Our Dancing Daughters (1928)

Dangerous Diana "flaps" to Super-Stardom in the Roaring 20's...!

This is Miss Crawford's Desperately Seeking Susan! "Our Dancing Daughters" is Joan's very best silent film and one of her most famous movies ever! ...And, that's no small accomplishment in a career that spanned six decades, countless reincarnations and over eighty films! I'm so excited to own this movie and to have the opportunity to tell you about it because this is one of the very first movies that turned me on to Joan's talent.

Joan plays, Diana, or Di to her friends. She's a typical roaring twenties girl. She loves to dance and party-hardy with the good ole boys. But deep down, she's really just a homebody. Ann (Miss Anita Page) is the true party animal! Both girls lust after Ben (Johnny Mack Brown, credited as John Mack Brown.) Take one guess who gets her man! This movie taught me one important lesson; anyone who screwed with the one and only Joan Crawford never won!

Most tend to forget that Joan was, at heart sincerely a dancer. She wasn't classically trained, but how many popular dancers are? Instead, Joan knew what to do because of sheer intuition and natural talent. And that only makes "Our Dancing Daughters" even more delicious to watch!

By the way, I wanted to let you know that "Our Dancing Daughters" will be on TCM on Wed., March 12th @ 7:30AM! And, if you're a fan of Joan's other feature films, you won't want to miss these, also on TCM:
The Ice Follies of 1939, March 11th @ 7:45AM
The Caretakers, March 12th @ 2:50AM
Our Blushing Brides, March 12 @ 9:00AM

The performances in this movie were all beyond perfect! Because even though it's a silent film, I can tell exactly what everyone is saying because Joan and her costars really make this movie come alive with their acting. Miss Page was absolutely excellent, too. She was so beautiful as the "amoral" Annikins! By the way, Miss Page is still very much alive and still answers her fan mail. Most recently, she had a small part in Hollywood Mortuary.

Here are the basics of this film:
Our Dancing Daughters (September 1, 1928) (Silent Film) (Studio: MGM)
Distributor: Turner/Warner Home Video
Runtime listing: 97 mins.
Color/BW: Black and White
(Joan played: Diana Medford)
Brief Synopsis:
A flapper sets her hat for a man with a hard-drinking wife.
Here is what Miss Crawford had to say about the movie that made her a household name (the quotes are from the book, Conversations with Joan Crawford:)
"Our Dancing Daughters" was a field day for me-I think it was the first time a script department was told to write strictly for Crawford. Good Dancing, good comedy lines, good support for Johnny Mack Brown and Nils Asher. Loved every minute of it.

Here are the rest of the cast of this picture:
Nils Asther (as Norman)
Dorothy Sebastian (as Beatrice)
Edward J. Nugent (as Freddie)

This movie absolutely revolutionized the modern American film. If you don't believe me, just ask yourself this one question; how many silent movies from the twenties had sequels? "Our Dancing Daughters" had two sequels: Our Modern Maidens (from 1929, which is Miss Crawford's final silent film) and "Our Blushing Brides" (from 1930, which is one of Miss Crawford's first "talkies!") "Our Dancing Daughters" was also important for its time because of its honest depiction of "loosening of youth morals." My goodness, I can only imagine what Joan would say if she saw some of the "loose morals" of today's young people?

I have seen many silent feature films, but "Our Dancing Daughters" is second to none. Despite the fact that it's eighty years old, it still has a very youthful feel and almost a universal message. And, IMHO, the movie was way ahead of its time because the studio chose to go out on a limb and use such a risque screenplay (by Josephine Lovett.) The director was also amazing, Mr. Harry Beaumont.

Speaking of silent films, Joan appeared in over 20 silent films in under four years (between 1925-1929!) But, regrettably, the majority of her silent picture resume has never been released onto DVD (or any format, for that matter!) Here's hoping Warner Home Video (the company who holds the proprietary rights for all of Joan's feature films) will release some of these movies to the awaiting public. I'm certain that there are many fans who would love to buy these pictures. Perhaps, they could put out a boxed set with some of Joan's most popular silent films? Wouldn't that be great!

