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"100% All Talking! 100% All Singing! 100% All Dancing!" If the math isslightly off, the now-legendary ad campaign for The Broadway Melody canbe excused. After all, sound had just come in, and a full-scale musical film wasstill a novelty. This tuneful 1929 production became a smash hit and won theBest Picture Academy Award® in the second Oscar® ceremony. The story is a creakytale of two sisters bringing their act to Broadway, but the fun is in theRoaring Twenties lingo and the showbiz melodrama. This is an era when a galcould become the toast of Broadway by standing, motionless, on a stage pedestal("Those guys aren't gonna pay 10 bucks to look at your face--this isBroadway!"). The tunes include the standard "You Were Meant for Me"; most of thedramatic weight is handled by the peppy silent star Bessie Love, who wasOscar-nominated. --Robert Horton ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The First of the Hollywood Musicals
While this was the second film to win the best picture Academy Award, it was, in fact, a film of a number of firsts. It was the first all talking, all singing musical. Bessie Love, a name we certainly don't hear today, was nominated as best actress. She lost to Mary Pickford (Coquette).

The film is somewhat dated, but don't forget it is over 70 years old. However, that notwithstanding, two songs, the title song and You Were Meant for Me, still hold up well. It is worth watching for for at least its historic value.

Granddady Of The Musical Genre
Well, if you want to watch an early talkie masterpiece, you won`t find it here. Though the film certainly wrote screen history in some way and even received an Oscar, "Broadway Melody" is a painfully crude early talkie musical which makes the "Jazz Singer" (released 2 years earlier) look like a motion picture masterpiece. The acting is very stagy, the film mostly plays in stuffy decors and the camera movements are a great setback from the sophistication of the silent era. On the other hand it is still one of the best remembered films of this transition era between silents and sound films and therefore should be watched by everyone interested in movie history. Beside this point Bessie Love is still fun to watch (though the other actors can be discarded easily) and the "Wedding of the painted doll"-sequence is certainly an eye-filler. To conclude, the movie captures the new definition of the musical genre at the dawn of the sound era perfectly and is one of the landmark films of MGM between 1929 and 1930, just don`t watch it when you are too tired to concentrate on the boring plotline .... but judge for yourself.

Hasn't Stood the Test of Time
Neither awful nor wonderful. Tremendously popular in its time but little more than an artifact of entertainment industry history. Certainly not a bad movie by any means and definately worth a rental if you can find a copy.

The Broadway Melody
I thouroughly loved this one! I wouls only add to the other reviewers words by saying I've always loved the song "Broadway Melody", both the music and gleefully,carefree happy time flavor of those 1929 lyrics. Thought I'd never be able to listen enough times to this song to satisfy me,BUT,this movie justabout does the trick. I shall be keeping this gem among my treasures and to think I was able to purchase a $680,000.00 movie which grossed 4 million bucks, for only [$$$] here at Amazon. This movie has delicious nostalgia. and if you really try, you can almostget a tangible scent of the places theaters and ambience of the ornate beautiful movie palaces all so new at that time. A time piece and keep-sake of a happier and more carefree "era,dear-ah." (Credit Ruth Donelley from her book)

If you've got a love for old movies you just may love this.(vo-dody-oh-do!)

A Trip Back to a Happier Day
This wonderful movie was made in both silent and talkie versions in 1928, and released the following year.Bessie Love and the beautiful Anita Page star as two sisters trying to make it big on the NY stage, and both in love with the same man. Charles King,(1889-1944), a fairly well-known hoofer and song man of the era, plays Eddie. He does well in this movie, but it has been recorded elsewhere that he had great problems remembering his lines. Miss Page, 18 at the time, gives a stellar performance as a typical Jazz Age baby, but yet very naive and innocent.There is much of Miss Page in real life as she was here in this movie. She is still alive and making movies today, at 93. Love is great as the scared-of-nothing older sister. The unbilled costume designer gives the ultimate fey performance everytime he appears. Jed Prouty is good as the stuttering Uncle Jed. Unfortunately, a lot of the men are very heavily and overly made up. The music is great, except for overkill of "You Were Meant for Me"(originally written for Anita Page by Nacio Herb Brown) and "Broadway Melody." 20's wisecrack remarks abound, especially well delivered by Mary Doran, who plays Flo. A great, great movie to be seen again and again. Because it is from 1929 is one of its charms. It is never outdated. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

The First of the Hollywood Musicals
While this was the second film to win the best picture Academy Award, it was, in fact, a film of a number of firsts. It was the first all talking, all singing musical. Bessie Love, a name we certainly don't hear today, was nominated as best actress. She lost to Mary Pickford (Coquette).

