Lady, Let's Dance
Encyclopedia
Lady, Let's Dance is a 1944 black-and-white film directed by Frank Woodruff that was nominated for two Oscars
. Produced by Monogram Studios, the film is unique as an ice skating
musical
.
Lady, Let's Dance stars ice skater Belita
as herself, James Ellison, and Walter Catlett
. Appearances also include ice skating artists Myrtle Godfrey
and the renowned comedy ice team Werner Groebli & Hansruedi (Hans) Mauch (more commonly known as Frick and Frack
).
The Oscar nominated score included: "Golden Dreams", "Silver Shadows", "In the Days of Beau Brummel", "Ten Million Men and a Girl", "Dream of Dreams", "Rio", "Happy Hearts", "Esperanza", and the title song "Lady, Let's Dance".
Myrtle Godfrey
sported the same green bonnet with ostrich plume worn by Vivien Leigh
in Gone with the Wind
.
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
----
Lady, Let's Dances plot focuses on ice skating sensation 'Belita
'. The story begins as she travels to a California resort where she is unexpectedly hired as a last minute dance team replacement. Belita
becomes a national star while the handsome resort manager gets fired and becomes a drifter until he ends up in the Army.
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
. Produced by Monogram Studios, the film is unique as an ice skating
Ice skating
Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as lakes and...
musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
.
Lady, Let's Dance stars ice skater Belita
Belita
Maria Belita Gladys Olive Lyne Jepson-Turner , known professionally as Belita, was a British Olympic figure skater, dancer and film actress....
as herself, James Ellison, and Walter Catlett
Walter Catlett
Walter Catlett was an American actor. As a San Francisco citizen, he started out in vaudeville with a detour for a while in opera before breaking into films.-Early career:...
. Appearances also include ice skating artists Myrtle Godfrey
Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Morton Godfrey was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who was sometimes introduced by his nickname, The Old Redhead...
and the renowned comedy ice team Werner Groebli & Hansruedi (Hans) Mauch (more commonly known as Frick and Frack
Frick and Frack
Frick and Frack were two Swiss skaters who came to the U.S. in 1937 and joined the original Ice Follies show as comedy ice skaters. "Frick" was Werner Groebli , born in Basel. "Frack" was Hansruedi Mauch, , also born in Basel...
).
The Oscar nominated score included: "Golden Dreams", "Silver Shadows", "In the Days of Beau Brummel", "Ten Million Men and a Girl", "Dream of Dreams", "Rio", "Happy Hearts", "Esperanza", and the title song "Lady, Let's Dance".
Myrtle Godfrey
Arthur Godfrey
Arthur Morton Godfrey was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who was sometimes introduced by his nickname, The Old Redhead...
sported the same green bonnet with ostrich plume worn by Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh, Lady Olivier was an English actress. She won the Best Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire , a role she also played on stage in London's West End, as well as for her portrayal of the southern belle Scarlett O'Hara, alongside Clark...
in Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind (film)
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American historical epic film adapted from Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel of the same name. It was produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Victor Fleming from a screenplay by Sidney Howard...
.
Cast & Characters
- BelitaBelitaMaria Belita Gladys Olive Lyne Jepson-Turner , known professionally as Belita, was a British Olympic figure skater, dancer and film actress....
as Herself - James Ellison as Jerry Gibson
- Walter CatlettWalter CatlettWalter Catlett was an American actor. As a San Francisco citizen, he started out in vaudeville with a detour for a while in opera before breaking into films.-Early career:...
as Timber Applegate - Barbara Woodell as Dolores (Mamie Potts)
- Lucien Littlefield as Mr. Snodgrass
- Emmett Vogan as Stack
- Harry Harvey as Fraser
- Jack Rice as Given
- Werner Groebli as Himself (a.k.a. 'Frick' - Frick and FrackFrick and FrackFrick and Frack were two Swiss skaters who came to the U.S. in 1937 and joined the original Ice Follies show as comedy ice skaters. "Frick" was Werner Groebli , born in Basel. "Frack" was Hansruedi Mauch, , also born in Basel...
) - Hans Mauch as Himself (a.k.a. 'Frack' - Frick and FrackFrick and FrackFrick and Frack were two Swiss skaters who came to the U.S. in 1937 and joined the original Ice Follies show as comedy ice skaters. "Frick" was Werner Groebli , born in Basel. "Frack" was Hansruedi Mauch, , also born in Basel...
) - Eugene Mikeler as Himself
- Maurice St. Clair as Manuelo
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
- Mitchell Ayres And His OrchestraOrchestraAn orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
- Lou Bring And His OrchestraOrchestraAn orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
- Henry BusseHenry BusseHenry Busse Sr. was a jazz trumpeter known for work with sweet bands and big bands.-Early life:Born May 19, 1894 to a generational German Band family. Henry Busse studied violin and then trumpet under his Oompah Band leader uncle...
And His OrchestraOrchestraAn orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus... - Eddie Le Baron And His OrchestraOrchestraAn orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
- Myrtle GodfreyArthur GodfreyArthur Morton Godfrey was an American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer who was sometimes introduced by his nickname, The Old Redhead...
as Herself (Ice Skating artist)
----
Lady, Let's Dances plot focuses on ice skating sensation 'Belita
Belita
Maria Belita Gladys Olive Lyne Jepson-Turner , known professionally as Belita, was a British Olympic figure skater, dancer and film actress....
'. The story begins as she travels to a California resort where she is unexpectedly hired as a last minute dance team replacement. Belita
Belita
Maria Belita Gladys Olive Lyne Jepson-Turner , known professionally as Belita, was a British Olympic figure skater, dancer and film actress....
becomes a national star while the handsome resort manager gets fired and becomes a drifter until he ends up in the Army.