Cast:
Clara Bow … Pat Delaney
Richard Arlen … Larry Lee
Kay Francis … Zara Flynn
David Newell … Tony Barretti
Anders Randolf … Colonel P.P. Brack
May Boley … Ma Spinelli
T. Roy Barnes … Po Spinelli
Joyce Compton … Jennie Silver
Directed by Lothar Mendes.
Production Supervisor Ernst Lubitsch.
From a story by Leslie Cohen.
Screenplay by Donald Davis; Florence Ryerson.
Dialogue by Viola Brothers Shore.
Camerawork by Harry Fischbeck.
Editing by Eda Warren.
Music by W. Franke Harling.
A Paramount Picture.
Released July 13, 1929.
About the film:
After completing two productions at Paramount’s New York City studio, Kay Francis was summoned by their Hollywood location to begin her career as a long term contract star. From the beginning, Francis was leery of the move to Hollywood, as the thought working in pictures professionally was more terrifying than the so-so career she had built for herself on the stage.
It was the money which made up her mind, of course.
Dangerous Curves was Kay’s first production completed on the west coast. The film was a starring vehicle for Clara Bow, Paramount’s top star, then-titled Pink Tights. Richard Arlen was the leading man who shared the affections of both Bow, his true love, and Francis, the vamp who set out to steal him for herself.
Kay was later quoted about her fear of working with Hollywood stars, but Bow was kind to newcomer Francis. Legend has it that it was Bow who convinced Kay to shorten her name from Katherine, so it would fit snugly on a marquee. Also, Bow encouraged Kay to “move in a little closer” to the camera, so that Francis would get some deserved attention that the director might not have set out to give.
Richard Arlen turned out to be one of Kay’s first regular west coast friends. His chemistry in the film with both Francis and Bow was genuine, and some believed that Kay walked off with the film.
Her own opinion was a little different than the rest. Francis simply stated in her diary after viewing the final print on June 21, “Ouch!”
Personal and professional problems Bow was enduring did not cause too much chaos on the set. It was not long after the completion of Dangerous Curves that Bow found her career on the rocks at Paramount. A brief revival at Fox studios three years later did little to help bring her back to her former glory. She left the screen soon for good.
For Kay Francis, Dangerous Curves proved to be the successful launch for a star who would become one of the most prominent and admired in the decade to come.
Film Images:
What the Picture Did for Me:
Exhibitor Herald-World‘s long-running column for independent theater owners to tell each other what type of business was made and what the quality of the product was during their showings. Some also wrote the days the film was shown in their theater.
October 12, 1929
Clara Bow – September 22. Oy! Yoy! Just see what sound has done to us again! “The Wild Party” showed a little falling off, but this one was only about 60 percent of our average on a Bow picture. Not much of a story to begin with, and Clara seems to have lost some of “it” in these silent versions. Once more Paramount sends us one of the cussed prints with a blank track, although it was OK otherwise. For several reasons, guess this will be our last Bow picture. Oy! Yoy! Eight reels. – O.B. Wolfe, Screenland theatre, Nevada. – Small town patronage.
Clara Bow – September 22-26. Nice clean entertainment. Everyone will be pleased. Eight reels. – Orris F. Collins, Palace theatre, Rector, Ark. – Small town patronage.
October 19, 1929
Clara Bow— Sound-on-disc on this terrible. About one-half audible. — Winton W. Lowery, Strand theatre, Atmore, Ala. — General patronage.
Clara Bow— September 19-20. Fair, though not as good as some Bow’s. —A. L. Revert, New Home theatre, Rantoul, 111. — General patronage.
Clara Bow— Here is a picture that will please the entire family. Made money on this one. Clara always makes money for us. Although Clara Bow plays a very unusual role in this picture, that of a bare back rider in a circus, she is well suited for the part and her acting is unusually good. Disc recording good. — Walker & Donnell. Leroy theatre, Lampasas, Tex. — Small town patronage.
