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Restoring Henry Hobart (producer)'s credit as "Henry Hobart (producer)|Henry Hobart (associate producer)" (William LeBaron, as executive in charge of production, was credited as "producer" on all early RKO releases
added production section
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| writer =
| writer =
| screenplay = [[Jane Murfin]]<br>[[J. Walter Ruben]]<ref name=RKO/>
| screenplay = [[Jane Murfin]]<br>[[J. Walter Ruben]]<ref name=RKO/>
| story = [[Vina Delmar]]<ref name=RKO/>
| story = [[Viña Delmar]]<ref name=RKO/>
| based on = <!-- {{based on|title of the original work|writer of the original work}} -->
| based on = <!-- {{based on|title of the original work|writer of the original work}} -->
| narrator =
| narrator =
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| editing = Ann McKnight<br>George Marsh<ref name=RKO/>
| editing = Ann McKnight<br>George Marsh<ref name=RKO/>
| studio = [[A Radio Picture]]<br>[[RKO Productions, Inc.]]<ref name=RKO/>
| studio = [[A Radio Picture]]<br>[[RKO Productions, Inc.]]<ref name=RKO/>
| distributor = [[RKO Distributing Corp'n.]]<ref name=RKO/>
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|1929|12|14|Premiere-''New York City''|1929|12|27|''US''| ref1= <ref name=AFI>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=3552| title=Dance Hall: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate=June 3, 2014}} </ref>|ref2=<ref name=AFI />}}
| released = {{Film date|1929|12|15|Premiere-''New York City''|1929|12|27|''US''| ref1= <ref name=TFD291215 />|ref2=<ref name=AFI>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=3552| title=Dance Hall: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | accessdate=June 3, 2014}}</ref>}}
| runtime = 65 minutes<ref name=AFI />
| runtime = 65 minutes<ref name=AFI />
| country = United States
| country = United States
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==Cast==
==Cast==
*[[Arthur Lake (actor)|Arthur Lake]] [Tommy Flynn]
*[[Arthur Lake (actor)|Arthur Lake]] as Tommy Flynn
*[[Olive Borden]] [Gracie Nolan]
*[[Olive Borden]] as Gracie Nolan
*[[Joseph Cawthorn]] [Bremmer]
*[[Joseph Cawthorn]] as Bremmer
*[[Margaret Seddon]] [Mrs. Flynn]
*[[Margaret Seddon]] as Mrs. Flynn
*Ralph Emerson [Ted Smith]
*Ralph Emerson as Ted Smith
*[[Lee Moran]] [Ernie]
*[[Lee Moran]] as Ernie
*Helen Kaiser [Bee]
*Helen Kaiser as Bee
*Tom O'Brien [Truck driver]
*Tom O'Brien as Truck driver
*[[George Irving (American actor)|George Irving]] [Doctor Loring]
*[[George Irving (American actor)|George Irving]] as Doctor Loring

==Production==
In February 1929, it was announced that [[Viña Delmar]] had been signed by RKO to write the story.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The Film Daily | title=Two More Writers Added to Radio Pictures Staff | date=February 10, 1929 | page=9 | url=http://www.archive.org/stream/filmdaily4748newy#page/n341/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 | accessdate=January 15, 2016}}{{Open access}}</ref> By the end of June, RKO had scheduled filming to begin on approximately August 1, 1929.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The Film Daily | title=Shooting Schedules Set on 4 New Radio Films | date=June 30, 1929 | page=6 | url=http://www.archive.org/stream/filmdaily4748newy#page/n1607/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 | accessdate=January 15, 2016}}{{Open access}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The Film Daily | title=Director Signs Long Contract | date=September 30, 1929 | page=9 | url=http://www.archive.org/stream/filmdaily4950newy#page/838/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 | accessdate=January 15, 2016}}{{Open access}}</ref> and in early October it was learned that J. Walter Ruben would be contributing to the script's dialogue.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The Film Daily | title=Director Signs Long Contract | date=September 30, 1929 | page=9 | url=http://www.archive.org/stream/filmdaily4950newy#page/838/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 | accessdate=January 15, 2016}}{{Open access}}</ref> Also in October, RKO announced that Arthur Lake and Olive Borden were attached to the project,<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The Film Daily | title=At Works in "Dance Hall" | date=October 23, 1929 | page=6 | url=http://www.archive.org/stream/filmdaily4950newy#page/1042/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 | accessdate=January 15, 2016}}{{Open access}}</ref> and also that Margaret Seddon, Ralph Emerson, and Tom O'Brien would be joining the cast. <ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The Film Daily | title=RKO Signs Rupert Julian and Twelve New Players | date=October 20, 1929 | page=5 | url=http://www.archive.org/stream/filmdaily4950newy#page/1010/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 | accessdate=January 15, 2016}}{{Open access}}</ref>