The film is somewhat dated, but don't forget it is over 70 years old. However, that notwithstanding, two songs, the title song and You Were Meant for Me, still hold up well. It is worth watching for for at least its historic value.

Granddady Of The Musical Genre
Well, if you want to watch an early talkie masterpiece, you won`t find it here. Though the film certainly wrote screen history in some way and even received an Oscar, "Broadway Melody" is a painfully crude early talkie musical which makes the "Jazz Singer" (released 2 years earlier) look like a motion picture masterpiece. The acting is very stagy, the film mostly plays in stuffy decors and the camera movements are a great setback from the sophistication of the silent era. On the other hand it is still one of the best remembered films of this transition era between silents and sound films and therefore should be watched by everyone interested in movie history. Beside this point Bessie Love is still fun to watch (though the other actors can be discarded easily) and the "Wedding of the painted doll"-sequence is certainly an eye-filler. To conclude, the movie captures the new definition of the musical genre at the dawn of the sound era perfectly and is one of the landmark films of MGM between 1929 and 1930, just don`t watch it when you are too tired to concentrate on the boring plotline .... but judge for yourself.

Hasn't Stood the Test of Time
Neither awful nor wonderful. Tremendously popular in its time but little more than an artifact of entertainment industry history. Certainly not a bad movie by any means and definately worth a rental if you can find a copy.

The Broadway Melody
I thouroughly loved this one! I wouls only add to the other reviewers words by saying I've always loved the song "Broadway Melody", both the music and gleefully,carefree happy time flavor of those 1929 lyrics. Thought I'd never be able to listen enough times to this song to satisfy me,BUT,this movie justabout does the trick. I shall be keeping this gem among my treasures and to think I was able to purchase a $680,000.00 movie which grossed 4 million bucks, for only [$$$] here at Amazon. This movie has delicious nostalgia. and if you really try, you can almostget a tangible scent of the places theaters and ambience of the ornate beautiful movie palaces all so new at that time. A time piece and keep-sake of a happier and more carefree "era,dear-ah." (Credit Ruth Donelley from her book)

If you've got a love for old movies you just may love this.(vo-dody-oh-do!)

A Trip Back to a Happier Day
This wonderful movie was made in both silent and talkie versions in 1928, and released the following year.Bessie Love and the beautiful Anita Page star as two sisters trying to make it big on the NY stage, and both in love with the same man. Charles King,(1889-1944), a fairly well-known hoofer and song man of the era, plays Eddie. He does well in this movie, but it has been recorded elsewhere that he had great problems remembering his lines. Miss Page, 18 at the time, gives a stellar performance as a typical Jazz Age baby, but yet very naive and innocent.There is much of Miss Page in real life as she was here in this movie. She is still alive and making movies today, at 93. Love is great as the scared-of-nothing older sister. The unbilled costume designer gives the ultimate fey performance everytime he appears. Jed Prouty is good as the stuttering Uncle Jed. Unfortunately, a lot of the men are very heavily and overly made up. The music is great, except for overkill of "You Were Meant for Me"(originally written for Anita Page by Nacio Herb Brown) and "Broadway Melody." 20's wisecrack remarks abound, especially well delivered by Mary Doran, who plays Flo. A great, great movie to be seen again and again. Because it is from 1929 is one of its charms. It is never outdated. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Joan Crawford's Breakthrough Performance
"Our Dancing Daughters", the epitome of everything we have come to expect from the 1920's Jazz Age, fast cars, fast dancing, high energy and life led at top speed came along surprisingly late in that decade and was the film that really saw the emergence of Joan Crawford as one of Hollywood's top stars. Prior to this film she had appeared in almost twenty silent films and played leading lady to some of MGM's biggest male stars including Ramon Novarro (Across to Singapore),Lon Chaney (The Unknown), John Gilbert (Twelve Miles Out), and William Haines (West Point). This film however moved Joan forever out of leading lady roles into true stradom that she enjoyed in her illustrious career for the next 50 years.

