Review of Dancing Lady (1933) by Norm D — 27 Jan 2018

~ This Gable-Crawford film should be titled "Kitchen Sink." There's everything a studio can throw at a picture, including fancy production montages, cool cutting, big stage music & dance numbers, songs, everything except maybe a murder mystery & Esther Williams - to include cameos with the 3 Stooges and Fred Astaire and burlesque that looks for-all-the-world like the chorus line is topless with sparkly pasties.

Even the chorus girls get some lines. Crawford comes marching-in to see Tone's character and she, too, might as well be topless in her satin blouse. ~ Even tho' it's '33, Crawford is beginning to show the signs of the looks to which she'll descend in her middle age & later years, with the exception of "Strange Cargo" where she goes make-up'less & looks great.

Gable's growing his matinee looks but, Lord, it seems he hasn't found the acting chops yet. ~ Of interest in our current sad day, Gable says, "You wanna work with me ...? Shake." They do - and then Crawford turns in her short-short dancing shorts & Gable pops her good on the left cheek of her fancy bottom.

She rubs the sting. Today he'd have to end his career, he & the director, too, probably. ~ Worth a look to see a '30's totally commercial confection designed to please everyone but maybe pleasing no one - except for its fine vintage patina.

| ~ Norm de Guerre.