Fred Astaire (Josh) and Ginger Rogers (Dinah) play a married showbiz couple. They perform musical acts written by Fred but Ginger wants to break free and be taken seriously as an actress. Enter respected director Jacques Francois (Barredout) who casts Ginger in the lead role in his play about the young Sarah Bernhardt. Meanwhile, Gale Robbins (Shirlene) is after a little more from Fred other than being Ginger's understudy. We all know how things will work out, especially after seeing Ginger Rogers recite "La Marseillaise"!
Contrary to popular belief, this is not the first time Fred and Ginger played a married couple. They were married to each other in their previous outing - "The Story Of Vernon and Irene Castle". In this offering, the film starts well with a couple of entertaining dances. Sadly, the film loses momentum and the songs and dances that follow aren't really up to standard. We watch because it is Fred and Ginger. In fact, it is Oscar Levant who comes away with the musical honours with his two piano performances. He also provides some of the better comedic moments with his 'can't be bothered' attitude and his popularity with the ladies. He's with a different woman in every scene - good on him!
The highlight from Fred and Ginger's set pieces comes at the beginning of the film as they rehearse a piece called "Bouncin' The Blues". It comes just after Gale Robbins has been introduced and at a point in the film where the humour is spot on as Ginger Rogers clearly doesn't take very kindly to her. It's a good beginning to the film, and I found myself surprised at how good this offering actually was. Downhill from there, I'm afraid. While there are still some occasional funny moments, we have to endure some crap - the Scottish number is embarrassing, there is a nonsense song about going away to the country which is so obviously ripped off from "The Wizard of Oz" and designed with Judy Garland in mind, Fred's solo in a shoe shop alongside sets of dancing shoes is different but uninspiring, and their dance to "They Can't Take That Away From Me" belonged to an earlier film and seemed pointless and geared towards soppy reminiscence.
Overall, the film had a typical family musical feel to it (as opposed to a Fred and Ginger style of film) and I half expected Dick Van Dyke to show up at any moment. If it wasn't for the fact that it is a Fred and Ginger film, I would have to consign it to the reject pile. They are a magical couple and their reputation is what just keeps this film above water. Thank goodness for "Bouncin' The Blues".
Contrary to popular belief, this is not the first time Fred and Ginger played a married couple. They were married to each other in their previous outing - "The Story Of Vernon and Irene Castle". In this offering, the film starts well with a couple of entertaining dances. Sadly, the film loses momentum and the songs and dances that follow aren't really up to standard. We watch because it is Fred and Ginger. In fact, it is Oscar Levant who comes away with the musical honours with his two piano performances. He also provides some of the better comedic moments with his 'can't be bothered' attitude and his popularity with the ladies. He's with a different woman in every scene - good on him!
The highlight from Fred and Ginger's set pieces comes at the beginning of the film as they rehearse a piece called "Bouncin' The Blues". It comes just after Gale Robbins has been introduced and at a point in the film where the humour is spot on as Ginger Rogers clearly doesn't take very kindly to her. It's a good beginning to the film, and I found myself surprised at how good this offering actually was. Downhill from there, I'm afraid. While there are still some occasional funny moments, we have to endure some crap - the Scottish number is embarrassing, there is a nonsense song about going away to the country which is so obviously ripped off from "The Wizard of Oz" and designed with Judy Garland in mind, Fred's solo in a shoe shop alongside sets of dancing shoes is different but uninspiring, and their dance to "They Can't Take That Away From Me" belonged to an earlier film and seemed pointless and geared towards soppy reminiscence.
Overall, the film had a typical family musical feel to it (as opposed to a Fred and Ginger style of film) and I half expected Dick Van Dyke to show up at any moment. If it wasn't for the fact that it is a Fred and Ginger film, I would have to consign it to the reject pile. They are a magical couple and their reputation is what just keeps this film above water. Thank goodness for "Bouncin' The Blues".