"Our Dancing Daughters", relates the interwoven lives of three young women that are typical examples of Jazz Age "Flappers". Dangerous Diana (Joan Crawford) is a well heeled young socialite who leds a frantic life of dancing and hard partying. Very extroverted and socially mobile Diana's wild exterior actually conceals a kindly nature and a genuine care for the feelings of others. Her friend Ann (Anita Page in her most stunning performance),is the exact opposite in both appearance and personality. Outwardly demure and childlike, this facade actually conceals a selfish and nasty character who will go to whatever lengths are needed to get what she wants. When Diana begins to get serious on wealthy Ben Blaine (Johnny Mack Brown) Ann, jealous of the relationship also sets her sights on him . Because of Diana's flighty outward appearance and love of flirting innocently with the other boys in their party group, Ben gets the impression that she is not serious about their relationship and ends up falling for the devious machinations of the calculating Ann who plays up her innocent loving facade when with him. Soon they are married however the marriage is not a happy one as Ann's true character very quickly emerges and totally disillusions Ben who begins to realise that Diana is the girl he still wants. Conducting affairs behind his back and embarrassing Ben with her drinking and unexceptable behaviour at the social gatherings of friends Beatrice (Dorothy Sebastian and Norman (Nils Asther) she suddenly begins to accuse Ben and Diana of resuming their old relations. Diana indeed realises what she has lost in the decent Ben but is appalled by Ann's vicious slander attack on her. After a particulary nasty argument Anne is killed falling drunk down a flight of stairs and only in the light of day and with what has happened do Ben and Diana finally see a way to beginning a new life together.

Debate has often arisen from whether Anita Page in the showy supporting role of the nasty Anne actually stole the film from Joan Crawford playing the fast living good girl Diana. In my belief both women are wonderful in their respectice roles and combined with Dorothy Sebastian's solid but less showy role as Bea make a highly successful acting trio. So popular was this film on release with acclaim handed out to all three women that they were reteamed in two more films "Our Modern Maidens", and "Our Blushing Brides" which contrary to popular belief were not direct sequels to this story but merely had similiar titles with different characters and storylines. Joan Crawford is the very essence of the frantic pre stock market crash high living socialite in this film. Her energy in the famous Charleston scenes is depicted at an almost exhausting level and Joan is also excellent is depicting the quietier moments of the decent but bubbly party girl. Anita Page who gave many fine silent film performances in the late 20's really is excellent as the nasty Ann and her confrontation scenes with Diana often make me wonder why this dramatic powerhouse of an actress didn't enjoy more success at MGM when the sound era fully arrived. "Our Dancing Daughters", also belongs to that most interesting group of films termed "transitional talkies". Generally made around the 1928- early 1929 period when sound was really beginning to come in with full force, the film has no spoken dialogue but includes numerous sound efects like party noises or a car starting up. They make for an interesting type of presentation that only lasted a few more months before sound came fully into Hollywood movie making.

I consider "Our Dancing Daughters", to be an extremely important film on a number of different levels. Any student of the legendary Joan Crawford should include this excellent film in their collections as it reveals for the first time the real acting abilities of Joan Crawford when finally she is given a role with some meat on it. It's place in the transition between silent films and talkies is also important as it was one of the last great silent efforts in the late twenties and preserved forever how sound was gradually incorporated into MGM's major productions that year. Any film historian or lover of good drama is bound to get alot out of "Our Dancing Daughters" and for me the real plus is the wonderful acting of Joan Crawford and Anita Page in two roles for which they are still justly acclaimed.

