Dancing in the Dark *** (1949, William Powell, Mark Stevens, Betsy Drake, Adolphe Menjou) – Classic Movie Review 9826

Director Irving Reis’s often vivacious, always appealing 1949 Technicolor musical comedy Dancing in the Dark is enlivened by William Powell’s polished performance as Emery Slade, a former silent star employed by studio boss Melville Crossman (Adolphe Menjou) as a talent scout.

He wants him to persuade Broadway star Rosalie Brooks (Randy Stuart) to star in the film The Band Wagon, but he tries to convince Crossman signs up unknown Julie Clarke (Betsy Drake) instead. No one can fathom his motives but it turn out she is his own daughter.

Dancing in the Dark is based on George Kaufman, Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz’s musical The Band Wagon, which provides the songs for the film within the film.

The title song ‘Dancing in the Dark’ (music by Arthur Schwartz, lyrics by Howard Dietz) is an enduring evergreen classic. They make the most of it. It is performed by Betsy Drake (dubbed by Bonnie Lou Williams), sung by chorus behind credits and played often in the score.

Sid Grauman, proprietor of the Hollywood Boulevard Chinese Theatre, in Los Angeles, appears as himself.

Also in the cast are Mark Stevens as Bill Davis, Lloyd Corrigan as John Barker, Hope Emerson as Mrs Schlaghammer, Walter Catlett as Joe Brooks, Don Beddoe as Barney Bassett and Jean Hersholt as Jean Hersholt, with Helen Westcott, Frank Ferguson, Charles Tannen, Syd Saylor, Harry Crocker, Sally Forrest and Joseph Crehan.

Betsy Drake is dubbed by Bonnie Lou Williams.

They filmed The Band Wagon in 1953.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9826

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