Ten Cents a Dance

Ten Cents a Dance (1931)

Runtime: 77 minutes

Directed by: Lionel Barrymore; yes, he directed a few films he did not act in

Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Ricardo Cortez, Monroe Owsley, Sally Blane, Blanche Friderici

From: Columbia

One of Barbara Stanwyck’s first movies, directed by Lionel Barrymore? Color me interested. There are several films starring Stanwyck on the Criterion Channel’s current collection “Pre-Code Columbia”; I chose Ten Cents a Dance mainly due to my curiosity at seeing Barrymore the Director. On several occasions, he sat in that chair and did not in addition act in the film.

While a little rough around the edges at this nascent point in her career, a brunette Barbara was still the highlight. Based on a song by Rodgers & Hart which was a hit at the time, Babs portrayed a taxi dancer who is forced to choose between a poor dude (Monroe Owsley, who portrayed a real A-hole) and a rich dude who are interested in her. As taxi dancers are a phenomenon from almost a century ago, an explanation is due. Taxi-dance halls were a thing in early 20th century America; men would purchase tickets and give it to lady dancer so they could cut the rug for the length of a song-in the film’s case, a dime a ticket.

The film was far from dynamic—Ten Cents a Dance is full of static shots where two characters talk to each other. It also becomes melodramatic in the back half. This did not mean the movie is dull, basic storyline aside. Several of the actors I recognized and were fine (like Ricardo Cortez, Loretta Young’s sister Sally Blane) and much to my amusement, Phyllis Crane-who was in a few Three Stooges shorts-had a supporting role.

Owsley’s character Eddie is successful at making the audience loathe such a lout-a gambler who steals from his employer, among other sins. It’s not a spicy Pre-Code entry in the “Pre-Code Columbia” collection (presumably, some of the others are) but those that love early 30’s soapy melodramas featuring a suffering wife—there’s a chance you’ll really dig the film. More certain for me: the jazz heard in the halls was quite delightful.