Page the winner!
This was the big break-through movie for Joan Crawford and she's exciting to watch as a young, high-spirited jazz baby of the late Jazz Age. However, it's Anita Page who constantly catches the eye in her flashy subordinate role of the alcoholic bad girl. Anita also conspicuously stole the thunder from Bessie Love in "Broadway Melody" in l928, which won Best Picture of the year. Why she never became a great star is one of the biggest mysteries in HOllywood history. She alleges Louis B. Mayer wanted her to be a real-life goodtime gal. She resisted. She also changed agents when Broadway Melody became an international smash hit and naturally wanted more money and better roles. Mayer hit the ceiling and deliberately threw her into lack lustre parts, brutally throttling her rising stardom. Anita can be seen on cable TV's "Mysteries and Scandals" now and then. She's also a major character in the bio about her great buddy, William Haines "Wiseacre". Page shoulda been one of the greatest stars of them all. Watch her strut her stuff in this wonderfully Jazz Age flick and especially in Broadway Melody where she not only sings and talks but dances--and steals the picture from everybodyl.

ANITA PAGE STEALS THE SHOW
Excellent and racy silent film about three girls in the unhibibited jazz age. Despite Joan Crawford's top billing, blonde beauty Anita Page steals the film as the baddest girl

Great Decadent 1920's film!
Joan Crawford at the time was just a girl.But,all the more alluring.The film starts with her doing the Charleston and putting on her panties. Mind you it did'nt show nudity. Just a sublime message done innocently! Through the film she fights over a guy and wins! It really shows the fun youth had during that time and is completely innocent compared to nowadays. Although controversial at the time. One big winner! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Red Skeleton Rules!!
Red Skeleton stars as a lowly clerk with delusions of grandeur that lands both him and his girlfriend in hot water.It's a classic!! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

First Teaming Of Hollywood Legends Crawford And Gable
It probably wasn't realised at the time of it's release but "Dance, Fools, Dance", gave birth to one of the greatest screen teams of the 1930's in Joan Crawford and Clark Gable. Both made many noteworthy films with other costars during this decade but the personal and professional chemistry between these two was undeniable and resulted in eight screen teamings where regardless of the quality of the film in question always displayed the two idealy matched actors to perfection. At the time of this films release Joan Crawford was already a bankable star at MGM while Clark Gable was still just a rising actor of some promise. His work in this film and in others that year such as "A Free Soul", with Norma Shearer and "Night Nurse", with Barbara Stanwyck confirmed the promise already evident in the former lumberjack turned actor and a new star of enduring fame was born.

"Dance, Fools, Dance", is very much of its era and being from this early sound precode era has a certain honesty and openess about it that is refreshingly appealing to modern audiences. Certainly the slant taken on relationships or "love on approval", as it is referred to in the script would be something considered unacceptable only a few years later with the stronger censorship laws that came into place. The films most famous scene is the "notorious" underwear swimming party that takes place near the beginning of the film where the well heeled members of a society party strip down to their underwear and dive off the side of a yacht to cool off. Heady stuff for 1931 audiences! "Dance, Fools, Dance", draws on real life incidents of the time like the recent Stock Market Crash and the St. Valentines Day Massacre in telling its story of Society girl Bonnie Jordan (Crawford) and her idle and weak willed brother Rodney who lead a life of priviledge and endless parties until the Stock Market crash wipes out their father Stanley Jordan (William Holden)who dies as a result of the shock leaving the two to now fend for themselves. Deserted by their shallow fair weather friends Bonnie does the responsible thing and goes out and finds work as a cadet reporter while Rodney drifts into a life involved in the underworld dealings of bootleggers and gangster standover merchants. What first seems like a simple way to make easy money turns into a nightmare for Rodney as he becomes involved with ruthless gangster Jake Luva (Clark Gable). Simple sly grog dealings develop into much more serious activities as Rodney finds himself being forced to murder a collegue of Bonnie's on the Newspaper, reporter friend Bert Scranton (Cliff Edwards) who has learnt too much about Jake's setup. Assigned to infiltrate Jake's dealings to reveal the real murderers behind the St. Valentine's Day Massacre Bonnie goes undercover as a dancer at his seedy nightclub. Realising her brother is involved over his head Bonnie gains the information she needs to nail Jake and then attempts to warn her brother that he is now a marked man by the mob. In the ensuring shootout both Rodney and Jake are killed whereupon Bonnie breaks the story to the Newspaper. Gaining new respect for her abilitites she nevertheless leaves her job on the paper and is reunited with her old beau from the earlier carefree days Bob (Lester Vail) who only ever regarded her as a shallow party girl in her moneyed days but now sees the real integrity that Bonnie has earned from honest hard work. Having rejected his marriage proposals earlier for the reasons stated Bonnie then accepts his offer knowing it is coming from an appreciation of what she has become not from simply as in the past, who she was or how much money she had.

