Although directed by a woman (Dorothy Arzner) and co-written by a woman (Tess Slesinger), from Vicki Baum's original story, this behind-the-scenes glimpse at Broadway Burlesque is hardly any different than the fame-and-footlights movies the men in Hollywood were grinding out during this era (it even includes a catfight!). Clichéd story concerns two boarding-house girls (Lucille Ball and Maureen O'Hara) who hit the big time: Lucy as a Burlesque Queen, would-be ballerina Maureen as her 'stooge', or warm-up act. Predictably, a smooth-talking womanizer threatens to come between them. When O'Hara sneaks out with Ball's guy, she shows no misgivings over her actions--nor does Lucy seem to care about the abuse Maureen suffers every night performing for unruly crowds. Arzner's cynical take on the girls' smooth-and-scratchy friendship gives the material a bit of an edge (good for about three scenes); however, the plot mechanisms reveal the same old soapy story, and neither actress is able to rise above the dross. ** from ****
Review of Dance, Girl, Dance
