‘Dance, Fools, Dance’ Blu-Ray Review – Joan Crawford Captivates In Pre-Code Drama

Look out, Jake Luva! That sinuous moll cuddling up to you on the dance floor is not the floozy she seems. She’s Bonnie Jordan, ex-society girl and undercover reporter, investigating a murder that has your fingerprints all over it. She has what it takes, all right – to take you and your crime empire down. As Bonnie and Jake, Joan Crawford and Clark Gable exude plenty of pre-code sensuality in their first screen teaming. Gable is fifth-billed, but the moment he and Crawford go into a clinch, there is no question who in the film could match her star power. Crawford and Gable went on to make seven more films together. And each smoldered with the red-hot chemistry originally sparked in “Dance, Fools, Dance”.

For thoughts on Dance, Fools, Dance, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic: 

[youtube https://youtu.be/UbusyprQuNI?si=pjwU1RW6r2tglvzK&t=3393]

Video Quality

Dance, Fools, Dance makes its Blu-Ray debut courtesy of Warner Archive with a brand new 1080p master derived from a 4K restoration of the Original Nitrate Camera Negative. You will not believe how gorgeous a film that is over 90 years old can look, as the label continues to show they are one of the best in the game with their nearly flawless presentations. The sumptuous black-and-white photography shines in high definition with natural grain intact. There is a welcome amount of detail present with robust textures on the clothing and within the production design. 

Warner Archive balances the desire to honor the source and provide a first-rate visual experience for fans by not smoothing over the subtle nitrate flicker that comes with the source. The presentation is stable while never appearing artificial. This new transfer displays a stunning amount of depth and enhanced detail within the various interiors. Black levels are substantial with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. The highlights remain solid, allowing the contrast to impress with no blooming in sight. Warner Archive has treated this one with the care you expect from the label. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray release comes with a newly restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that fares as well as the source will allow. While not quite as flawless as the video side of the presentation, this sonic experience delivers what this one needs. Dialogue and quick exchanges come through clearly throughout the duration. There does not appear to be much at all in the way of damage or age-related wear and tear to the track outside of some minor sibilance and harsher inflections. The environmental effects such as background chatter never overshadow the main dialogue on this release. The music at hand can sound a bit thin in some of the peaks, but it is not a significant issue. This audio presentation showcases the material pretty well considering its vintage. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles available on the disc. 

Special Features

• Hollywood – The Dream Factory: A fun 51-minute documentary from 1972 is provided here in HD which explores the rich history of MGM Studios detailing both its successes and decline. This is a bit more clip-heavy than informational, but it is a great inclusion. 

• One More Time: A seven-minute animated Vitaphone Merrie Melodies short is provided in beautiful HD in which Foxy attempts to keep crime at bay around town while his sweetheart gets kidnapped.  

• Smile, Darn Ya, Smile: A seven-minute animated Vitaphone Merrie Melodies short is provided in beautiful HD in which Foxy acts as a conductor who has some memorable interactions with some potential passengers.   

Final Thoughts

Dance, Fools, Dance is a pretty decent Pre-Code drama that never quite comes together in the narrative department. Joan Crawford is a captivating screen presence who keeps you invested in her character’s journey, but Clark Gable is the only man around her who has any sort of charisma. The film accomplishes what it sets out to do, but the story is not as thematically satisfying as we would like. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a terrific A/V presentation and a favorable selection of special features. If you are a fan of the performers or Pre-Code dramas in general, it is worth a watch. 

Dance, Fools, Dance can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.