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Dorothy Arzner, the sole woman to work as a director in the Hollywood studio system of the 1930s and early ’40s, brings a subversive feminist sensibility to this juicily entertaining backstage melodrama.

Dance, Girl, Dance tells the story of Judy O’Brien, an aspiring ballerina whose dreams of stardom are cut short by the death of her mentor, her own self-doubt and the interference of her shrewdly opportunistic friend Bubbles. Running away from an audition when she is intimidated by the quality of the other dancers, Judy is recruited by Bubbles to dance ballet in the burlesque club at which Bubbles, under her new pseudonym Tiger Lily, is now the star attraction. But what seems like a kind offer turns out to be a poisoned chalice when Judy discovers she is there as the stooge, intended to be heckled, jeered and booed by a crowd of boozy men hungry for something raunchier...

Director: Dorothy Arzner
Cast: Maureen O'Hara, Louis Hayward, Lucille Ball, Virginia Field, Ralph Bellamy, Maria Ouspenskaya, Mary Carlisle
Country: USA
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Musical

DVD9 | NTSC 4:3 | 01:29:26 | 4.67 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English
Subtitles: English, Francais

Extras:
This DVD includes two short subjects from 1940: The 20-minute Vitaphone "two-reeler" "Just a Cute Kid," from a story by Damon Runyon and featuring comedy star Frank Faylen, and "Malibu Beach Party," a pun-filled Merrie Melodies cartoon hosted by "Jack Bunny" and featuring a variety of sun-tanned cameos from animated Hollywood stars.

BD50, DVD9 | 1080p AVC, NTSC | 01:29:44 | 31.6 Gb, 6.85 Gb
Language: English
Subtitles: English

Extras:

• B. Ruby Rich - in this new program, critic B. Ruby Rich discusses Dorothy Arzner's career. The program was created for Criterion in 2019. In English, not subtitled. (16 min, 1080p).

• Francis Ford Coppola - in this new program, director Francis Ford Coppola remembers his interactions with Dorothy Arzner while studying at UCLA and discusses her career. The program was created for Criterion in 2020. In English, not subtitled. (11 min, 1080p).