Though she's promised her hand in marriage to a handsome lawyer, frivolous Polish princess Norma Shearer (as Victoria "Vicki" Wilomirska) falls in love with poor noble Melvyn Douglas (as Nicholas "Nikki" Prax) - while "We Were Dancing," according to Ms. Shearer. Although her societal friends suggest otherwise, Shearer breaks up with rich young Lee Bowman (as Hubert Tyler) and marries Mr. Douglas. Shearer and Douglas try to "live on love" with some difficulty. Also, Mr. Bowman and Douglas' former girlfriend Gail Patrick (as Linda Wayne) won't stay out of the picture.This was the first Shearer film after an absence of over a year. Some of the roles the actress reportedly turned down were more publicity than actual fact; but, apparently, she could have done "Mrs. Miniver" (1942) instead of this - and one other film role ("Her Cardboard Lover"), before retiring from the screen. Although it can be defended as having some appeal - on paper - "We Were Dancing" was a wrong turn. Shearer's desire to seem younger than her characters is strained to the brink, affecting both her acting and appearance. Shearer's lightened hair looks more gray than blonde.*** We Were Dancing (4/30/42) Robert Z. Leonard ~ Norma Shearer, Melvyn Douglas, Gail Patrick, Lee Bowman

For all the new scholarship about this neglected actress, people still need to see her in action. Yes-- let's accept the fact that, by 1942, Norma Shearer was past caring about a career in the movies, and let's take this romp for what it is: fun, vibrant, and a showcase for Norma. Her penultimate film brings out her exquisite comic timing, and her bursts of Polish round out the very amusing character of Vicky. Realize that Norma is winking at the camera and her public all through this film, asking only that we accept it on its terms: a fun exercise to help finish out her career (though there is evidence that she, in retrospect, didn't care much for it).

I must most courteously beg to differ with all the previous comments on "We Were Dancing." This film is quite simply a frothy, delightful romp---filled with witty dialogue and great chemistry between the two leads, a luminous Norma Shearer and a suave Melvyn Douglas. Shearer's comic timing in most of her major scenes is exquisite. The banter exchanged between the two obviously smitten spouses is well performed throughout the movie. There's even a poignant dramatic scene where Douglas' character comforts Shearer's because she's sacrificed a significant chunk of her pride in order to help him financially.I'm not sure why this movie has gotten such a bad reputation. So what if its tone and style is more akin to 1930s screwball comedies rather than World War II dramas. The 1942 timing of its release near the start of U.S. involvement in the war was simply unfortunate. And yes, Shearer's career was never the same after she turned down the lead in Mrs. Miniver, but so what. It doesn't mean that both the film and her comic performance in it cannot be savored and appreciated some 60 years later. Skip the preconceptions and give this movie a look when you're in the mood for a most diverting and enjoyable comedy. You won't regret the choice. You may even feel like dancing after watching!

In 1936, MGM Producer, Irving Thalberg died, leaving his widow, Norma Shearer, to pick her own scripts. An example of Miss Shearer's lack of good judgment is her appearance in this dud that she chose to do rather than play Kay Miniver in "Mrs. Miniver," which won Greer Garson an Academy Award. Based on Noel Coward's "Tonight at 8:30," critics called this comedy as sparking as "flat champagne." Norma Shearer made only one more film after this and retired from the screen at age 40.