Dancing Co-Ed ** (1939, Lana Turner, Richard Carlson, Artie Shaw) – Classic Movie Review 9825

Precocious Lana Turner, then MGM’s new teenage sensation, aged 18 and making the most of her first starring role, dances and studies her way to success as Patty Marlow, the ambitious dancing co-ed of the title, in this lively, entertaining minor musical, director S Sylvan Simon’s 1939 Dancing Co-ed [Every Other Inch a Lady].

Leon Errol shines in a supremely dithering support turn as ‘Pops’ Marlow, and there is attractive music by bandleader Artie Shaw (as himself), later briefly Lana’s husband, the first of seven for Lana and the third of eight for Artie. They were married from 13 February to 12 September 1940. Artie later married Ava Gardner and Evelyn Keyes. Lana did manage eight marriages, though, remarrying Stephen Crane.

Also in the cast are Richard Carlson, Ann Rutherford, Lee Bowman, Monty Woolley, Roscoe Karns, Thurston Hall, Walter Kingsford, Mary Field, Chester Clute and June Pressier.

The screenplay is by Albert Mannheimer, based on a story by Albert Treynor.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9825

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