Dance, Fools, Dance

Plot summary

Former socialite, Bonnie Jordan (Joan Crawford) is a cub reporter whose brother Rodney (William Bakewell) is involved with a beer-running gang. On one caper, he drives the car that guns down a rival gang. Bonnie's journalist colleague Bert Scranton (Cliff Edwards) is murdered when he finds out too much. Gang chief Jake Luva (Clark Gable) is suspected of plotting Scranton's murder and Bonnie investigates, barely escaping with her life after learning the details of the gang's operations. The criminals are brought to justice.

Cast

Reception

Photoplay commented, "Again Joan Crawford proves herself a great dramatic actress. The story...is hokum, but it's good hokum and Joan breathes life into her characterization." Andre Sennwald noted in the New York Times, Miss Crawford's acting is still self-conscious, but her admirers will find her performance well up to her standard."

Box office

According to MGM records the film earned $848,000 in the US and Canada and $420,000 elsewhere resulting in a profit of $524,000.

Historical note

The film is loosely based on real-life events of the production's period which occurred in Chicago, such as reporter Jake Lingle's murder by underworld hoodlums and the St. Valentine's Day massacre.