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:

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance together five times in this film. They would dance that many times together in only this film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Horace and Bates are speaking to the hotel manager, the hook of the coat hanger that Bates is holding changes orientation between shots.

Quotes:

Dale Tremont:What is this strange power you have over horses?
Jerry Travers:[thinks] Horsepower?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Let's Dance (2009/II)

Soundtrack:

Isn't This a Lovely Day (to Be Caught in the Rain)?

Flying down to Venice

"Top Hat" is one of the best films Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers made together. Jay Sandrich, the director of most of their films knew what to bring to the story to make it perfect. It also helps the genial Irving Berlin was on hand to write some of his most beautiful songs to be sung in Fred Astaire's usual impeccable style. The sets were designed by Van Nest Polglase, who is equally at home showing Manhattan interiors as well as the Venetian fantasy sets.

Much has been said in this forum about the film, so we'll only add that Fred Astaire's Jerry was one of his best creations. Ginger Rogers as Dale Tremont, the high fashion model, shows an exquisite figure and is fine in keeping pace with Fred Astaire's dancing "cheek to cheek". The other best thing about "Top Hat" are: Edward Everett Horton, Helen Broderick, and Eric Blore. These three character actors are at their finest in the film. They make everything work because they are always there to lend a hand for the stars to shine without being on the way.

"Top Hat" is a happy film that keeps delighting viewers any time one is lucky enough to fall under its spell.