Below is a list of all of Miss Crawford's silent films that are still currently unreleased:
Lady of the Night 2/23/25 (Note: staring: Norma Shearer, Joan is uncredited)
Pretty Ladies 7/15/25 (Note: This is the first and only film that Joan is credited as Lucille LeSueur)
Old Clothes 11/9/25
The Only Thing 11/22/25
Sally, Irene, and Mary 12/7/25
Paris 5/24/26
The B00b 6/14/26
Winners of the Wilderness 1/15/27
The Taxi Dancer 2/5/27
The Understanding Heart 2/26/27
Twelve Miles Out 7/9/27
Springer Fever 10/18/27
The Law of the Range 1/21/28
Rose-Marie 2/11/28
Across to Singapore 4/30/28
Four Walls 8/11/28
Dream of Love 12/1/28
The Duke Steps Out 3/16/29

"From a career standpoint, Joan Crawford knew it was her story, too... And Crawford shot to stardom as the girl who, to borrow the film's title cards, 'held out her hand to grab that sunlight called life,'" these are a few words describing this classic picture and its lead Star, Miss Joan Crawford (taken from the back of the home-video.) But it's so true, isn't it? This really is one of Joan's most famous and most important movies. I would say that Joan had 5 career-defining pictures. Besides "Our Dancing Daughters," these include: Grand Hotel, The Women , Mildred Pierce and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? . I suppose to a lesser-extent, one could even argue that these movies were also among Joan's most influential and meaningful cinematics, as well: "Letty Lynton," "Possessed" (from '47, of course) and perhaps even, "Sudden Fear."

By the way, if you're considering purchasing this movie, I do not recommend getting it from A@zon because you can find it less elsewhere. I only paid thirteen (including shipping) from half dot com!

...Some have intimated that Miss Page never forgave Joan for "stealing her thunder." Who knows if that's true or not? And, frankly who really cares. What I am certain of is, like a determined cat holding on to her last breath of life, Joan held on to public esteem and never let go for a split second! Remember, you can't keep a good girl down!


March 3, 2008

I love the 20s!

Our Dancing Daughters is the epitome of a Jazz Age story complete with fashions, stars, music, dancing, and sentiments of the era. Diana (Joan Crawford) is a free-spirited girl who loves parties and whose parents don't restrain her energy; they trust her. She meets a handsome, wealthy man named Ben (Johnny Mack Brown) at a party, and the rest is history. The two fall for each other instantly. However, he is worried about Diana's nature, and is warned that it is difficult to love a woman who has "loved" other men. She is as virginal as they come, but Ben doesn't know this, and from her lifestyle, he assumes otherwise. He seeks solace in the arms of an elegant blonde named Ann (Anita Page) who woos Ben for his money and steals him from Diana. With great performances by Nils Asther and Edward Nugent thrown in, this is a surefire hit.

This movie is an essential silent because it represents what the 1920s were all about. Crawford dances the Charleston, the dance craze that took over America. It was also the ticket that led her to the movies; she won many prizes for her dancing talents. This film led to a series of spin-offs including Our Modern Maidens and Our Blushing Brides, which starred Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Crawford's first husband, and Robert Montgomery, a longtime screen partner. After seeing this film, you'll be itching to see those. July 16, 2007

Joan Crawford's First Cinematic Hurrah

Wealthy and flashy Diana falls hard for Ben Blaine--who unjustly interprets her vivacity as looseness and in turn falls hard for prim and proper Anne--who is in fact a vicious gold digger with a heart of stone. Will Ben ever see through Anne's facade and realize Diana's true worth?

Directed by Harry Beaumont with sets by the legendary Cederick Gibbons, OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS was bright, sharp, pretty to look at, and just sexy enough to make the censors fume--the type of film that MGM seemed to produce by the bushel during the late silent era. The studio expected it to perform well, but there was no reason for anyone to think it would generate more than passing interest, much less a legendary star. But it did.

Born in 1904, Lucille Le Sueur endured a hardknocks childhood to become a popular chorus girl in New York night spots before signing with MGM in 1925--and renamed Joan Crawford she churned out some two dozen films in three years without setting the world on fire. Until, that is, MGM allowed her dance on table tops and despair of winning her true love in this slickly produced, well acted, but essentially formula melodrama. And even today it is still possible to see what all the fuss was about: not only was she bursting with youthful energy and appeal, it was the first film in which Joan Crawford really LOOKED like Joan Crawford, and although still limited her acting chops weren't half bad either.

The overall cast is particularly strong, with Anita Page turning in a memorable performance as the pretty but wicked Anne and Dorothy Sebastian as Bea, a good girl with a few missed steps in her past; male leads Johnny Mack Brown, Nils Aster, and Edward J. Nugent provide solid support as various love interests; and Kathlyn Williams proves memorable as Anne's manipulative mother. While OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS will never rival the truly great films of the late silent era, it is still a lot of fun, and those who want to see Crawford's first cinematic hurrah will not be disappointed.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer March 3, 2006

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. December 9, 2003

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. September 15, 1999

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