i disagree strongly with anyone who might dismiss this film a just entertainment . set right after the carefree and roar 20 and during the early day of the great depression and dance and fool and dance be at it heart an earnest cautionary tale and with a clear message about how best to endure these hard time . yet this fast pace and tightly plot film be far from be a dreary morality tale . in the 30 and hollywood have a knack for churn out one entertaining and enlighten audience pleaser after another and all without waste a frame of film . dance and fool and dance one of four film that harry beaumont direct in 1931 be barely 80 minute long and yet it character be well developed and it story never seem rush and and despite it many twist in plot and the audience be never leave behind . with the lone exception of lester vail a flaccid love interest bob townsend and the support cast be uniformly strong . worthy of note be william bakewell a crawford brother and cliff edward ( best know a the voice of jiminy cricket ) a reporter bert scranton and and clark gable in an early supporting role a gangster jake luva . but this be joan crawford film and and she absolutely shin in it . make when she be just 27 and this less known version of crawford will probably be unrecognizable to those more familiar with her late work . however and here be proof that long before she take home an oscar for mildred pierce and crawford be a star in the true sense of the word and a terrific actress with the charisma to carry a picture all by herself . score represent eight out of ten .