We Were Dancing Reviews

This is loosely based on two of the nine plays that made up Noel Coward's 1937 hit, "Tonight at 8:30," and stars Norma Shearer as a poor Polish princess who is engaged to socialite Bowman. At a party at Bowman's South Carolina home, Shearer meets Douglas and immediately becomes convinced he's the man for her. They run off together, each thinking the other is filthy rich. Only after they've married do they learn the truth--both are penniless hustlers. They decide to keep their marriage a secret and, while seeing each other on the sly, continue to search for wealthy lovers. When Patrick, a rich decorator who had been Douglas' lover some time before, finds out they are married, she lets the world know, thereby ruining their scam, at least as far as the fashionable East Coast is concerned. Still very much in love, the conspirators make their way to the Midwest and manage to insinuate themselves into high society there. Shearer starts to have misgivings about their lifestyles, however, and encourages Douglas to begin a career. At about that time, Patrick shows up and makes it clear she still carries a torch for Douglas, a fact which infuriates Shearer, causing her to seek a divorce. Then Bowman shows up, still very much in love with Shearer, and they once again to plan to wed. In the meantime, Douglas has demonstrated a flair for decorating and Patrick gives him an assignment--decorating Bowman's home in preparation for his wedding to Shearer. Of course, by now everyone knows where this is leading, and sure enough during a party scene very similar to the one that opened the picture, Shearer and Douglas again declare their love for one another and run off. Shearer and Douglas made a good team, playing well off each other, but they are not well served by the script here. Of course the story is tired and predictable, but it could have been saved by some witty dialog. Unfortunately the writers weren't up to providing much beyond the most perfunctory dialog, consigning this effort to the ranks of the forgettable. Amazingly, Shearer had turned down the role of Scarlett O'Hara in GONE WITH THE WIND and the title role in MRS. MINIVER, making this her first film in nearly two years. She would make one other movie in 1942, HER CARDBOARD LOVER, before retiring. If nothing else, the film is notable as the screen debut for Ava Gardner.