Dance Hall (1929 film)

Dance Hall

Theatrical poster
Directed by Melville Brown[1]
Produced by Henry Hobart[2]
Screenplay by Jane Murfin
J. Walter Ruben[1]
Story by Viña Delmar[1]
Starring Arthur Lake
Olive Borden[1]
Cinematography Jack MacKenzie
Edited by Ann McKnight
George Marsh[1]
Production
company
Release date
  • December 15, 1929 (1929-12-15) (Premiere-New York City)[3]
  • December 27, 1929 (1929-12-27) (US)[2]
Running time
 65 minutes[2]
Country United States
Language English

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.[4][5] It was RKO's second to last release of the decade, and was a critical and financial flop.[1]

Plot

A shipping clerk, Tommy Flynn, engages a young female taxi dancer, Gracie Nolan, 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, 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 that the pilot is still alive from Gracie, as he attempts to get her to fall in love with him, but 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

Olive Borden and Arthur Lake

Production

In February 1929, it was announced that Viña Delmar had been signed by RKO to write the story.[6] By the end of June, RKO had scheduled filming to begin on approximately August 1, 1929.[7] 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,[8] and in early October it was learned that J. Walter Ruben would be contributing to the script's dialogue.[8] Also in October, RKO announced that Arthur Lake and Olive Borden were attached to the project,[9] and also that Margaret Seddon, Ralph Emerson, and Tom O'Brien would be joining the cast.[10] The production featured the introduction of two new dances: the "Dumb Drag" and the "Blue Bottom".[11] While originally scheduled for August, filming on the picture did not begin until mid-October.[12] After production began, a fire at Consolidated Film Industries, the laboratory developing the negatives, destroyed two days worth of filming.[13] By November 20, filming had concluded and the picture was being edited.[14]

The film opened on December 15, 1929 at the Globe Theater in New York City,[3] although the American Film Institute has it opening a day earlier.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Jewell, Richard B.; Harbin, Vernon (1982). The RKO Story. New York: Arlington House. p. 23. ISBN 0-517-546566.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Dance Hall: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "The Broadway Parade". The Film Daily. December 16, 1929. p. 2. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Shades of Old at Riverside" (Milwaukee Sentinel, January 13, 1930, page 9)
  5. ↑ "'Dance Hall' at Park" (The Reading Eagle, January 16, 1930, page 25)
  6. ↑ "Two More Writers Added to Radio Pictures Staff". The Film Daily. February 10, 1929. p. 9. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Shooting Schedules Set on 4 New Radio Films". The Film Daily. June 30, 1929. p. 6. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "Director Signs Long Contract". The Film Daily. September 30, 1929. p. 9. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  9. ↑ "At Works in "Dance Hall"". The Film Daily. October 23, 1929. p. 6. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  10. ↑ "RKO Signs Rupert Julian and Twelve New Players". The Film Daily. October 20, 1929. p. 5. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Film Introduces Popular Dances" (The Nevada Daily Mail and The Evening Post, August 2, 1930, page three)
  12. ↑ "Radio's Octette". Variety. October 2, 1929. p. 8. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Negatives and Heavy Damage at Disastrous Con. Lab Coast Fire". Variety. October 30, 1929. p. 9. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Cutting Four". Variety. November 20, 1929. p. 8. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
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