Dance Hall (1950 film)
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Diana Morgan
Alexander Mackendrick
associate
E.V.H. Emmett
| Dance Hall | |
|---|---|
 Original UK quad format poster | |
| Directed by | Charles Crichton |
| Screenplay by | E.V.H. Emmett Diana Morgan Alexander Mackendrick |
| Produced by | Michael Balcon associate E.V.H. Emmett |
| Starring | Donald Houston Bonar Colleano Petula Clark Natasha Parry Jane Hylton Diana Dors |
| Cinematography | Douglas Slocombe |
| Edited by | Seth Holt |
| Music by | Joyce Cochrane Reg Owen Jack Parnell |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | GFD (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £167,749[2] |
| Box office | £89,000[3] |
Dance Hall is a 1950 British drama film directed by Charles Crichton and starring Donald Houston, Bonar Colleano, Natasha Parry and Petula Clark. The film was an unusual departure for Ealing Studios at the time, as it tells the story about four women and their romantic encounters from a female perspective.[4]
The storyline centres on four young female factory workers who escape the monotony of their jobs by spending their evenings at the Chiswick Palais, the local dance hall, where they have various problems with their boyfriends.[5]
Main cast
- Donald Houston as Phil
- Bonar Colleano as Alec
- Natasha Parry as Eve
- Petula Clark as Georgie Wilson
- Jane Hylton as Mary
- Diana Dors as Carole
- Gladys Henson as Mrs Wilson
- Sydney Tafler as Jim Fairfax
- Douglas Barr as Peter
- Fred Johnson as Mr Wilson
- James Carney as Mike
- Kay Kendall as Doreen
- Eunice Gayson as Mona
- Dandy Nichols as Mrs Crabtree
Production
Filming took place in November 1949.[6]
Peter Finch was offered a supporting role but did not appear in the final film.[7] It was Donald Houston's second film.[8]
The part of Alec was originally played by Dermot Walsh but he was replaced during filming by Bonar Colleano. "I did feel very cross about that," said Walsh later. "They'd ruined my career in first features."[9]
The film was edited by Seth Holt, who called it "terrible."[10] Actress Diana Dors later called it "a ghastly film – quite one of the nastiest I ever made" although she received positive reviews.[11] Director Charles Crichton later said "it wasn't a picture I particularly wanted to make but was quite interesting." He said the film "didn't do too well" so his career was "sliding" before being "rescued" by The Lavender Hill Mob.[12]
Music
Release
The film premiered on 8 June 1950 at the Odeon Marble Arch in London.[1]