Dance Little Lady ** (1954, Terence Morgan, Mai Zetterling, Mandy Miller, Guy Rolfe, Eunice Gayson) – Classic Movie Review 13,361

Val Guest’s 1954 British drama film Dance Little Lady stars Mai Zetterling as a ballerina who discovers she’ll never dance again but begins to live her life vicariously through her talented daughter (Mandy Miller). 

Director Val Guest’s 1954 British drama film Dance Little Lady stars Terence Morgan, Mai Zetterling, Mandy Miller, Guy Rolfe and Eunice Gayson. Unusually for an independent film of the era, it is shot in glorious Eastmancolor.

A rather carelessly made and often indifferently performed 50s British heart-tugging drama throws away a reasonably promising premise. When famous prima ballerina Nina Gordon (Mai Zetterling) is injured in a car crash, her leg so badly broken she will never dance again, her unscrupulous, exploitative husband Mark Gordon (Terence Morgan) pushes talented dancing daughter Jill (Mandy Miller, aged 10) into the spotlight.

Nina recovers the use of her legs with the help of sympathetic Dr John Ransome (Guy Rolfe), and begins to live her life vicariously through her daughter. But Mark, who initially abandons Nina, re-enters her life to take control of the girl’s dancing career and exploit the kid.

The lacklustre melodramatics, downed by clichés galore, are slightly bolstered by some pleasant performances from a very nice cast, the colour photography and the OK dancing. It likely would have been a better movie entirely if it had been made by Ealing Studios.

Val Guest and Doreen Montgomery base their screenplay on a story by R Howard Alexander and Alfred Dunning.

The film was made by Alderdale Films from independent producer George Minter and distributed by his Renown Pictures. It is shot in Eastmancolor at the Walton Studios, Surrey, England.

Morgan also played Miller’s father in the 1952 Ealing Studios film Mandy.

Dance Little Lady is directed by Val Guest, runs 88 minutes, is made by Alderdale Films, is released by Renown Pictures, is written by Val Guest and Doreen Montgomery, is shot in Eastmancolor by Wilkie Cooper, is produced by George Minter, and is scored by Ronald Binge, with sets designed by art director Frederick Pusey.

Release date: 13 July 1954.

The cast

The cast are Terence Morgan as Mark Gordon, Mai Zetterling as Nina Gordon, Guy Rolfe as Dr John Ransome, Mandy Miller as Jill Gordon, Eunice Gayson as Adele, Reginald Beckwith as Poldi, Ina De La Haye as Mme Bayanova, Harold Lang as Mr. Bridson, Lisa Gastoni as Amaryllis, Jane Aird as Mary, David Poole as dancer, Maryon Lane as dancer, Richard O’Sullivan as Peter, William Kendall as Mr. Matthews, Joan Hickson as Mrs. Matthews Alexander Gauge as Joseph Miller, Vera Day as Gladys, Gabrielle Blunt as switchboard operator, Marianne Stone as nurse, Helen Goss as neighbour, Joan Benham as nurse, Molly Lumley as dresser, Jane Asher as child, and Ronald Dorey as fire engine driver.

Lisa Gastoni (born 28 July 1935)

Gastoni was born in Alassio, Savona, Liguria, the daughter of an Italian father and an Irish mother, and she moved with her family to England in 1948.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,361

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