Go into Your Dance

Go into Your Dance is a 1935 American musical drama film starring Al Jolson, Ruby Keeler, and Glenda Farrell. The film was directed by Archie Mayo and is based on the novel of the same name by Bradford Ropes.[2][3] It was released by Warner Bros. on April 20, 1935. An irresponsible Broadway star gets mixed up with gambling and gangsters.

Go into Your Dance
Theatrical release poster
Directed byArchie Mayo
Screenplay byEarl Baldwin
Based onGo into Your Dance
1934 novel
by Bradford Ropes
Produced byJack L. Warner
Samuel Bischoff
StarringAl Jolson
Ruby Keeler
Glenda Farrell
Barton MacLane
Edited byHarold McLernon
Music byHarry Warren
Al Dubin
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
April 20, 1935 (1935-04-20)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$703,000[1]
Box office$1,401,000[1]

Plot

Broadway star Al Howard (Al Jolson) has a habit of walking out on hit shows. His sister Molly (Glenda Farrell) promises his agent he will never do it again, but he is banned from Broadway. Molly tracks Al down in Mexico, where he is on a binge and tells him she is done taking care of him. When Molly runs into Dorothy Wayne (Ruby Keeler) a friend who is a dancer, she begs Dorothy to form a team with Al, because she can get Al a job if he has a partner. At first Molly is reluctant but finally agreed.

It takes some work to convince Al, but he eventually agrees to form a team with Dorothy. They become a big success in Chicago. Dorothy falls in love with Al and thinking that he does not return her affection decides to quit the act. Al asks her to stay, telling her that he plans to open his own nightclub on Broadway. Molly introduces Al to Duke Hutchinson (Barton MacLane) a gangster who is willing to back the club as a showcase for his wife, Luana Bell (Helen Morgan) a torch singer who wants to make a comeback. Al flirts with Luana, Dorothy warns him about his involvement with Luana, but Al continues his flirtation with her. Duke gives Al an additional $30,000 to open the club, but before opening night, Al uses the money to post bond for Molly, who has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

When Al turns down a proposal from Luana, she angrily tells Duke the club will not open on schedule, and he sends gunmen to kill Al. At the last minute, Molly is cleared of the murder and the necessary money is returned, with the show opening on time and to great applause. Duke tries to call off his gunmen, but Luana does not give them the message. Al finally realizes that he is in love with Dorothy and asks her to dinner. As they step out the door, Dorothy sees the gunmen and throws her body in front of Al. She is wounded and as Al holds her, he tells Dorothy that he loves her. The doctor proclaims that Dorothy will be fine and Al's club is a huge success.

Cast
Al Jolson and Glenda Farrell in Go Into Your Dance (1935)

Production

This is the only film that stars both Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler, who were married at the time. Barton MacLane was billed as Barton Mac Lane. It was shot at the Burbank Studios in Hollywood with sets designed by the art director John Hughes. Go into Your Dance was released in Britain as Casino de Paris.[4]

Years after the film's initial release, Jolson career was revitalized after the release of the 1946 Columbia Pictures film, The Jolson Story. Warner Bros. cashed in on the film's success by reissuing Go into Your Dance the following year. New opening titles were added which gave Jolson a solo over-the-title billing, as well as a written prologue to ensure audiences that the film took place in 1935.[5] No other changes were added beyond the opening titles.

Songs

This film, a famous early musical, includes the numbers "About a Quarter to Nine" and "Latin From Manhattan" sung by Al Jolson. The former song was also recreated in color in the film The Jolson Story (1946). Dance director Bobby Connolly received an Academy Award nomination for his work on the "Latin from Manhattan". Other songs with music and lyrics by Harry Warren and Al Dubin include:

  • Go into Your Dance
  • The Little Things You Used to Do
  • Mammy, I'll Sing About You
  • Casino de Paree
  • An Old Fashioned Cocktail with an Old Fashioned Girl

Reception

The New York Times movie review said: "On the debit side of the picture's ledger, one must report a dearth of comedy, a certain dragginess as the film reaches its half-way mark and Miss Keeler's not altogether successful attempt to do the rhumba, the tango and other "Spanish" dances. Her tap dancing is so much better. On the credit side are the Warren-Dubin songs, the absence—mark this!—of overhead shots of the chorus, Helen Morgan's rendition of "The Little Things You Used to Do", and Mr. Jolson. All told, "Go Into Your Dance" is not the best, not the worst, but generally above average for its type."[6]

Box office

According to Warner Bros records the film earned $912,000 domestic and $489,000 foreign.[1]

Home media

Warner Archive released the film on DVD on October 21, 2009.

References
  1. Warner Bros financial information in The William Shaefer Ledger. See Appendix 1, Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, (1995) 15:sup1, 1-31 p 16 DOI: 10.1080/01439689508604551
  2. "GO INTO YOUR DANCE (1935)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  3. "Go into Your Dance (1935)". All Movie. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  4. "Go Into Your Dance". American film Institute: Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  5. Go Into Your Dance (1935) - IMDb, retrieved 2022-08-26
  6. "MOVIE REVIEW: At the Capitol". The New York Times. May 4, 1935. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  • Green, Stanley (1999) Hollywood Musicals Year by Year (2nd ed.), pub. Hal Leonard Corporation ISBN 0-634-00765-3 page 43
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