Dance, Girl, Dance
Dance, Girl, Dance

Dance, Girl, Dance

1940Movie90 minEnglish

Judy O'Brien is an aspiring ballerina in a dance troupe. Also in the company is Bubbles, a brash mantrap who leaves the struggling troupe for a career in burlesque. When the company disbands, Bubbles gives Judy a thankless job as her stooge. The two eventually clash when both fall for the same man.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes100%
Director: Dorothy ArznerGenres: Drama, Musical

Plot Summary

The film follows the intertwined lives of two aspiring dancers, Judy O'Brien and Bubbles/Dotty Hale, who navigate the cutthroat world of show business in 1930s New York. Judy, a talented but naive dancer, finds herself overshadowed by her more pragmatic and ambitious roommate, Bubbles. Their dreams clash with reality as they face exploitation, romance, and the harsh truths of the entertainment industry, ultimately leading to a confrontation over fame and integrity.

Critical Reception

Dance, Girl, Dance was met with a mixed reception upon its release, with some critics praising its honest portrayal of the struggles faced by women in Hollywood and its strong performances, particularly from Maureen O'Hara and Lucille Ball. Others found its narrative somewhat predictable and its tone occasionally uneven. Despite this, it has since gained recognition as a significant film for its feminist themes and its director, Dorothy Arzner, one of the few female directors working in Hollywood at the time.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its ahead-of-its-time feminist perspective and strong female leads.
  • Acknowledged for its authentic depiction of the realities of show business.
  • Noted for Dorothy Arzner's directorial skill in navigating complex themes.

Google audience: Audience reception data for Google reviews is not readily available for this film.

Fun Fact

The film is notable for its depiction of a strike by burlesque dancers, a theme considered progressive for its time.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
talisencrw

talisencrw

A really fun film that I found in my Maureen O'Hara TCM 4-pack that I highly recommend if you enjoy films from that era. I like the two films I've seen so far from Arzner, who was one of the earliest and most successful of female directors ...