"Dance, Fools, Dance", takes a non sentimental look at the underworld and its dealings and while it doesn't have the hard edge of some of Warner Brothers efforts of this time such as the classic "Public Enemy" it still deals with the material in an honest and noncompromising manner. Joan Crawford at this time had been a full fledged star for roughly four years and while the famous "Joan Crawford Persona" had not been fully created yet she does a sterling job in the role of the flighty society girl who learns about life in the school of hard knocks. As stated previously her chemistry with the rising Clark Gable is electric in their scenes together and Gable definately displays the star quality that made him a Hollywood legend. He is quite ruthless in his characterisation and his acting has a surprising hard edge to it that is perfect as the villian in this story. While Lester Vail as Joan's on again off again love interest has a fairly bland role, the other standout in the story is William Bakewell's performance as Rodney the spoilt society boy who gets in over his head in underworld dealings to his own personal cost. He is wonderful in his at times frantic playing and the film really comes alive in his exchanges with both Crawford and Gable. He is one of the definite strong points of "Dance, Fools, Dance", and it is a shame his career didn't develop into more leading parts based on his performance here. Directed at a fast and no frills pace by Harry Beaumont who guided Joan Crawford to real stardom in the earlier classic "Our Dancing Daughters", the film at 82 minutes doesn't waste time on developing deep characterisations but focuses more on telling an interesting story and in building up suspense.

The first of three films they would make together in 1931 the Crawford/Gable team is still in its infancy here but already displays the unique qualities that made both a constant success in their later films together. In many respects "Dance, Fools, Dance", is not your typical MGM product that we have all come to know so well from the 30's decade. However it is certainly an interesting illustration of the careers of both Joan Crawford and Clark Gable at this early time at the beginning of the sound era when both their famous screen personas were still a "work in progress".

JOAN'S LINGERIE PARTY!
Crawford plays Bonnie, a spoiled socialite who refuses to marry her beau Bob Townsend (Lester Vail). Clark Gable plays the sordid Jake Luva, a bootlegger who eventually wants to take Joanie "for a ride"...This film is famous for the lingerie party aboard the Vail's yacht where both the men and ladies are seen drinking and carrying on in their undergarments: hot stuff for 1931 audiences! Gable's characterisation of Luva was considered a vivid and authentic bit of acting in its day and although Crawford's acting was still a bit self-conscious, she managed to prove herself an actress of no little dramatic ability. Crawford breathed some life into her role and picture is swiftly moving with thrills along the way. As Joan's weak little drinking brother, William Bakewell did an admirable job.

1931 "GANGSTA" FLICK...
This 1931 gangster flick is reflective of the times in which it was made, covering, what were then, topical issues: bathtub gin, the stock market crash, the underworld which controlled the bootleg liquor, and gangland killings that were the order of the day.

The story revolves around a pair of high society brats, Bonnie and Rodney Jordan, two wealthy high stepping siblings, who like to party hearty and get their booze from a gangland source. Joan Crawford plays the role of the beautiful Bonnie Jordan, a young woman who is liberated enough to dance until dawn in her underwear and make love with no strings attached. She is in love with callow Robert Townsend, played with panache by the very handsome Lester Vail.

All is well, until their father loses all in the stock market crash of 1929 and dies of a heart attack as a result, leaving Bonnie and Rodney destitute. Unfortunately, they find that their friends are of the fair weather variety, and they are left to fend for themselves as best they can. Even Mr. Townsend comes up short, as he proposes marriage to Joan out of a sense of duty. When, sensing his reluctance, she refuses his marriage proposal out of pride, his sense of relief is palpable.

