Dance, Fools, Dance *** (1931, Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Lester Vail, William Bakewell, Cliff Edwards) – Classic Movie Review 5784

Joan Crawford picked Clark Gable as her leading man for Dance, Fools, Dance in 1931 because she found him attractive and, though both married, they immediately became lovers and remained friends for the rest of their lives.

Director Harry Beaumont’s swift, smooth, entertaining 1931 vintage romantic crime melodrama, based on a real case, gives Joan Crawford a strong role to get her teeth into and an early part for a (moustacheless) Clark Gable. They proved a winning team and appeared together in eight films at MGM.

Tyro crime journalist Bonnie Jordan (Crawford) charms crooked gangster Jake Luva (Gable) in order to turn him in after reporter Bert Scranton (Cliff Edwards) is bumped off. Crawford has to tread carefully because her brother Rodney (William Bakewell) is mixed up with the gang but she has a rich chum, Bob Townsend (Lester Vail), on her side. It turns out that Jake is a helluva guy and a great luva for Bonnie.

Made in the pre-Hays Code censorship days, the movie includes a scene involving mixed bathing at midnight in just underwear that caused a sensation.

Co-star William Holden is not the famous 50s and 60s star. Also in the cast are Earle Foxe, Joan Marsh, Natalie Moorhead, Hale Hamilton, Russell Hopton, James Donlan, Mortimer Snow, Sherry Hall, Robert Livingston, Purnell Pratt, Ernie Adams, Clara Blandick, Sidney Bracey, Ann Dvorak, Wilbur Mack, Sam McDaniel, Charley Rogers, Harry Semels, Tommy Shugrue, Mortimer Snow, Jack Trent and Rita Waterhouse.

It is written by Aurania Rouverol and Richard Schayer, and shot in black and white by Charles Rosher.

Gable and Crawford re-teamed for Laughing Sinners (1931), Possessed (1931), Dancing Lady (1933), Chained (1934), Forsaking All Others (1934) and Love on the Run (1936), Strange Cargo (1940).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5784

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

Movie Queens: Joan Crawford by Graeme Jukes.