{"id":35486,"date":"2015-11-30T20:06:28","date_gmt":"2015-12-01T03:06:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=35486"},"modified":"2020-12-15T10:36:17","modified_gmt":"2020-12-15T17:36:17","slug":"born-to-dance-1936","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=35486","title":{"rendered":"Born to Dance (1936)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;He&#8217;s got a smile like concentrated vodka!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Poster-246x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"246\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-35487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Poster-246x300.jpg 246w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Poster-105x128.jpg 105w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Poster-839x1024.jpg 839w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Poster.jpg 1745w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 246px) 100vw, 246px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nA trio of Navy sailors &#8212; Ted (James Stewart), &#8216;Mush&#8217; (Buddy Ebsen), and &#8216;Gunny&#8217; (Sid Silvers) &#8212; romance three girls while on leave: Stewart falls for an aspiring dancer (Eleanor Powell), Ebsen flirts unsuccessfully with a singer named Peppy (Frances Langford), and Silvers attempts to reunite with the woman (Una Merkel) he married four years earlier after a marathon dance session, not knowing they have a child (Juanita Quigley) together. Stewart and Powell&#8217;s romance gets more complicated when the scheming publicist (Alan Dinehart) for a Broadway diva (Virginia Bruce) cooks up a plan to have her fall for Stewart, who rescued her beloved Pekingese dog while she was visiting the sailors&#8217; ship and schmoozing with its adoring captain (Raymond Walburn).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Aspiring Stars<\/li>\n<li>Dancers<\/li>\n<li>Jimmy Stewart Films<\/li>\n<li>Musicals<\/li>\n<li>Romance<\/li>\n<li>Roy Del Ruth Films<\/li>\n<li>Sailors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary\u2019s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nPeary writes that this &#8220;carefree Depression Era musical&#8221; &#8212; directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eleanor_Powell\">tap dancing legend Eleanor Powell<\/a> &#8212; &#8220;is corny and campy, yet enjoyable&#8221;. He points out that the story is &#8220;silly&#8221; (see the synopsis above) and possesses an &#8220;unconvincing plot twist&#8221; (most definitely true!), but notes that &#8220;there&#8217;s some okay comedy&#8221;, a &#8220;fine, varied Cole Porter score&#8221; (including &#8220;I&#8217;ve Got You Under My Skin&#8221;), and &#8220;absolutely terrific&#8230; tap routines&#8221; by Powell. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell4.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58003\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell4.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell4-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell4-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell4-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, while Powell is pretty and earnest, she isn&#8217;t the most nuanced of actors, and gravitates towards one facial expression (smiling, toothy mouth wide open) while dancing; Peary notes somewhat uncharitably that &#8220;when standing still&#8221; she &#8220;looks like she&#8217;d be a crummy <em>Amateur Hour<\/em> contestant&#8221;. But Stewart (apparently suggested for the part by Porter) is fine in one of his earliest roles: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Stewart.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Stewart.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-58004\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Stewart.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Stewart-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Stewart-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Stewart-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>and gets to warble &#8220;Easy to Love&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Of interest is the brief but memorably loopy scene with a &#8220;switchboard operator&#8221; (Helen Troy) &#8220;who anticipated by thirty years <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/SvesMBkduQo\">Lily Tomlin&#8217;s Ernestine<\/a>:&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>[<em>describing Jimmy Stewart<\/em>] &#8220;Oh, say &#8212; guess who I seen at Club Continental last night? Lucy James with that sailor she met through a Pekingese. Believe me, he&#8217;s a sea-goin&#8217; thrill if I ever seen one. What&#8217;s he like? Well, tall &#8212; sort of the answer to a maiden&#8217;s prayer on stilts. Honest, he must be six feet four, and that&#8217;s just two inches shorter than a totem pole. Oh, but he&#8217;s got a smile like concentrated vodka! Vodka? Oh, it&#8217;s a Japanese drink made out of panther blood, I think.&#8221; <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Powell&#8217;s dancing<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35497\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell1.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell1-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell1-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35498\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell2.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell2-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell3.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell3-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Powell3-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine cinematography and Art Deco sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35492\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Cinematography.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Cinematography-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Cinematography-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Sets.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Sets.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Sets.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Sets-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Sets-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Sets2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Sets2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35491\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Sets2.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Sets2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Sets2-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A couple of fun comedic interludes<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Operator.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Operator.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-35489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Operator.png 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Operator-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Born-to-Dance-Operator-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Cole Porter&#8217;s score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth viewing simply as Powell&#8217;s iconic flick. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0027387\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1936\/12\/05\/archives\/the-capitols-born-to-dance-with-eleanor-powell-tapping-to-cole.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/60\/born-to-dance#articles-reviews?articleId=82806\">TCM Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/london\/film\/born-to-dance\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s got a smile like concentrated vodka!&#8221; Synopsis: A trio of Navy sailors &#8212; Ted (James Stewart), &#8216;Mush&#8217; (Buddy Ebsen), and &#8216;Gunny&#8217; (Sid Silvers) &#8212; romance three girls while on leave: Stewart falls for an aspiring dancer (Eleanor Powell), Ebsen flirts unsuccessfully with a singer named Peppy (Frances Langford), and Silvers attempts to reunite with the woman (Una Merkel) he married four years earlier after a marathon dance session, not knowing they have a child (Juanita Quigley) together. Stewart and&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=35486\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35486","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35486","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35486"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35486\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58005,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35486\/revisions\/58005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35486"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35486"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35486"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}