Bonnie goes to work as a reporter, while Ronnie drifts into an unsavory involvement with the underworld, as his former bootlegger seeks to have Ronnie, who still owes him money for prior liquor shipments, work his debt off by having him get his former society friends to change bootleggers. You see, someone has moved in on the territory staked out by gangland boss, Jake Luva, played with style by the dashingly handsome Clark Gable, and he doesn't like it. He is seeking to reclaim his stolen territory. The unemployed Rodney, seeing this as a way to make some easy money, gets involved with this crew, but lives to regret it, as a high profile gangland killing ensues.

Consequently, Bonnie gets her big reporting break, going undercover as a dancer in order to solve the gangland murder. As hoped, she comes to the attention of the roving eye of Jake Luva, who puts the moves on her. What she ultimately discovers about the killing, however, goes beyond her wildest imagination and leads to personal heartbreak for her.

This is a very enjoyable, thirties style film. As it is pre-code, it has its share of risque moments. Joan Crawford can certainly dance and does a wonderful job with the role of Bonnie, as she transforms from high society flibberty gibbet to hard hitting news gal. Clark Gable is terrific as the gangland boss, appropriately menacing and romantic. This was the first of seven such pairings of Crawford and Gable, and together they light up the screen. They are both very young and appealing in this film. Even though Gable plays the bad guy, he is still irresistible. Pretty boy Lester Vail does a credible job with the role of Robert Townsend. This entertaining film was directed by Harry Beaumont, who directed the film "Our Dancing Daughters", the film which catapulted Joan Crawford to stardom.

Joan Crawford and Clark Gable fans will enjoy this film, as will all those who love vintage films.

Reporter Crawford goes undercover to nail Gangster Gable
Joan Crawford and Clark Cable are the big names in this 1931 pre-Code film directed by Harry Beaumont that mixes gangsters and journalism with a bunch of melodramatic twists and turns. Crawford plays Bonnie "Bon" Jordan, who likes to go swimming in her underwear, has modern notions of love, and smokes cigarettes to keep thin. But when her father loses the family's money in the stock market crashes and drops dead from a heart attack, Bonnie ditches boyfriend Bob Townsend (Lester Vail) and gets a job as a cub reporter. Meanwhile, her brother Rodney becomes the wheelman for bootlegger Jake Luva (Gable). After a gangland massacre one of Bonnie's reporter friends, Scranton (Cliff Edwards), gets the goods on Luva, but the gangster forces Rodney to kill the reporter. Bonnie goes undercover and worms her way into Luva's mob as an entertainer, only to discover the truth about ther brother's involvement in the gang. You have to respect the fact that even if this is a melodrama, the film does not offer anything approaching a convenient happy ending. Crawford does a nice job of flashing her eyes dramatically throughout the film and Gable plays his gangster character with a certain raw style that he would later hone into his formidable on screen persona. One of the more interesting aspects of "Dance, Fools, Dance" is how they manage to work some songs into the drama. You have to check out any movie that offers Joan Crawford playing Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" on the piano, especially when she offers a swing version as well. This film is worth checking out if you are fans of either of the stars.

See Joan Crawford in her Underwear!
Only in pre-code Hollywood could you see young men and women disrobing on the deck of a gorgeous yacht, and jumping into the ocean clad only in their underwear. But heck...in the movie they turn the lights off first, so nobody could see anything...well at least that's what they think!! In one of my personal favorite movies, Joan plays rich deb Bonnie Jordan, who after the loss of her family's fortune, must go to work like everyone else. While Bonnie becomes a cub reporter on the local newspaper, her brother Rodney becomes a bootlegger to an ultra rotten mobster, played by the one and only Clark Gable. Bonnie's assignment to discover who murdered the newspaper's leading reporter leads her to a shocking discovery.

Things to take note of: 1)Joan uses a metallic blow drier on board the yacht that looks almost exactly like the blow driers we use today! 2)Attitudes towards cigarettes sure have changed! When asked by her dad why she smokes before breakfast, she replies, "Well I must, darling, if I want to stay thin!"