October 26, 1929
Clara Bow— September 28-29-30. I heard bad reports on the sound of this picture, but in my equipment it was very good. The story and acting also good. Poor business on account of bad weather. Paramount goes too high in rentals. Seven reels. — F. Fleitas, Monroe theatre, Key West, Fla. — General patronage.
November 2, 1929
Clara Bow—We considered this a nice clean little picture. But why should we be compelled to pay more money for Bow when she does not draw any more at the box office? — W. J. Shoup. DeLuxe theatre, Spearville, Kan. — Small town patronage.
November 16, 1929
Clara Bow- October 12. This picture gave very good satisfaction. Clara always brings them in. Recording good. Paramount sold me this picture at a price that let me make some money for myself — the first I have made since installing sound two weeks ago. — Mrs. Faye Corpe, Colonial theatre, Colfax, 111. —General patronage.
November 23, 1929
Clara Bow- October 27-28-29. This is a very good entertaining picture. The stars and cast fine. A little hokum in the circus background, but the picture gave good satisfaction. There is talking enough in it to make it pass as a talking picture. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage.
Clara Bow- October 12-13. Very good small town picture. Comments good. Disc recording very good. Eight reels. — George J. Rhein, Manchester theatre, Manchester, Wis. — General patronage.
December 7, 1929
Clara Bow—November 1. Business on this picture about as usual. It seems that it does not matter what picture you have for a special, its just about the same old crowd. The radio here has hurt the picture business, and sometimes I don’t blame the folks for staying at home. Eight reels. — Earle Eveland, Twin City Opera house, McConnelsville, O. — General patronage.
Clara Bow—Clara rings the gong for me again, nearly breaking house record. A good story. A good star, favorably supported by Richard Arlen. — C. E. Robinson, Town Hall, Carmel, Me. — Small town patronage.
December 21, 1929
Clara Bow— December 3-4-5. Clara has cost me plenty. It’s similar to other pictures. I had a poor print and recording on film was weak. Lost plenty. Nine reels. — E. A. Reynolds, Strand theatre, Princeton, Minn. — General patronage.
Clara Bow— Recording okay. Played to fair business. — William Roob, Chain Theatres, Inc., Port Washington, Wis. —General patronage.
Clara Bow— The first Bow picture I have played for a long time. Clara has got so fat patrons did not know her in this picture. I think this girl’s day is past unless she can reduce about 50 lbs. What’s wrong with the Hollywood diet?— H. G. Stettmund, Jr., H & S. theatre, Chandler, Okla. — General patronage.
January 4, 1930
Clara Bow – Pretty good story ruined by rotten recording (disc). – J.A. Bailey, Strand theatre, Greensburg, Ind. – General Patronage.
Clara Bow – December 1. It’s a pleasure to me to get to report on a picture like this one, to advise my brother exhibitors to lay off this one of Miss Bow’s. She’s entirely out of her class in a picture of this type, and where did the title come from? I say it is one of her worst pictures. A few like this one and she’ll be a dead star. – S.B. Callahan, Arrow theatre, Broken Bow, Okla. – General Patronage.
January 11, 1930
Clara Bow – Good picture and cast. – William Leonard, Ridgeway Community theatre, Ridgeway, Mo. – General Patronage.
Clara Bow – Did not see this on account of sickness. Business very good, however. Recording fair. – L.E. Palmer, Postville theatre, Postville, Ia. – General Patronage.
March 8, 1930
Clara Bow – Can’t see where this picture got its title. People were disappointed as they expected a different type of picture. Not a bad picture of the circus type, though. Eight reels. – Harold Smith, Dreamland theatre, Carson, Ia. – General Patronage.
July 26, 1930
Clara Bow – May 16-17. No comments either way but the box office told the story of a fallen star. Clara has done her bit for the industry and Paramount. Eight reels. – O.A. Fosse, Community Theatre, Ridgeway, Ia. – Small town patronage.
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