Top Hat (1935)

Director:

Mark Sandrich

Writers:

Dwight Taylor (screen play) and
Allan Scott (screen play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

6 September 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

They're Dancing Cheek-To-Cheek Again! (re-release)

Plot:

An American dancer comes to Britain and falls for a model whom he initially annoyed, but she mistakes him for his goofy producer.

Plot Keywords:

Dancer | Dance | Tap Dancing | Dancing | Man's Hat

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Fred Astaire	...	Jerry Travers
Ginger Rogers	...	Dale Tremont
Edward Everett Horton	...	Horace Hardwick
Erik Rhodes	...	Alberto Beddini
Eric Blore	...	Bates
Helen Broderick	...	Madge Hardwick
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Adair	...	London Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Lucille Ball	...	Flower Clerk (uncredited)
Tito Blasco	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Tom Brandon	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Roy Brent	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Phyllis Coghlan	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Gino Corrado	...	Venice Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Tom Costello	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Jack Geiger	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Charlie Hall	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Peter Hobbes	...	Theatre Callboy (uncredited)
Ben Holmes	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
John Impolito	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Lora Lane	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Frank Mills	...	Lido Waiter (uncredited)
Henry Mowbray	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Leonard Mudie	...	Flower Salesman (uncredited)
Edgar Norton	...	London Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Dennis O'Keefe	...	Elevator Passenger / Dancer (uncredited)
Tom Ricketts	...	Thackeray Club Waiter (uncredited)
Rita Rozelle	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Genaro Spagnoli	...	Fisherman (uncredited)
Mary Stewart	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Anya Taranda	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Nick Thompson	...	Minor Role (uncredited)

Directed by
Mark Sandrich

Writing credits
Dwight Taylor		(screen play) and
Allan Scott		(screen play)
Dwight Taylor		(story)
Sándor Faragó		play (uncredited)
Ben Holmes		contributor to treatment (uncredited)
Aladar Laszlo		play (uncredited)
Károly Nóti		adaptation (uncredited)
Ralph Spence		contributor to screenplay construction (uncredited)

Produced by
Pandro S. Berman	....	producer

Cinematography by
David Abel		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
William Hamilton

Art Direction by
Van Nest Polglase

Costume Design by
Bernard Newman		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Mel Berns	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
J.R. Crone	....	unit manager (uncredited)
C.J. White	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harry D'Arcy	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Richard Green	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Kenneth Holmes	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Argyle Nelson	....	assistant director (uncredited)
C.C. Thompson	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Carroll Clark	....	associate art director
Thomas Little	....	set dresser

Sound Department
George Marsh	....	sound cutter
Hugh McDowell Jr.	....	recordist
Eddie Harman	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Clem Portman	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)
John E. Tribby	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Richard Van Hessen	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Robert Wise	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Vernon L. Walker	....	photographic effects (as Vernon Walker)
Harry Redmond Jr.	....	special effects (uncredited)
Harry Redmond Sr.	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Miehle	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Stephen Bearman	....	colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Irving Berlin	....	lyrics and music by
Philip Faulkner Jr.	....	music recordist (as P.J. Faulkner Jr.)
Max Steiner	....	musical director
Maurice De Packh	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Arthur Knowlton	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Edward B. Powell	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Gene Rose	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Eddie Sharpe	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Max Steiner	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Other crew
Hermes Pan	....	ensembles stager
Fred Astaire	....	choreographer (uncredited)
Harry Cornbleth	....	stand-in: Fred Astaire (uncredited)
William Hetzler	....	dance director (uncredited)
Roy Horton	....	stand-in: Edward Everett Horton (uncredited)
S. Barret McCormick	....	press representative (uncredited)
Elizabeth McGaffey	....	research director (uncredited)
Marie Osborne	....	stand-in: Ginger Rogers (uncredited)
Hermes Pan	....	choreographer (uncredited)
Helen Weber	....	stand-in: Helen Broderick (uncredited)
Trudy Wellman	....	script clerk (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures (presents) (as Radio Pictures) (A Pandro S. Berman Production)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1935) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Radio Picture)
• RKO Radio Pictures Argentina (1936) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• R.K.O. Radio Pictures (1937) (Austria) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1953) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release) (edited)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1957) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Image Entertainment (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Chapel Distribution (2009) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Castle Video (1988) (Finland) (VHS)
• Continental Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Cult & Classic (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Epoca (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Gerit (19??) (Finland) (VHS)
• Pan Vision Publishing Video (19??) (Finland) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Canada) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD) (4 film collection)
• YLE Teema (2002) (Finland) (TV)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1963) (Finland) (TV)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

101 min | USA:81 min (re-release) (re-edited version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Germany:12 | Sweden:Btl | UK:U | USA:Approved (original release) | Portugal:M/6 | South Korea:All | Australia:G | USA:TV-G | USA:Unrated | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

In one scene at the Lido, Madge orders a drink called a "horse's neck". It is traditionally served with a spiral of lemon (or orange) peel hanging over the edge of the glass, suggesting the curve of a horse's neck. It calls for 2 oz of bourbon or brandy, 4 oz of ginger ale, and a dash of bitters, over ice.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jerry goes to sprinkle sand on the floor, it is obvious from the lack of carpet pattern that there is already lots of sand on the floor.

Quotes:

Bates:We are Bates.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Interactive Film Quiz (2006) (VG)

Soundtrack:

The Piccolino

As light as the feathers on Ginger's dress...

If you're a fan of FRED ASTAIRE and GINGER ROGERS and their predictable screwball comedies of the '30s, you'll find this one is easy to take. First of all, the score by Irving Berlin has a variety of catchy tunes although I can't say it's his greatest, and all of the mistaken identity plot is performed with such grace by the famous dancing duo and their marvelous supporting cast that it's all as light as the feathers on Ginger's "Cheek to Cheek" dress.

Speaking of which--for me, the "Cheek to Cheek" number is worth watching just to see how skillful the two dance the number although fully aware that Astaire objected strenuously to Ginger's feathered dress. Nevertheless, it's the dancing highlight of the film, much better than the "Piccolino" number that is used for the finale.

Eric Blore and Erik Rhodes outdo themselves in great comic support. Blore we almost take for granted at this point, but Rhodes with his silly Italian accent is a scene-stealer too. His Bettini, the dressmaker, offers some of the heartiest chuckles.

Astaire is top flight here--graceful, athletic, and young enough to be seen as a dancing Cary Grant--and Ginger matches him every dancing step of the way. She's particularly delightful in the rainy park sequence for "Isn't It A Lovely Day?" And for the "Cheek to Cheek" sequence she has a braided hairdo that gives her an ultra-sophisticated, princess-like look. When she and Astaire dance, they can do no wrong.

He, of course, is more skillful with a song than she is, his voice perfectly able to deliver all the Irving Berlin numbers assigned to him, while she barely gets by with her rendition of the "Piccolino".

Great fun to watch--rainy day or not. And those art deco backgrounds for hotel rooms and Venice are a knockout. The pristine print of the film shown on TCM recently really made them stand out in glowing splendor.