The Dance of Life (1929 American Pre-Code Musical film)

The Dance of Life is a 1929 American Pre-Code musical film. It is the first of three film adaptations of the popular 1927 Broadway play Burlesque, with the others being Swing High, Swing Low (1937) and When My Baby Smiles at Me (1948). The film was directed by John Cromwell (who also appeared in the film with a small part) and A. Edward Sutherland.[2] Hal Skelly appeared in the lead role as Ralph “Skid” Johnson after playing the same role in the Broadway version at the Plymouth Theater. He took part in the production for fifty-two weeks before leaving his role to take part in the film.[3] Charles D. Brown, Ralph Theodore and Oscar Levant also appeared in the Broadway production.

The Dance of Life was shot at Paramount's Astoria Studios in Astoria, Queens, and included Technicolor sequences, directed by John Cromwell and A. Edward Sutherland.

Plot
Burlesque comic Ralph "Skid" Johnson, and specialty dancer Bonny Lee King, end up together on a cold, rainy night at a train station, after she fails an audition with a vaudeville company and he complains about her treatment by the impresario of the show and is fired. They decide to team up and apply for work with a much better show on "the big wheel" called the High Steppers Burlesque Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, run by Lefty Miller.[4]

Miller hires the duo and the two fall in love. Later Skid asks her to marry him, but he gets drunk and ruins their wedding night. During this time a female comic, Sylvia Marco, who is attracted to Skid, tries to come between them.

Cast
Hal Skelly as "Skid" Johnson
Nancy Carroll as Bonny King
Dorothy Revier as Sylvia Marco
Ralph Theodore as Harvey Howell
Charles D. Brown as Lefty
Al St. John as Bozo
May Boley as Gussie
Oscar Levant as Jerry
Marjorie Kane (uncredited)
John Cromwell as Speakeasy Doorkeeper

Soundtrack
"True Blue Lou"
Music by Richard A. Whiting
Lyrics by Sam Coslow and Leo Robin
Sung by Hal Skelly
"The Flippity Flop"
Music by Richard A. Whiting
Lyrics by Sam Coslow and Leo Robin
"King of Jazzmania"
Music by Richard A. Whiting
Lyrics by Sam Coslow and Leo Robin
"Ladies of the Dance"
Music by Richard A. Whiting
Lyrics by Sam Coslow and Leo Robin
"Cuddlesome Baby"
Music by Richard A. Whiting
Lyrics by Sam Coslow and Leo Robin
"Mightiest Matador"
Music by Richard A. Whiting
Lyrics by Sam Coslow and Leo Robin
"Sweet Rosie O'Grady"
Written by Maude Nugent
"In the Gloaming"
Music by Annie Fortescue Harrison
Lyrics by Meta Orred
"Sam, the Old Accordion Man"
Written by Walter Donaldson