Crawford's movie and it's really all about her and the fashions that she wears (or doesn't wear).
PWNYCNY
This movie is wonderful. It features Joan Crawford singing and dancing, and she could sing and dance well. That alone makes this movie special. Clark Gable also is cast as a stage director who's all business, his gruffness of course a cover for a guy who really cares about people. The movie has a definite anti-rich people slant, with Franchot Tone playing a playboy who uses money to act out his selfish whims, which only hurt others. Theatrical people are portrayed in a most positive way - as hardworking, dedicated, and talented. The musical numbers are snappy and entertaining, especially the finale. The movie features Fred Astaire in his first major role and Moe, Larry and Curly - The Three Stooges whose characters figure directly in the story. But what makes this movie succeed is the presence of Joan Crawford. She dominates the movie and demonstrates why she is one of the premier actresses in the history of cinema.
Igenlode Wordsmith
The plot is nothing much in the originality stakes -- to be honest, the musical numbers (with the exception of the tuneful "Everything I Have is Yours", featured off-stage in a party sequence) aren't anything much either -- but it doesn't matter. With its sassy dames (I'd have liked to see more of Winnie Lightner as the cynical older roommate), Depression-era morals, sharp script and high-octane performances all round, this is unmistakably a 1930s product, fizzing with energy and entertainment.Joan Crawford is well cast as the ambitious dancer determined to thrust her way up out of a sleazy burlesque show; in fact, the few moments when her character is intended to melt into genuine feminine tenderness are the least convincing, in acting terms. Crawford was born to sparkle with sharp edges.Clark Gable as the street-smart producer trying to manage the whims of his wealthy patron is full of charisma in a tough-guy role, and teams well with his backstage foils Ted Healy and Robert Benchley; the Three Stooges put on a rather infantile finger-poking act in the background which apparently had audience appeal, but fortunately for my taste there wasn't much of it. Franchot Tone makes the role of the moneyed Society boy and would-be 'protector' of the heroine a surprisingly sympathetic one, glowing with genuine enthusiasm at her achievements even when this undermines his own aims, and shows off a well set-up figure in expensive tailoring and a swimming suit; not to be beaten, Clark Gable strips off to display his muscles in the gym, while Miss Crawford models a series of backless costumes that leave very little to the imagination -- and nor does that nightdress! Strong character performances, a coherent plot and a good script win out over standard backstage material and uninspiring musical arrangements in this MGM picture; I enjoyed it, and felt it had the edge over "Broadway Melody of 1938", screened the previous night.
AD
