Dancing Lady

Dancing Lady (1933) starring Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Franchot Tone

Synopsis of Dancing Lady

In Dancing Lady, a musical star is torn between a millionaire playboy and her stage manager.

Review of Dancing Lady

In short, Dancing Lady is an enjoyable 1930’s musical. If you’re a fan of musicals, you’ll enjoy it. It centers around a romantic triangle between Joan Crawford who wants to dance, her boyfriend the wealthy Franchot Tone, and dance director Clark Gable. Gable begins to fall for Crawford, which really isn’t a surprise for musicals of the time. But when Tone uses his money to surreptitiously shut down the show,, it’s slightly surprising. But, “let’s put on a show” is a trope for a reason, as is “the show must go on!” And it does … and the ending is enjoyable but not very surprising.

And, it should be noted that Ted Healy and his Stooges (now better known as The Three Stooges) are on hand for comedy relief. Which they do very well, without interrupting the flow or stealing from the movie itself.

Product description of Dancing Lady

A Broadway chorine (Joan Crawford) needs a little help with her hoofing, so her dance director (Clark Gable) gets an idea. A good idea. “Do you feel like going through that opening number with Mr. Astaire?” And Fred Astaire, making his screen debut, shows the lady how it’s done. Three film icons give the backstage musical a jolt of superstar electricity in a song-, dance-, and romance-filled extravaganza featuring support by Nelson Eddy, Robert Benchley and The Three Stooges and tunes by Rodgers and Hart, Burton Lane, Dorothy Fields and more musical greats. Gable and Crawford had such stellar chemistry that MGM teamed them for eight movies. Here, as always, they have street-smart glamour and charisma to burn. Add Astaire’s sophistication and Dancing Lady can take a well-deserved bow.

Cast of characters

• Joan Crawford (Mildred Pierce) … Janie Barlow
• Clark Gable (Possessed) … Patch Gallagher
• Franchot Tone (Suzy) … Tod Newton
• May Robson (Bringing Up Baby) … Dolly Todhunter – Tod’s Grandmother
• Winnie Lightner … Rosette LaRue
• Fred Astaire (The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle) … Fred Astaire
• Robert Benchley (I Married a Witch) … Ward King
• Ted Healy (Mad Love) … Ted Healy and His Stooges
• Arthur Jarrett (Arsenic and Old Lace) … Art Jarrett
• Grant Mitchell (Blondie’s Holiday) … Jasper Bradley, Sr.
• Nelson Eddy (Phantom of the Opera 1943) … Nelson Eddy
• Maynard Holmes … Jasper Bradley, Jr.
• Sterling Holloway (The Jungle Book) … Pinky – the Show’s Author
• Gloria Foy … Vivian Warner
• Moe Howard (Punch Drunks) … Moe – Stagehand
• Curly Howard (Disorder in the Court) … Curly – Stagehand
• Larry Fine (The Three Stooges Meet Hercules) … Harry – Pianist

Songs in Dancing Lady

• Hold Your Man (1933). Music by Nacio Herb Brown, Lyrics by Arthur Freed, Sung and Danced by Winnie Lightner and chorus
• Alabama Swing, Written by James P. Johnson, Played by Larry Fine on piano
• Everything I Have Is Yours, (1933) Music by Burton Lane, Lyrics by Harold Adamson, Played during the opening credits and often in the score
• My Dancing Lady, (1933) Music by Jimmy McHugh, Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
• Heigh-Ho, the Gang’s All Here, (1933) Music by Burton Lane, Lyrics by Harold Adamson, Sung and Danced by Fred Astaire, Joan Crawford and chorus
• Let’s Go Bavarian, (1933) Music by Burton Lane, Lyrics by Harold Adamson, Sung and Danced by Fred Astaire, Joan Crawford and chorus
• (That’s The) Rhythm of the Day, (1933) Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Lorenz Hart, Sung by Nelson Eddy, Joan Crawford (dubbed by Mildred Carroll)
• Hey! Young Fella (1933) Music by Jimmy McHugh, Lyrics by Dorothy Fields, Sung and Danced by chorus