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Swing Time

  • 1936
  • Passed
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer2:36
1 Video
99+ Photos
ComedyMusicalRomance

Roguish gambler/dancer "Lucky" Garnett is challenged by his fiance's father to come up with $25,000 to prove he's worthy of her hand. But after he falls in love with a dance instructor, Luck... Read allRoguish gambler/dancer "Lucky" Garnett is challenged by his fiance's father to come up with $25,000 to prove he's worthy of her hand. But after he falls in love with a dance instructor, Lucky'll do anything to keep from earning the bucks.Roguish gambler/dancer "Lucky" Garnett is challenged by his fiance's father to come up with $25,000 to prove he's worthy of her hand. But after he falls in love with a dance instructor, Lucky'll do anything to keep from earning the bucks.

  • Director
    • George Stevens
  • Writers
    • Howard Lindsay
    • Allan Scott
    • Erwin Gelsey
  • Stars
    • Fred Astaire
    • Ginger Rogers
    • Victor Moore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    14K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George Stevens
    • Writers
      • Howard Lindsay
      • Allan Scott
      • Erwin Gelsey
    • Stars
      • Fred Astaire
      • Ginger Rogers
      • Victor Moore
    • 115User reviews
    • 72Critic reviews
    • 91Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:36
    Watch Trailer

    Photos171

    Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936)
    Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936)
    Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936)
    Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936)
    Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936)
    Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936)
    Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936)
    Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936)
    Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936)
    Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936)
    Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936)
    Helen Broderick and Victor Moore in Swing Time (1936)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Fred Astaire
    Fred Astaire
    • Lucky Garnett
    Ginger Rogers
    Ginger Rogers
    • Penny Carroll
    Victor Moore
    Victor Moore
    • Pop Cardetti
    Helen Broderick
    Helen Broderick
    • Mabel Anderson
    Eric Blore
    Eric Blore
    • Gordon
    Betty Furness
    Betty Furness
    • Margaret Watson
    Georges Metaxa
    Georges Metaxa
    • Ricky Romero
    William Bailey
    William Bailey
    • Roulette Player
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Bernard
    Harry Bernard
    • Second Stagehand
    • (uncredited)
    William A. Boardway
    William A. Boardway
    • Nightclub Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Bowen
    Harry Bowen
    • First Stagehand
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Brande
    • Dancer
    • (uncredited)
    Ralph Brooks
    • Dancer in 'The Way You Look Tonight' Number
    • (uncredited)
    Ralph Byrd
    Ralph Byrd
    • Hotel Clerk
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Chefe
    • Nightclub Diner
    • (uncredited)
    Martin Cichy
    Martin Cichy
    • Undetermined Role
    • (uncredited)
    Thomas A. Curran
    • Man in New York Street
    • (uncredited)
    Alan Curtis
    Alan Curtis
    • Undetermined Secondary Role
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • George Stevens
    • Writers
      • Howard Lindsay
      • Allan Scott
      • Erwin Gelsey
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The climax of "Never Gonna Dance" took 47 takes in a single day and required many demanding spins of Ginger Rogers; her feet bled.
    • Goofs
      In the scene at the New Amsterdam, when Lucky first gets out of the car, there is a large white mark on the seat of his coat. This is possibly because no-one brushed off his coat after a previous take of the same scene, in which he sits down on a "snow" covered bench.
    • Quotes

      Penelope "Penny" Carrol: Listen. No one could teach you to dance in a million years. Take my advice and save your money!

    • Connections
      Edited into Seven Days' Leave (1942)
    • Soundtracks
      Pick Yourself Up
      (1936) (uncredited)

      Lyrics by Dorothy Fields

      Music by Jerome Kern

      Sung and Danced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

      Danced by Victor Moore and Helen Broderick

      Played in the score often

    User reviews115

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    heavenly dancing, heavenly music, heavenly partnership
    There's something special about all of the Astaire-Rogers movies, and "Swing Time" is no exception. Directed by George Stevens, it tells the story of a dancer and a gambler - not seen as much of a catch by his future father-in-law - who, after he misses his wedding, goes to New York. He promises his fiancée's father that he will return, solvent, and ask again for his daughter's hand in marriage. Once in New York, he falls for Ginger Rogers, who was never prettier than in this film. One thing leads to another, and the wind up as dance partners.

    Eric Blore, Helen Broderick, and Victor Moore supply able support, and the film has a beautiful Jerome Kern score: "Pick Yourself Up," "The Way You Look Tonight," and "A Fine Romance" being a few of the numbers.

    There are two knockout pieces in this film - Astaire's tribute to Bill "Bojangles" Robinson is one of the most stunning numbers Astaire ever did. He manages to wear blackface and not have it be offensive, as it's very light makeup to suggest his portrayal of Robinson. The number, with its accompanying huge dancing shadows, is magnificent. And the final number - "Never Gonna Dance" surely is one of their top dances ever, with that incredible deco set, the double curving stairways, and Ginger in that glorious dress.

    It's hard to sum up how their dancing lifts you up and out of whatever ails you. Definitely their smoothness, footwork, chemistry, and glamor reach out to my soul every time I see them.
    helpful•29
    3
    • blanche-2
    • Dec 31, 2005

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    FAQ1

    • Which song won the Oscar?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 12, 1936 (Brazil)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • I Won't Dance
    • Filming locations
      • La Grande Station, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA(exteriors and interiors of the train station)
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $886,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,379
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 43 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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