The film opened on December 15, 1929 at the Globe Theater in New York City,<ref name=TFD291215>{{cite news | newspaper=The Film Daily | title=The Broadway Parade | date=December 16, 1929 | page=2 | url=http://www.archive.org/stream/filmdaily4950newy#page/1550/mode/2up/search/%22Dance+Hall%22 | accessdate=January 15, 2016}}{{Open access}}</ref> although the [[American Film Institute]] has it opening a day earlier.


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 02:17, 16 January 2016

Dance Hall
Theatrical poster
Directed byMelville Brown[3]
Screenplay byJane Murfin
J. Walter Ruben[3]
Story byViña Delmar[3]
Produced byWilliam LeBaron
Henry Hobart (associate producer)[3]
StarringArthur Lake
Olive Borden[3]
CinematographyJack MacKenzie
Edited byAnn McKnight
George Marsh[3]
Production
companies
Release dates
  • December 15, 1929 (1929-12-15) (Premiere-New York City)[1]
  • December 27, 1929 (1929-12-27) (US)[2]
Running time
65 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Dance Hall was an American 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][6][7] It was RKO's second to last release of the decade, and was a critical and financial flop.[3]

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

Production

In February 1929, it was announced that Viña Delmar had been signed by RKO to write the story.[8] By the end of June, RKO had scheduled filming to begin on approximately August 1, 1929.[9] 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,[10] and in early October it was learned that J. Walter Ruben would be contributing to the script's dialogue.[11] Also in October, RKO announced that Arthur Lake and Olive Borden were attached to the project,[12] and also that Margaret Seddon, Ralph Emerson, and Tom O'Brien would be joining the cast. [13]

The film opened on December 15, 1929 at the Globe Theater in New York City,[1] although the American Film Institute has it opening a day earlier.

References

  1. ^ a b "The Broadway Parade". The Film Daily. December 16, 1929. p. 2. Retrieved January 15, 2016.Open access icon
  2. ^ a b "Dance Hall: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Jewell, Richard B.; Harbin, Vernon (1982). The RKO Story. New York: Arlington House. p. 23. ISBN 0-517-546566.
  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. ^ "'Dance Hall' at Park" (The Reading Eagle, January 17, 1930, page 28)
  7. ^ "Film Introduces Popular Dances" (The Nevada Daily Mail and The Evening Post, August 2, 1930, page three)
  8. ^ "Two More Writers Added to Radio Pictures Staff". The Film Daily. February 10, 1929. p. 9. Retrieved January 15, 2016.Open access icon
  9. ^ "Shooting Schedules Set on 4 New Radio Films". The Film Daily. June 30, 1929. p. 6. Retrieved January 15, 2016.Open access icon
  10. ^ "Director Signs Long Contract". The Film Daily. September 30, 1929. p. 9. Retrieved January 15, 2016.Open access icon
  11. ^ "Director Signs Long Contract". The Film Daily. September 30, 1929. p. 9. Retrieved January 15, 2016.Open access icon
  12. ^ "At Works in "Dance Hall"". The Film Daily. October 23, 1929. p. 6. Retrieved January 15, 2016.Open access icon
  13. ^ "RKO Signs Rupert Julian and Twelve New Players". The Film Daily. October 20, 1929. p. 5. Retrieved January 15, 2016.Open access icon
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