Follow the Fleet (1936)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Mark Sandrich

Writers:

Hubert Osborne (play)
Allan Scott (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 February 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

In the Super-Dreadnought of Musical Shows

Plot:

A Navy sailor tries to rekindle a romance with the woman he loves while on shore leave in San Francisco.

Plot Keywords:

Sailor | Dancing | Navy | Dance Hall | San Francisco California

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Fred Astaire	...	Bake Baker
Ginger Rogers	...	Sherry Martin
Randolph Scott	...	Bilge Smith
Harriet Hilliard	...	Connie Martin
Astrid Allwyn	...	Mrs. Iris Manning
Betty Grable	...	Trio Singer
Harry Beresford	...	Captain Hickey
Russell Hicks	...	Jim Nolan
Brooks Benedict	...	David Sullivan
Ray Mayer	...	Dopey Williams
Lucille Ball	...	Kitty Collins

Runtime:

110 min | USA:80 min (re-release)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1801) | Finland:K-16 | UK:U

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

The fifth (of ten) dancing partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Quotes:

Sherry Martin: Well, I don't see any Admiral stripes on you!
Bake Baker: I like to go incognito just to mingle with the boys.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in What a Way to Go! (1964)

Soundtrack:

Get Thee Behind Me, Satan

Fred and Ginger play the people they really are!

The plot intellect is about as light as feather down. But the advantage here is the boy and girl classic refusal we have become accustomed to in "The Gay Divorcee" and "Top Hat" is now absent. Instead of the typical accidental acquaintance, the dancing duo are the former lovers Bake Baker and Sherry Martin, who are still in love since their dancing days.

Of course, being a 30s musical, there's the problems of misunderstood romance, classy courtship and the slight irritation of a sabotaged audition with bicarbonate soda has costing Ginger something rather special. And then in the grand tradition of dwindling finances, there's nothing better for Hollywood's best entertainers than put on a show.

Delightful numbers from Irving Berlin are sprinkled throughout the show. Top hats and evening dresses are saved right until the end, which remains a refreshing change. Fred and Ginger are out again to charm the world...and charm the navy. Everyone and everything is once again just so enjoyable.

Pure classic silliness at its best. But with Astaire and Rogers, we just know it's got to work.

Rating: 8.25/10