Dance, Little Lady
Dance, Little Lady is a 1954 British film directed by Val Guest, and starring Terence Morgan, Mai Zetterling, Guy Rolfe and Mandy Miller.[1]
| Dance, Little Lady | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Belgian theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Val Guest |
| Produced by | George Minter |
| Written by | Val Guest Doreen Montgomery |
| Based on | a story by R. Howard Alexander and Alfred Dunning |
| Starring | Terence Morgan Mai Zetterling Guy Rolfe Mandy Miller |
| Music by | Ronald Binge |
| Cinematography | Wilkie Cooper |
| Edited by | John Pomeroy |
Production company | George Minter Productions (as Alderdale) |
| Distributed by | Renown Pictures (UK) |
Release date | 13 July 1954 (London) (UK) |
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
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
- Terence Morgan as Mark Gordon
- Mai Zetterling as Nina Gordon
- Guy Rolfe as Dr. John Ransome
- Mandy Miller as Jill Gordon
- Eunice Gayson as Adele
- Reginald Beckwith as Poldi
- Ina De La Haye as Mme. Bayanova
- Harold Lang as Mr. Bridson
- Jane Aird as Mary
- David Poole as Dancer
- Maryon Lane as Dancer
- William Kendall as Mr. Matthews
- Joan Hickson as Mrs. Matthews
- Alexander Gauge as Joseph Miller
- Marianne Stone as Nurse
- Vera Day uncredited
Critical reception
The Radio Times wrote, "the dance sequences are fine, but the poor production values ruin the look of the film" ;[2] while TV Guide called it "a trite film" ;[3] but 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." [4]
References
- "Dance Little Lady". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009.
- David Parkinson. "Dance Little Lady". RadioTimes.
- "Dance Little Lady". TV Guide.
- "Dance Little Lady". Find and Watch.