Flapper Friday-Joan The Flapper

Joan Crawford had a film career that spanned over 40 years and included dramas like Mildred Pierce and camp classics like Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, but her look, with the dramatic brows and large shoulder pads, remains in most people's minds firmly entrenched in the 1940s. It certainly suited her strong angular features

So you may be surprised to learn that Joan started her career as a flapper.  In Our Dancing Daughters she was a jazz baby dancing on tables, quaffing champagne, and sporting one of the best flapper bobs I've ever seen. A short curly version that looks incredibly modern even today. 

  

Friday's With Fred-Fred Astaire and Joan Crawford

A short while ago I wrote about Fred Astaire's first film, 1933's Dancing Lady.  Fred an established Broadway star at age 34 played himself in the film in what was little more then a bit part.   While its an interesting picture it is today, in my opinion, rather forgettable.  However, these set pictures, showing a fabulously dapper Fred and a sportily stylish Joan are definitely not.

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I love the undone button detailing on Joan's halter top blouse and the wide striped belt.   Fred looks a bit uncomfortable, it is after all his first Hollywood film.

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In this picture Fred looks quite a bit more comfortable.  I love Joan's clutch purse and low shoes, and the way Fred is holding his hat.  This is a duo who knows how to accessorize! 

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This picture is my favorite of the bunch!  Fred looks so exuberant dancing, and look at the perfect crease on his pants.  I love how you get a better look at Joan's shoes too, such adorable low dancing heels.   You can also see the cut of the blouse here, the bare back is perfect for showing of Joan's athletic figure.

This picture was taken over 81 years ago, but if their timeless summer style is as chic today as it was in 1933.  I don't have Joan's athletic figure but I can totally see myself having this outfit copied, perhaps for next summer!

Fridays with Fred-Fred's First Film 1933's Dancing Lady

 Fred Astaire made over forty films during his lifetime, but he actually came to movies relatively late in life, at the age of 34, after an extremely successful Vaudeville and Broadway career.  In fact film executives were so convinced that movie audiences wouldn't accept Fred as anything other then a Broadway star, that in his first film, 1933's Dancing Lady, they had Fred played himself.

Dancing Lady stars Joan Crawford as Janie Barlow, a dancer desperate for success, who due to the tough times of the early 1930s is reduced to performing in a Burlesque show.



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In the opening scenes of the film Janie, along with the other dancers, is arrested for participating in an indecent performance.  While Janie is arguing with the judge a millionaire admirer, named Todd Newton, convenient comes along to  bail her out.  

Newton takes Jeanie out for dinner over which she confesses her burning desire to dance. 


A smitten Newton decides to pull some strings and gets her an addition for a Broadway show.

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Janie tries out for tough egg director Patch Gallagher, played by Clark Gable, (and yes that is one of the three stooges on the piano), who despite his initial misgivings is impressed.  Janie gets the job and pretty soon she is spending days rehearsing with Gallagher and evenings being romanced by Newton.  Despite the fact that Newton is a millionaire with a fabulous deco pool:

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Janie has no interest in settling down as a society wife and her attraction to the equally stage obsessed Patch Gallagher is growing:

Somewhere amidst all this  Fred Astaire finally makes his first film appearance, introduced by Clark Gable with the line "Freddie show Miss. Barlow that opening number":

As Janie becomes more committed to the show, and to Patch Gallagher, Newton becomes jealous and secretly pulls his funding leading to the show being shut down.  With nothing to do Janie agrees to go on vacation with Gallagher, but she is miserable, spending the entire time pining for the stage and for Patch. 

A dejected Patch decides to fund the show himself.  Eventually he discovers that Newton pulled the funding for the show and he confronts Janie with the truth, Newton confesses, and Janie returns to  her star part in the show.  Then somehow, despite lack of rehearsals and limited funds, Janie and Fred are able to dance through the air in a technical marvel of a Broadway show, and of course pull they pull of an enormous success.

The film ends with Janie and Gallagher declaring their commitment to the stage and each other:

In all Dancing Lady is a somewhat forgettable film, but it does have some fabulous 1930s fashions.  I particularly love the tartan trims on some of Joan's dresses:

and some amazing stars.  It is definitely worth a viewing for any fan of classic films, particularly fans of Fred Astaire, Clark Gable and Joan Crawford.