Dancing Feet

It is difficult to enjoy some movies if one doesn't go into the viewing with an acceptance if not love of fantasy and whimsy. Looking for practicality in depression-era musicals could lead to disappointment and frustration rather than the fun and joy that was intended. So with that said, "Dancing Feet" is a spiffy, although of limited budget, depression-era feel-good comedy-drama with a strong musical backdrop that will transmit its good intentions and happy feeling to all accepting viewers. The story may have an implausible premise but that works for the charm of the film, really. Everyone ends up happy despite the difficult trail that some of the characters had to follow to see the light. It is all "feel-good" for sure, and that's just fine with me! Truly a happy ending, and imaginative, too, even if it all falls into place almost too easily for practicality. Hey, but that was Hollywood, especially depression-era Hollywood. The dance floors and ballrooms get a good workout in this one and it is all in the name of good times and fun. And calling on some good acting hands to do the dancing, including Joan Marsh, Edward Nugent, and Isabel Jewell, works well and credibly. The entire cast joins in and adds appropriately unpolished but yet highly competent dancing to the program. Ed Nugent tries a little singing, too, and he sounds appropriately fine. Most of the time the players are sporting sharp attire, men in suits and women in hats, and everyone looks great! There are a lot of smiling and happy faces on display, and even those that look a little disgruntled early on come around. And the film-- in glorious black and white-- looks...well, glorious! So sit back and prepare to enjoy a fun little trip to the 1930s by way of this fun little movie!

Debutante Joan Marsh quarrels with grandfather Purnell Pratt and runs away to marry Ben Lyon, but he's not interested until she inherits. She becomes a taxi dancer and rooms with Isobel Jewel. Meanwhile, good-hearted Edward Nugent bails her out. He's studying to be a song-and-dance man.

The first half of this movie is pretty good, although Nugent's voice types him as a mug. He's fine while he's dancing, but not so good with his line readings, and his singing is mediocre. It appears that the script had problems, and even Miss Jewel's wisecracking becomes weak and a bit stagy as the final few reels unroll. Director Joseph Santley does what he can with some interesting compositions, but even Jack Marta's and Ernest Miller's camerawork cannot hide the flaws in this standard if ambitious Republic musical. It's never bad, but I spent long periods waiting for the next dance number.

Other than the strange idea of dance lessons over the radio, this is both a lot of fun and a picture to admire for the talent of a superlative cast.

Bios here at IMDb don't mention that Eddie Nugent and the adorable Joan Marsh are pretty darn good dancers. That's puzzling to me.

But dancing is as much a part of the plot here as is the poor little rich girl trying to make her own way in life to show her grand-father she can.

Joan Marsh, to repeat, is adorable. She is a lovely lady just to look at, and her facial and body movements show her to be extremely talented.

Eddie Nugent is listed first in the on-screen credits, though Ben Lyons leads here at IMDb, and he is certainly better known.

I was not at all familiar with Nugent or Marsh, but now I will look for more of their work.

Isabel Jewell is the second female lead and, as usual, she always gets our attention, in every one of her scenes. She is a real icon of movies of this era, with a wonderful voice and tons of talent.

This is light entertainment, not trying to send any message or to be a classic motion picture, but it is so charming and so much fun to watch, it will be watchable perhaps long after some of the classics and alleged classics wear out their audiences.

There is a good version at YouTube and I highly recommend "Dancing Feet."

"Dancing Feet" is a pleasant enough film, but it's also one that clearly is a cheap B-movie...with a cheap B plot.

The story involves Judy (Joan Marsh) and her rich grandfather, Silas Jones. They both are incredibly stubborn folks....and because of that they spend most of the movie butting heads. During one of their fights, she runs off to marry a man her grandfather hates...which is headstrong and stupid. Fortunately, the guy isn't as dumb as Judy and refuses to marry her...at least for now. However, soon she meets another guy. Jimmy, unlike the rest of them, is a poor shnook and he has no idea Judy is rich and offers to help her with a job. Soon, it becomes obvious that Judy has practically forgotten the first guy and is now smitten with Jimmy. But what will Grandpa think of this new guy?

So much of this film is silly....not just the relationship between Judy and her grandfather. In particular, Jimmy's big idea is to teach tap dancing...on the radio! Teaching such a visual form of art that way is silly...and even sillier when suddenly you see a montage of folks who listen to the radio show and then are dancing as if they are trying out for an Astaire-Rogers film! Utter nonsense...but enjoyable.

Edward Nugent is Jimmy, a dance-crazed guy who works only to take dance lessons. At a dance hall, he meets an heiress named Judy (Joan Marsh) who tells him she works there. After her grandfather pitches a fit, she runs away and gets a real job at the dance hall and becomes pals with Mabel (Isabel Jewell). Society pal Peyton Wells (Ben Lyon) knows about the secret but plays along.

When Jimmy pitches his dance lessons show to a radio executive, the idea bizarrely goes over. But as Jimmy and Judy put on their show, the grandfather uses his money to have the broadcast cut off. What will Jimmy and Judy do next? The closing dance sequence, showing all the different people tap dancing like mad is excellent. There's a cook dancing all over his kitchen, including on top of a stew pot. There's a crazed woman in her bedroom dancing up a storm. There's a portly middle-aged couple who throw back the rug and start tapping.

Ben Lyon, is a supporting role here had just about finished his American film career and was soon to move to England to revive it. Nugent, who had also been around since the silents, gets a chance to sing here as well as dance. Isabel Jewell steals all her scenes, and Joan Marsh is adequate.

Co-stars include Purnell Pratt, Vince Barnett, Lillian Harmer, James Burke, Herbert Rawlinson, Grace Hayle, Harry Bradley, and a very young Lloyd Bridges among the night club dancers.