

Dancing in the Dark
“"My Dream was to Become a Star...So Somewhere, Some Day, You'd Know I Did It, In Spite of You - My Father!"”
Synopsis
Emery Slade was one of the brightest stars in Hollywood in 1932, but by 1949 his career has hit the skids. Fortunately, he is able to convince studio head Melville Crossman to cast him in the adaptation of a hit Broadway show. Crossman has one condition: Slade must travel to New York and convince the female star of the stage production to join the film. Slade goes, but, when he eyes the winsome Julie Clarke, he hatches a different scheme.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →William Powell
Emery Slade
Mark Stevens
Bill Davis
Betsy Drake
Julie Clarke
Adolphe Menjou
Melville Crossman
Randy Stuart
Rosalie Brooks
Lloyd Corrigan
John Barker
Hope Emerson
Mrs. Schlaghammer
Walter Catlett
Joe Brooks
Don Beddoe
Barney Bassett
Jean Hersholt
Jean Hersholt
Bill Shirley
Singer of Title Song Over Opening Credits
Robert Adler
Studio Gate Guard
Erville Alderson
Emery's Neighbor
Louis Bacigalupi
Masseur
Joe Bautista
Filipino Man
George Beranger
Waiter
John Berkes
Marshall
Ralph Brooks
Man Sleeping on Plane
Release History & Theatrical Window
December 2, 1949
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Irving Reis
- Screenplay & Story
- Mary C. McCall, Jr.
- Original Score
- Herbert W. Spencer, Cyril J. Mockridge
- Original Title
- Dancing in the Dark
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 32m
- Production Studios
- 20th Century Fox
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Irving Reis
Mary C. McCall, Jr., Howard Dietz, George S. Kaufman, Marion Turk, Arthur Schwartz
Herbert W. Spencer, Cyril J. Mockridge
Harry Jackson
Louis R. Loeffler
George Jessel
Department Leadership Roster
Irving Reis
Director
Herbert W. Spencer
Original Music Composer
Cyril J. Mockridge
Original Music Composer
Harry Jackson
Director of Photography
Louis R. Loeffler
Editor
George Jessel
Producer
Mary C. McCall, Jr.
Screenplay
Travilla
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Dancing in the Dark.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Dancing in the Dark.
Musicals
Every film Wikidata tags as a musical film.
Similar Titles to Dancing in the Dark
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
More Like Dancing in the Dark
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.












Frequently Asked Questions About Dancing in the Dark
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Dancing in the Dark about?
Emery Slade was one of the brightest stars in Hollywood in 1932, but by 1949 his career has hit the skids. Fortunately, he is able to convince studio head Melville Crossman to cast him in the adaptation of a hit Broadway show. Crossman has one condition: Slade must travel to New York and convince the female star of the stage production to join the film. Slade goes, but, when he eyes the winsome Julie Clarke, he hatches a different scheme.
Who directed Dancing in the Dark?
Dancing in the Dark was directed by Irving Reis.
Who stars in Dancing in the Dark?
The principal cast of Dancing in the Dark includes William Powell, Mark Stevens, Betsy Drake, Adolphe Menjou, Randy Stuart.
When was Dancing in the Dark released and how long is it?
Dancing in the Dark was released in 1949 with a total runtime of 1h 32m.
Who composed the musical score for Dancing in the Dark?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Dancing in the Dark was composed by Herbert W. Spencer, Cyril J. Mockridge.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Dancing in the Dark?
Dancing in the Dark holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).



