This is a wonderful example of what movies were like before the production code was enforced. Give this one a try! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Laughing Sinners: The Only Sin is Feeling Sorry for Yourself
By 1931, Joan Crawford had established herself as a serious actress who could play it straight as the heroine in need of being saved or as the hard-edged bitter woman who had others needing being saved from her. In LAUGHING SINNERS, Crawford is the former who has to hit bottom before she can pull her life together. Director Harry Beaumont gives us Crawford as Ivy Stevens, a chorus girl who is so in love with a caddish Howard Palmer (Neil Hamilton) that she cannot see that being the mistress of a travelling salesman can promise nothing but heartbreak. The first third of the film sets up their basic characters. Crawford simply oozes blind emotion for a man of whom she knows surprisingly little. She ignores the warning signs that such a transient relation keeps pointing to. Crawford even treats Howard to an extended dance routine that looks as if it could have been choreographed today. Here she shows the dancing talent that allowed her to win several real life contests that attracted directors like Beaumont to her in the first place. Neil Hamilton as Howard keeps feeding her lines of dismissal that must have caused audiences of all generations to shout at the screen for her to wake up. His oily manner steals more than a few scenes as he stands as a dramatic counterpoint to Crawford's love-struck myopia. He dumps her using a "Dear Ivy" note. She is shattered and attempts suicide but is saved by a Salvation Army officer Carl (Clark Gable). As soon as he saves her body, he tries to save her soul. Despite his unwillingness to take advantage of her vulnerability, the smoky chemistry between them becomes clear enough, rivalling the real life affair that they were sharing. The most emotionally satisfying parts of the film center around his attempts to help Ivy regain her moral balance. Audiences with a long memory will appreciate the brief appearance of the then Little Rascals star Mary Ann Jackson, who, as Betty, helps Ivy to learn that the attempt to help others often results in helping yourself. Howard makes a predictable return, forcing Ivy to put her new-found inner strength to the test. What Ivy learns is that initial failure is no sin, and her joining the ranks of the Salvation Army proves that the only sin is permitting yourself to be used by others. LAUGHING SINNERS is an entertaining film that underscores this often unappreciated truism.

This film was certainly not endorsed by the Salvation Army
"Laughing Sinners" is the second of the eight films that Joan Crawford and Clark Gable made together (and are you not surprised they did that many?), and arguably the worst of the bunch. Crawford plays Ivy Stevens, an entertainer who gets suicidal after being dumped by a traveling salesman, Howard Palmer (Neil Hamilton). She gets befriended by Carl Loomis (Gable), a Salvation Army worker who tells her to believe in God and has her join their group of singers. Later Ivy spots Howard, who is playing poker with a floozie, Edna (Gertrude Short), and begs him to be faithful to his wife. When Howard dumps Edna on another guy (Guy Kibbee), Ivy tries to reform the girl as well. But things do not go well for Edna. In fact they go so badly that she ends up sleeping with Howard, only to wake up the next morning hating herself and telling Carl to give her uniform to someone else.

What happens then pretty much defies belief unless you are from Hollywood. To say that the Salvation Army would not have endorsed this film is a real understatement, and you have to wonder how much "Laughing Sinners" says about the nation's morals at that point that a film could deal with religion and then take a left turn like this at the end. This 1931 film, directed by Harry Beaumont, was based on the stage play "The Torch Song," by Kenyon Nicholson. Gable seems rather miscast in this particular role, Crawford does not really do hysterics all that well, and it is actually Neil Hamilton as the loutish salesman who turns in the best performance in the film. If you go through the Crawford & Gable films in order, then this would be the second one you screen. But if you do it strictly in terms of quality, save this one for last.

Doncha Love a Man in Uniform?
Well, Gable's in one here--but it's from the Salvation Army! For a change of pace, Gable is the "good guy" alternative for Joan Crawford, who has nearly committed suicide over playboy Neal Hamilton (aka Commissioner Gordon from TV's Batman). Through the healing love of gentle Clark, Joan gives up her wilder ways and joins the Salvation Army too, but when she meets her old flame Neal again, will she be strong enough to resist? Try it simply for the novelty--but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised! ... Read more