Bright Lights / The Reckless Hour: Dorothy Mackaill Pre-Code Double Feature

Once nearly forgotten, now dearly rediscovered, Dorothy Mackaill's work is in the midst of a well deserved renaissance, and we are pleased to present a pair of films that will only add luster to her legend. Unforgettable film director Michael Curtiz puts Dorothy through her paces in Bright Lights (aka Adventures in Africa), the tale of a hoofer who hulas her way from sleazy dives to the Great White Way, only to end up facing murder charges when her past comes back to haunt her. Mackaill ably struts her ex-Ziegfeld stuff, singing and dancing alongside Noah Berry and Frank Fay. Dorothy's The Office Wife co-star, blondacious Joan Blondell, once again slips into the role of younger sib, supporting her in this tale of stolen virtue. Shop model Margaret (Mackaill) catches the eye of wealthy, dapper young Allen (Walter Byron). Unfortunately the primrose path Margaret sees in her future is lined with the broken rocks of her virtue

• classic
• drama