DANCING SWEETIES (Warner Brothers, 1930), directed by Ray Enright, based on the story "Three Flights Up" by Harry Fried, is neither the best nor the worst of the early talkies from 1930. In fact, it's an agreeable look back into the world of dance marathons. With a fine mixture of song interludes, humor and sentiment, it's the dancing sequences, which are a far cry from the latter musicals of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, that highlight this presentation. Starring Grant Withers, shortly before his declining years in "B" westerns and chaptered serials for smaller movie studios such as Republic, and the pert and cute Sue Carol, in her only Warners film, being names unfamiliar to contemporary audiences, yet satisfactory for their performances in a quickie drama such as this.
Following the opening titles featuring superimposing young couple's tap dancing feet with no underscoring, "With some people dancing is a pleasure ... and with some people dancing is a business ... but with some people dancing is life," the story gets underway at the Hoffman Parisian Dance Palace where a dance contest with a free public wedding is to take place. Bill "Kid" Cleaver (Grant Withers) is a conceited dancer with nine first place cups to his credit. The very night he's to dance with his partner, "Jazzbo" Gans (Edna Murphy), Bill takes an sudden interested in Molly O'Neill (Sue Carol), dance partner to his friendly rival, "Needles" Thompson (Eddie Phillips). Attracted by her beauty, Bill conveniently sends Needles away so he can dance with Molly instead. The upset Needles ends up dancing the marathon with Jazzbo, losing the contest to Bill and Molly. Because the bride of the public wedding walks out, refusing to marry an undertaker, Jerry Browne (Sid Silvers), manager of the palace, substitutes Bill and Molly instead. Regardless of being perfect strangers and having similar backgrounds in life, they go on with the wedding and new life together. After meeting their parents, Bill and Molly find a place of their own. Troubles arise when Bill begins to miss his freedom going to dance marathons with Jazzbo, only to scheme his way to step out without ruining his marriage.
Others in the cast include Tully Marshall ("Pa" Cleaver); Margaret Seddon ("Ma" Cleaver); Kate Price (Molly's Mother); Dora Dean and Ada May Vaughan (Molly's sisters, Nellie and Emma). Though sources credit Vince Barnett as Ted Hoffman, after repeated viewing, the actor playing Ted Hoffman for its first sequence, is played by Lee Moran. When Hoffman appears again during the wedding ceremony, he is glimpsed to be Vince Barnett. Maybe a mistake in the editing process.
Though not essentially a musical, some good tunes by Al Dubin and Joe Burke include its theme song of "The Kiss Waltz," first vocalized by Grant Withers, then by a male quartette, and finally by Sue Carol. This is followed by a "Hullabaloo" dance sequence before "The Kiss Waltz" is reprised one last time. With its repeated background play, naturally "The Kiss Waltz" is the movie's song plug here.
While Grant Withers gives a conceited performance in the manner of MGM's William Haines or latter Warner Brothers own James Cagney, he gives a sturdy performance, while Sue Carol, years before retiring from acting to become a talent agent, is sympathetic as well as likable. Sid Silvers offers some humor here, but there isn't enough of him except as master of ceremonies. Even for its short length (62 minutes), it gives the impression of being longer with possibly more songs and story that ended up on the cutting room floor. Regardless, DANCING SWEETIES is good enough for film historians to view and rediscover dancing sweetie, Sue Carol.
Available on DVD, DANCING SWEETIES can be seen once in a while on Turner Classic Movies cable channel. (**)
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