If you like Top Hat, you'll like this - it's almost as good.
This was the film which changed the musical genre forever. Down the road at Warner Brothers, musicals had been oasises of happiness but firmly set in the grinding reality of the depression. At RKO even the word 'depression' would not exist. The world of the RKO musical was an escapist alternate reality created by production head, Pandro Bergman. His revolutionary vision was totally opposite to Warner Brothers, there was no depression, there was no struggle, no poverty, no plucky amateurs trying to make the big time. Everything and everyone in this film are stylish and sophisticated and the world is one giant beautifully lit Art Deco fantasy.
Ginger Rogers, veteran of Warners (if you can be a veteran at 23) is transformed from the sassy sidekick of Joan Blondell to the epitome of innocent sexy sophistication. But she still has that sassy, fast-talking, street-wise glint in her eye making her the perfect partner for Fed Astaire - the man it's impossible to dislike.
Although not as good as Top Hat, this is just as uplifting and joyful. There's never a dull moment and the acting is perfect for this type of movie. Fred and Ginger are just so likeable you can't help but love this.
Upon realising that this type of musical was now what audiences wanted, Warners tried unsuccessfully to copy. Busby Berkeley's terrible Golddiggers of 1935 (except for the Lullaby of Broadway section) exemplifies that. This however gets it just right - we'll almost because their next movie was perfect.
This was the film which changed the musical genre forever. Down the road at Warner Brothers, musicals had been oasises of happiness but firmly set in the grinding reality of the depression. At RKO even the word 'depression' would not exist. The world of the RKO musical was an escapist alternate reality created by production head, Pandro Bergman. His revolutionary vision was totally opposite to Warner Brothers, there was no depression, there was no struggle, no poverty, no plucky amateurs trying to make the big time. Everything and everyone in this film are stylish and sophisticated and the world is one giant beautifully lit Art Deco fantasy.
Ginger Rogers, veteran of Warners (if you can be a veteran at 23) is transformed from the sassy sidekick of Joan Blondell to the epitome of innocent sexy sophistication. But she still has that sassy, fast-talking, street-wise glint in her eye making her the perfect partner for Fed Astaire - the man it's impossible to dislike.
Although not as good as Top Hat, this is just as uplifting and joyful. There's never a dull moment and the acting is perfect for this type of movie. Fred and Ginger are just so likeable you can't help but love this.
Upon realising that this type of musical was now what audiences wanted, Warners tried unsuccessfully to copy. Busby Berkeley's terrible Golddiggers of 1935 (except for the Lullaby of Broadway section) exemplifies that. This however gets it just right - we'll almost because their next movie was perfect.