Dancing in the Dark (1949)
Rent DVD by Mail
Theatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
This musical comedy stars William Powell as Emery Slade, who was once a major film star but lately isn't getting much work. Arrogantly determined to climb back to the top, Slade convinces studio chief Melville Crossman (Adolphe Menjou) to give him the male lead in the film version of a Broadway musical. However, Crossman's offer comes with a catch: Emery has to persuade the show's female lead to appear in the movie. Slade heads to New York to seal the deal, but instead he discovers a gifted young unknown named Julie Clark (Betsy Drake) and decides she's perfect for the role. Crossman is not too enthusiastic about this news, and neither is publicist Bill Davis (Mark Stevens), who is given his pink slip along with Slade. However, Slade is determined to make a career for Julie in Hollywood, though it's not until later that he realizes why he feels so strongly about her. Movie buffs will get a kick out of Menjou's performance, closely modeled on 20th Century Fox boss Darryl F. Zanuck. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- William Powell - Emery Slade
- Betsy Drake - Julie Clarke
- Randy Stuart - Rosalie Brooks
- Hope Emerson - Mrs. Schlaghammer
- Don Beddoe - Barney Basset
- Sid Grauman - Himself
- Frank Ferguson - Sharkey
- Harry Crocker - Master of Ceremonies
- Sid Saylor - Mac, the Projectionist
- Byron Foulger - Stefan
- Max Willenz - Sommelier
- George E. Stone - Cutter
- Sherry Hall - Hal, the Cameraman
- Babe London - Hula Girl
- George Andre Beranger - Waiter
- Belle Daube - Board Member
- Fred Fisher
- Sam Finn
- Phyllis Planchard
- John Davidson - Board Member
- Harry Seymour - Man
- Marion Marshall - Myrna
- Gregory Gaye - Headwaiter
- Joseph Crehan - Board Member
- Mark Stevens - Bill Davis
- Adolphe Menjou - Melville Crossman
- Lloyd Corrigan - Barker
- Walter Catlett - Joe Brooks
- Jean Hersholt - Himself
- Helen Westcott - June
- Charles Tannen - Jack
- Louis Bacigalupi - Rubber
- Milton Parsons - Butler
- Edward Clark - Costumer
- Erville Alderson - Neighbor
- Helen Brown - Esther
- Dick Cogan - Wes
- Grandon Rhodes - Producer
- Bob Adler - Officer
- Cosmo Sardo
- Claire Richards - Woman
- Walter Clinton
- Sally Forrest - Secretary
- Claire Whitney - Board Member
- George McDonald - Boy
- Larry Keating - Board Member
- Elaine Edwards - Girl
- Joe Bautista - Filipino
- Director(s):
- Irving G. Reis
- Writer(s):
- Marion turk, Jay Dratler, Mary C. McCall, Jr.
- Producer(s):
- George Jessel
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
