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Dance Hall (1929 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Dance Hall' was an American Pre-Code musical film directed by Melville Brown and written by Jane Murfin and J. Walter Ruben, based on the short story of the same name by Vina Delmar.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19300113&id=wF5QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2w4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6639,2579006&hl=en "Shades of old at Riverside."] 'Milwaukee Sentinel', January 13, 1930, p. 9.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19300116&id=vW4hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2ocFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2213,2993583&hl=en "'Dance Hall' at Park."] 'The Reading Eagle', January 16, 1930, p. 25. It was RKO's second to last release of the decade, and was a critical and financial flop. 'Dance Hall' featured a love triangle with a shipping clerk competing with a dashing aviator for the affections of a young taxi dancer.Wynne 1987, p. 172.Pendo 1985, p. 10.
Plot
A shipping clerk, Tommy Flynn (Arthur Lake), engages a young female taxi dancer, Gracie Nolan (Olive Borden), and the two gain some success in dance halls, winning several dance contests. As they do, he becomes infatuated with her, but she only has eyes for a pilot, Ted Smith (Ralph Emerson), who wants her as a trophy of his own.
Flynn is unsuccessful in his attempts to woo the young Gracie, until the pilot crashes during his attempt at a transcontinental flight. Flynn hides the fact from Gracie that the pilot is still alive, as he attempts to get her to fall in love with him,. When she discovers his subterfuge, she is enraged and rushes off to be with the pilot.
However, when she finds Smith, she uncovers that he has been living with another woman. Devastated, she returns to Tommy, who takes her back. Reunited, the two lovers become a successful dancing team.
Cast
* Arthur Lake as Tommy Flynn
* Olive Borden as Gracie Nolan
* Joseph Cawthorn as Bremmer
* Margaret Seddon as Mrs. Flynn
* Ralph Emerson as Ted Smith
* Lee Moran as Ernie
* Helen Kaiser as Bee
* Tom O'Brien as Truck driver
* George Irving as Doctor Loring
Production
In February 1929, it was announced that Via Delmar had been signed by RKO to write the story of 'Dance Hall'.[https://archive.org/stream/filmdaily4748newy#page/n341/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 "Two more writers added to Radio Pictures staff."] 'The Film Daily', February 10, 1929, p. 9. Retrieved: January 15, 2016. By the end of June, RKO had scheduled filming to begin on approximately August 1, 1929.[https://archive.org/stream/filmdaily4748newy#page/n1607/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 "Shooting Schedules set on 4 new Radio films."] 'The Film Daily', June 30, 1929, p. 6. Retrieved: January 15, 2016.
In September, 'The Film Daily' reported that Melville Brown had been signed to a long-term contract by RKO, and that 'Dance Hall' would be his first project with his new studio, and in early October, it was learned that J. Walter Ruben would be contributing to the script's dialogue.[https://archive.org/stream/filmdaily4950newy#page/838/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 "Director signs long contract."] 'The Film Daily','September 30, 1929, p. 9. Retrieved: January 15, 2016. Also in October, RKO announced that Arthur Lake and Olive Borden were attached to the project,[https://archive.org/stream/filmdaily4950newy#page/1042/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 "At works in 'Dance Hall'."] 'The Film Daily', October 23, 1929, p. 6. Retrieved: January 15, 2016. and also that Margaret Seddon, Ralph Emerson and Tom O'Brien would be joining the cast.[https://archive.org/stream/filmdaily4950newy#page/1010/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 "RKO signs Rupert Julian and twelve new players."] 'The Film Daily', October 20, 1929, p. 5. Retrieved: January 15, 2016. The production featured the introduction of two new dances: the "Dumb Drag" and the "Blue Bottom".[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1908&dat=19300802&id=zE0rAAAAIBAJ&sjid=y9cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4138,2723437&hl=en "Film introduces popular dances."] 'The Nevada Daily Mail and The Evening Post', August 2, 1930, p. 3.
While originally scheduled for August, filming on 'Dance Hall' did not begin until mid-October 1929.[https://archive.org/stream/variety96-1929-10#page/n7/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 "Radio's Octette."] 'Variety', October 2, 1929, p. 8. Retrieved: January 15, 2016. After production began, a fire at Consolidated Film Industries, the laboratory developing the negatives, destroyed two days worth of filming.[https://archive.org/stream/variety96-1929-10#page/n345/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 "Negatives and heavy damage at disastrous Con. Lab Coast fire."] 'Variety', October 30, 1929, p. 9. Retrieved: January 15, 2016. By November 20, filming on 'Dance Hall' had concluded and the picture was being edited.[https://archive.org/stream/variety97-1929-11#page/n159/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 "Cutting four."] 'Variety', November 20, 1929, p. 8. Retrieved: January 15, 2016.
'Dance Hall' opened on December 15, 1929 at the Globe Theater in New York City,[https://archive.org/stream/filmdaily4950newy#page/1550/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 "The Broadway parade.'] 'The Film Daily', December 16, 1929, p. 2. Retrieved: January 15, 2016. although the 'American Film Institute' has it opening a day earlier.
Reception
In his film review for 'The New York Times', Mordaunt Hall characterized 'Dance Hall' as mildly entertaining, "... while it may be a slice of life, or whatever one cares to characterize it, the result is far from being an edifying entertainment. Possibly some of those who compete in marathon dances may find that this production appeals to them, but others, young or old, will, in all probability, wish for something just a trifle more stimulating to the mind than this tale of a dance cup winner and his love for his partner."
Hall, Mordaunt. [https://www.nytimes.com/1929/12/16/archives/the-screen-a-tragedy-of-the-desert.html "The screen; A tragedy of the desert."] 'The New York Times', December 16, 1929.
Film historians Richard Jewell and Vernon Harbin in 'The RKO Story' (1982) considered 'Dance Hall', a "sour note ..." yet "... mildly diverting." They further described that the film "collapsed in the critical areas of acting (Arthur Lake was the weakest of the weak), (and) dialogue ..."
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
* Jewell, Richard B. and Vernon Harbin. 'The RKO Story'. New York: Arlington House, 1982. .
* Pendo, Stephen. 'Aviation in the Cinema'. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1985. .
* Wynne, H. Hugh. 'The Motion Picture Stunt Pilots and Hollywood's Classic Aviation Movies'. Missoula, Montana: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., 1987. .
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