Swing Time | Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers

Swing Time | Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers | Great Astaire-Rogers Vehicle

vhs video:

Swing Time

	Swing Time Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers Turner Home Ent, 1999 average customer review:based on 49 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

"Never Gonna Dance"

The easy elegance and fluid grace of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers blend perfectly with the romantic music of Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields in this most charming of stories, produced by Pandro S. Berman and directed by George Stevens. Erwin Gelsey wrote the story and Howard Lindsay and Allan Scott contributed the screenplay to the film Ginger always pegged as her favorite of the 10 she and Fred made together. "Swing Time" is charming perfection, and a reminder of just how wonderful the movies can be.

George Stevens gave "Swing Time" a romantic glow with the use of snow and the never to be forgotten "Never Gonna Dance." The bittersweet six minute sequence of "Never Gonna Dance" is one of the most romantic ever filmed. Fred and Ginger shot 48 takes before they were completely happy with it. Ginger is lovely beyond words in gowns by Bernard Newman, especially in this scene. "Never Gonna Dance" was actually the working title of the film.

John "Lucky" Garnett (Fred Astaire) is a dancer and gambler on his way to marry Margaret Watson (Betty Furness). His pal Everett "Pop" Cardetti (Victor Moore) knows it's the end for the troupe if this happens, so he and the boys pull a gag about cuffs that leaves Lucky without pants! Lucky misses the wedding, of course, but the very pretty and sincere Margaret is willing to forgive him. Her dad gives him a chance to redeem himself if he can go to New York and earn 25,000 dollars and prove his worth.

He and Pop run into redheaded dance teacher Penny Carrol (Ginger Rogers) on the street and the smitten Lucky spends the rest of the film trying not to earn the money so he won't have to go back and marry Margaret. There is a lot of charm as Lucky saves Penny's job at the Gordon Dance Academy by showing the owner (Eric Blore) how much she has taught him in only a few minutes! Pop hits it off with her pal Mabel (Helen Broderick) and offer support as Lucky tries not to fall for the sweet Penny.

Lucky must battle band leader Ricardo Romero (Georges Metaxa) for Penny's hand when he discovers to his glee that Margaret doesn't want to marry him either. Scenes such as an unseen kiss by Fred and Ginger behind a door, the rendering of "A Fine Romance" in the snow, and a last second, delightful surprise for Fred and Ginger fans, which takes place in front of a beautiful bay window as the snow falls, all make this film an exquisite delight.

The lovely "The Way You Look Tonight " won the Oscar as Best Song, and Hermes Pan was nominated for his work as Dance Director for Astaire's astounding "Bojangles of Harlem" number. Fans often go back and forth as regards "Swing Time" and "Top Hat" as to which one was the couple's best film. The truth is, they were all wonderful, and there was something to love about them all. My personal favorite is "Carefree." "Swing Time" happens to be my daughter's favorite. Which only goes to show how timeless these true classics are.

for more information click here

Great Astaire-Rogers Vehicle

All the elements in "Swing Time" click. The film has a great script and engaging characters. Astaire and Rogers prove themselves to be not only great dancers but adept actors and light comedians. The routines here service the story instead of the other way around and that's all for the better. This film is an ode to romance and in a way chastity. Astaire and Rogers express their love for one another through the film's many exquisite numbers. There's a great Jerome Kern score on hand here. A standout number here is Astaire's solo "Bojangles of Broadway" though done in blackface is more of a homage to African-American culture instead of a lampoon which alot of these numbers from that period come off as. Essential film.

for more information click here

A Fine Romance

Fred and Ginger are the greatest dance team to grace the screen.While I revel in watching all of their films., Swing Time is my personal favorite. Each Kern/Fields number is beautifully crafted by Astaire to denote a feeling of effortlessness. Having read some background though, the dances were anything but. 'Never Gonna Dance' evokes a man's despair at losing his true love in such an elegant, flawless way that it brings tears to the eyes. I could watch it again and again. Then there's Fred's homage to Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, considered to be, by most hoofers, the greatest tap dancer of the 20th century. What a wonderful tribute. I wholeheartedly recommend these Asatire/Rogers films in this order,Swing Time, The Gay Divorcee, Top Hat, and Follow the Fleet. Don't just watch them once, but again and again for the exquisite pleasure of appreciating superb turpsiquory.

for more information click here

Sometimes Romance is just Romance

Having an MFA in creative writing and having done the screen play thing a few times, I am trained to deal with issues like realism, suspension of reality, and plot. Thank goodness there are movies like Swing Time where I can throw away all that criticism, kick back and enjoy myself.

This is a real movie, a picture, not "cinema" or "film." We know what this is going to be about Fred meets Ginger, Ginger don't like Fred, Fred wants Ginger, Ginger don't want Fred, and, eventually, Ginger wants Fred. In the meantime, they will dance and sing, and Ginger will look very good, and Fred will appear like someone who doesn't know there is a depression on.

I don't wouldnt worry about plot lag or whatever. This is fun. The two side kicks in this movie provide great repartee while Fred and Ginger dance and sing. No one can possibly believe the plot, and no one has to believe it. We know that Fred can't gamble his way from a quarter to big bucks in a few days. We known a good dance at a dancing school doesn't lead to a tryout at a night club. We don't care about those details; we care about the storm and drang, the push and pull of wanting love, almost getting it, wanting it more, and getting it in the last reel.

Of course, to hear Fred sing "The Way You Look Tonight" and "A Fine Romance" and then realize that this is the first time those classics were performed can leave you glowing.

Curiously, although like most Astaire-Rogers films this is pure escapism from the realities of the depression, there are a few depression references, and even what might even be seen as "class struggle" attitudes in this picture. Fred actually hops a freight train, to be be sure in top hat, morning coat, and a flower in his coat, with none of that gets rumpled in the least. Later Fred and his buddy picket Ginger Roger's apartment for his being "unfair." When Ginger's roomate lets them in she greets them with "welcome comrades."

So despite the list of books on plot and dramaturgy lining my bookcase, I just set back, have a sip of the old vino, and enjoy this delightful fun romance. Believeable or not, romance is just romance!

for more information click here

Intricate and Advanced Dance Routines (DVD Review)

Swing Time probably has the most intricate and advanced dance routines out of all the Fred & Ginger (F&G) movies. Even though the song, "The Way You Look Tonight" is wonderful, I would like to have seen them dance to it instead of watching Ginger with a hair full of whip cream. The running commentary by John Mueller sounds very clinical. Speaking in an almost monotone voice as if reading from his book, he does give interesting tidbits, such as converting any monetary amounts mentioned in the movie into today's dollars to give you a sense of the magnitude of a given situation. Mr. Mueller also points out that F&G are never seen kissing, because the on-screen romance is instead expressed through their dancing.

In the featurette "The Swing of Things" Broadway choreographers and performers demonstrate and comment on F&G's signature hopping step shown throughout the movie. Each dance number is analyzed and appreciated. Interviews with archivists and film historians with a mix of F&G photographs and film clips are included. (Run time 14:47)

In the musical short "Hotel a la Swing" a group of performers are unable to pay their hotel bill and make a deal with the owner to run the hotel and make it a fun place to check in. Lots of song and dance numbers. No F&G in this short but consistent with the era. (B&W, 1937, Run time 14:47)

In the Merrie Melodies cartoon, "Bingo Crosbyana" a community of flies enjoys singing and dancing until a spider attacks. The main fly does sound like Bing. (1936, Run time 7:54)

Theatrical Trailer (Run time 2:38)

for more information click here