Dance Little Lady

Dance, Little Lady is a 1954 British drama film directed by Val Guest and starring Terence Morgan, Mai Zetterling, Guy Rolfe and Mandy Miller.[2] The film was made by independent producer George Minter and distributed by his Renown Pictures.[3] It was shot in Eastmancolor at the Walton Studios near London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Frederick Pusey.

For the album by Tina Charles, see Tina Charles discography.

Dance, Little Lady
Belgian theatrical poster
Directed byVal Guest
Written byVal Guest
Doreen Montgomery
Story byR. Howard Alexander
Alfred Dunning
Produced byGeorge Minter
StarringTerence Morgan
Mai Zetterling
Guy Rolfe
Mandy Miller
CinematographyWilkie Cooper
Edited byJohn Pomeroy
Music byRonald Binge
Production
company
Distributed byRenown Pictures
Release date
13 July 1954
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£76,669[1]

Plot

Prima ballerina Nina Gordon is being financially exploited by her husband Mark (Terence Morgan). On the night of her triumphant Royal Opera House debut, she discovers he is also being unfaithful. Distraught, she leaves the party they were attending. However, Mark pulls up in their car and she gets in and he drives off at speed into the night. There is a car crash and Nina's leg is badly broken.

Learning that she'll never dance again, Nina is abandoned by Mark. But with the help of a sympathetic doctor (Guy Rolfe), Nina recovers the use of her legs, and begins to live her life vicariously through her talented daughter (Mandy Miller). When Mark reenters Nina's life, intending to take control of the daughter's dancing career, he finds the tables are turned on him.

Cast

Critical reception

The Radio Times wrote, "the dance sequences are fine, but the poor production values ruin the look of the film";[4] while TV Guide called it "a trite film".[5] However, Sky Movies wrote, "Terence Morgan makes the best impression, as a sponger as smooth as he is nasty, in this ballet-orientated story, tailored to the talents of Britain's then screen wonder child, Mandy Miller. It bases its appeal on a blend of small-girl sentiment, highly coloured melodramatics and ballet (the dance ensembles are very well done). Mai Zetterling and Guy Rolfe provide rather limp support to Mandy's undeniable charm, but the story's fiery climax is most effective."[6]

Box Office

According to Kinematograph Weekly the film was a "money maker" at the British box office in 1954.[7]

References
  1. Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 358
  2. "Dance Little Lady". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009.
  3. Fowler, Roy (1988). "Interview with Val Guest". British Entertainment History Project.
  4. David Parkinson. "Dance Little Lady". RadioTimes.
  5. "Dance Little Lady". TV Guide.
  6. "Dance Little Lady". Find and Watch.
  7. Billings, Josh (16 December 1954). "Other monkey makers". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 9.
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