Description

The Dance of Life (1929 in film) is the first of three film adaptations of the popular Broadway play Burlesque (play), the others being Swing High, Swing Low (film) (1937) and When My Baby Smiles at Me (film) (1948).
The Dance of Life was shot at Paramount’s Kaufman Astoria Studios in Astoria, Queens, and included Technicolor sequences, directed by John Cromwell (director) and A. Edward Sutherland.
In 1957, the film entered the List of films in the public domain in the United States due to the claimants failure to renew its copyright registration in the 28th year after publication.

Cast

• Hal Skelly – “Skid” Johnson
• Nancy Carroll – Bonny Lee King
• Dorothy Revier – Sylvia Marco
• Ralph Theodore – Harvey Howell
• Charles D. Brown – Lefty
• Al St. John – Bozo
• May Boley – Gussie
• Oscar Levant – Jerry
• Gladys DuBois – Miss Sherman
• James Quinn (actor) – Jimmy
• Jim Farley (actor) – Champ Melvin
• George Irving (American actor) – Minister
• Gordona Bennet – Amazon Chorus Girl
• Miss La Reno – Amazon Chorus Girl
• Cora Beach Shumway – Amazon Chorus Girl
• Charlotte Ogden – Amazon Chorus Girl
• Kay Deslys – Amazon Chorus Girl
• Magda Blom – Amazon Chorus Girl
• Thelma McNeil – Gilded Girl (as Thelma McNeal)
• John Cromwell (director) – Doorkeeper
• A. Edward Sutherland – Theater Attendant

Soundtrack

• “True Blue Lou”

Music by Richard A. Whiting

Lyrics by Sam Coslow and Leo Robin

Sung by Hal Skelly

• “The Flippity Flop”

Music by Richard A. Whiting

Lyrics by Sam Coslow and Leo Robin

• “King of Jazzmania”

Music by Richard A. Whiting

Lyrics by Sam Coslow and Leo Robin

• “Ladies of the Dance”

Music by Richard A. Whiting

Lyrics by Sam Coslow and Leo Robin

• “Cuddlesome Baby”

Music by Richard A. Whiting

Lyrics by Sam Coslow and Leo Robin

• “Mightiest Matador”

Music by Richard A. Whiting

Lyrics by Sam Coslow and Leo Robin

• “Sweet Rosie O’Grady”

Written by Maude Nugent

• “In the Gloaming”

Music by Annie Fortescue Harrison

Lyrics by Meta Orred

• “Sam, the Old Accordion Man”

Written by Walter Donaldson