Dancing Co-Ed

I saw this movie several times, in another life (before WWII), with another title (Invitation To Dance)and in another world (Eastern Europe). Artie Shaw was already a star, but didn't fill the expectations, perhaps too bright to stay in rank with other jazzmen.I never found an opportunity to see it again, is not even available at Amazon. I caught it last week on a TCM program, although the advertised cast mentioned only the names of Lana Turner and...Thurston Hall! In my humble opinion, this movie may illustrate a duel between the two great clarinet wizards, Benny Goodman The King Of Swing and Artie Shaw the King of Clarinet.The Midwestern jazz and majorette parade imitates but hardly matches the motorcade introducing Hollywood HOTEL (S. Sylvan Simon ain't Busby Berkeley!) but the dance contest sequence is excellent, with a special mention for TRAFFIC JAM, both for the music and for the staging. That air is bathing in Count Basian atmosphere, like the LADY BE GOOD rendition of the same line-up - with Buddy Rich for added entertainment.And in his second (and last) full-length movie,SECOND CHORUS, Artie Shaw lined up his Concerto For Clarinet, a masterpiece largely shown, not for just two minutes, like SING, SING, SING, in HH. The plot was entertaining, with many good quips and dialog. Good mentions for Roscoe Kearns and Ann Rutherford.And Lana Turner is, at least this time, fresh and unsophisticated. A must for all the Artie Shaw and Swing Era fans, although the jazz sequences - except TRAFFIC JAM - are unreasonably shortened. Harry Carasso, Paris, France

Which is how the studio PR Dept described Lana in her next few movies, significantly just after the male moviegoing public digested this one. As a B-grade comedy, it is simply that. As a Turner vehicle on the upward arc of her career it is something else. You were almost a decade into the Hayes Code and if you were looking for something a little higher octane than the typical Hollywood assembly line product, this was your stop. Turner, born in 1921, was a legitimate teen herself -- this was decades before Hollywood started casting "older for younger" -- and in short skirts, short shorts, and closeups, she steals the film at a felony level.

This is a movie I didn't know about until I checked the "classics" section at my local library and saw this title there. The fact it starred Lana Turner and Artie Shaw-who I knew were once married-was the reason I felt I had to check it out. Ms. Turner plays a dancer who enrolls in a college to qualify for a contest for a movie even though she's already picked for it! I'll stop there and just say this was quite funny with fine support by people like Roscoe Karns, Ann Rutherford, Monty Woolley, Thurston Hall, and Leon Errol. I especially liked the last one's dance steps. Shaw provides plenty of great music. While some of the plot seems out of joint, most of the dialogue is quite funny though don't try to make too much sense of that. So on that note, I recommend Dancing Co-Ed.

Turner and Shaw fans expecting a musical may be disappointed despite the title. In fact the plot takes up a lot more time than the dance numbers. Even then what numbers that do appear are abbreviated, while Shaw's time is spotty. I guess I was expecting some big time swing and jitterbug to get the focus but they don't. Then too, the cast almost shouts their lines, which doesn't make them any funnier.

Anyway, the plot's something about a movie studio creating a bogus co-ed dance contest at selected colleges. The idea is to promote a new movie in which the contest winner will star. But the contest is really just a promotional gimmick since studio hopeful Turner is planted as the predetermined winner. Trouble is she gets personally involved at the college so complications arise.

It's a colorful cast with a magisterial Wooley, a fast-talking Karnes, and an unpredictable Errol. Then too, it's Richard Carlson a long way from his usual sober-sides. Fortunately, there are a few amusing moments that help, while Turner shines in the starring role. Her conventional role here makes it hard to believe it's the same actress as the hard-eyed vamp of The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946). Together, the contrasting roles show what a fine actress she really was.

Anyway, maybe I was expecting too much from the title and cast, but unfortunately was disappointed with the result.

More than a bit corny but Lana Turner was exceptional I thought as was Artie Shaw playing himself. No only was that a great band with Buddy Rich on drums but Artie was such a handsome guy and pretty good as an actor as well. A couple of years later he married Lana so she must have noticed him! She certainly bought a fresh beauty to the screen! She also acts very well and brings a sense of realism to the story that would otherwise be lacking. She certainly is impressive.

As usual with these films one of the really good reasons for watching it these days is the Artie Shaw band but they don't get a lot of time without having dialogue over them so its hard to realise how well they sound even by 21st century standards. This sort of big band has a wonderful sound and I love it.