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Swing Time [1935]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

If you only had one Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers film to watch, this classic musical from 1936 would be your best bet. It was the dance duo's sixth film together, and director George Stevens handled the material with as much flair behind the camera as Fred and Ginger displayed in front of it. This time out, Fred plays a gambling hoofer who's engaged to marry a young socialite (Betty Furness), but when he's late for the wedding his prospective father-in-law sends him away, demanding that he earn $25,000 before he can earn his daughter's hand in marriage. When Fred meets Ginger in a local dance studio (where he pretends to be a klutz so she can be his instructor), he's instantly smitten and the $25,000 deal becomes a moot point. Featuring six songs by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields (including a splendid rendition of "The Way You Look Tonight") and some of the most elegant dance sequences ever filmed, this lightweight fluff epitomises the jazz-age style of 1930s musicals, virtually defining the genre with graceful joie de vivre. --Jeff Shannon


Not to be carried away, but this is one of the best musicals Hollywood has ever produced
Review date: 2008-04-09 Rating: 10 out of 10

"Listen," says exasperated dance teacher Penny Carroll to her two-left feet customer, Lucky Garnett, "No one could teach you to dance in a million years. Take my advice and save your money!"

We can't help smiling because Penny is played by Ginger Rogers, and the clumsy Lucky, who saw Penny on the street and was smitten, then finagled his way to the dance studio to meet her, is Fred Astaire. But Penny's boss overhears her comment and fires her on the spot. Lucky comes to the rescue. "Now, umm... how did you say that last step went?" he asks Penny. "Oh, yes!" And with that he swings her out to the dance floor and they launch into "Pick Yourself Up," one of the most expert and cheery fast tap polkas you'll ever hope to see.

Some say Swing Time is the best of the Astaire-Rogers movies. Other say that honor goes to Top Hat. I say, "Who cares?" Both are superb. For many, what sets Swing Time apart is the extraordinarily blending of the incomparable dancing and the rich Jerome Kern-Dorothy Fields songs. The book isn't much -- boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back. The usual suspects make up the comedy support, in this case Eric Blore as the dance studio owner, Helen Broderick (who was Broderick Crawford's mother) as Penny's best friend, and Victor Moore, who trails after Lucky.

For any musical to work, the leads must be special, the music must be extraordinary and the production numbers must be memorable. On any scale, in my opinion, Swing Time does it. Just look at the numbers. In addition to "Pick Yourself Up, there's...

"The Way You Look Tonight." If you can't hear the melody behind these words, you need to listen to more good music.
Someday,
When I'm awfully low
And the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight.

Yes, you're lovely
With your smile so warm
And your cheek so soft.
There is nothing for me but to love you
Just the way you look tonight.

With each word your tenderness grows,
Tearing my fear apart.
And that smile that wrinkles your nose,
Touches my foolish heart.

Lovely,
Never, never change.
Keep that breathless charm.
Won't you please arrange it, 'cause I love you
Just the way you look tonight...
Just the way you look tonight.
Astaire is at the piano singing this while Rogers is in the next room washing her hair, not feeling too beautiful and with suds all over her head. As a declaration of affection and love, it's tender, romantic and funny. For once the Academy Awards got things right. It won the 1936 Oscar for best song.

"Waltz in Swing Time" is a lush, romantic ballroom dream, with Astaire and Rogers showing their incomparable stuff on a nightclub dance floor. There's no song or words, just an incredible series of melodies built by Hal Borne from themes provided by Kern, Robert Russell Bennett and Borne. Even if you know nothing about dance, and I'm one, Astaire and Rogers are mesmerizing.

"A Fine Romance" is a rueful romantic comedy number sung by Rogers in the snow, while Astaire tries to discourage her affections.

"Bojangles of Harlem," danced in blackface by Astaire as a tribute to Bill Robinson, features incredible tap dancing. And it may be the only blackface number watchable today without flinching. Astaire gives it to us in three parts; a production tap number with a chorus line of dancers, a tap routine with Astaire and three of his shadows and then a single tap routine. In the last part, try to keep track of the syncopated, complicated coordination of shoe taps and hand clappers that Astaire manages without showing an iota of effort.

"Never Gonna Dance" is one of the great stories of broken romance told in dance. It's played out in bold steps and sweeps, up a dramatic stairway and across gleaming black floors. Here's that word again...extraordinary.

If I had to list the Hollywood musicals I like best they'd be Swing Time, Top Hat, Love Me Tonight, Singin' in the Rain and The Band Wagon. It's not surprising that Astaire has three of them. In a way, Swing Time and Top Hat give as good a view as anything of what Hollywood's Thirties sophistication was all about. This is a world where Fred wears a dinner jacket or tails as effortlessly as you or I might wear slacks, where Ginger has gowns that are memorably stylish (just look at the feathered number she wears dancing "Cheek to Cheek" in Top Hat), where fancy nightclubs feature brilliantined floors and apartments are all white and all Art Deco, where Ginger wisecracks and Fred charms. It's a world long gone, but at least we have Swing Time on DVD. My copy is a Region One from the Astaire & Rogers Collection, Volumes One and Two, and can be bought separately. The Region One of Swing Time looks first class on DVD and has some interesting extras. The commentary track is by John Mueller, the author of Astaire Dancing. It and Arlene Croce's The Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers Book are essential reading for fans of Astaire. I couldn't find any mention of extras or Mueller's commentary on the Region Two Swing Time release. If there isn't anything, it might be a good reason to buy an all-region DVD player.

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Reviews


Reminded me of Laurel and Hardy!
Review date: 2008-01-16 Rating: 4 out of 10

I was looking forward to watching this as it has recently been voted into the top 100 Best American films of all time. I was sadly disappointed. Yes the songs were great, as were the dances(although not enough dancing for sure).I could see why they were famous for their dancing and not their acting! The other problem was that I kept having visions of Laurel and Hardy. I expected Astaire to scatch the top of his head from time to time with that cheesy grin and his friend to moan "Now there's another fine mess you've gotten me into".

Sprinkled with Stardust
Review date: 2007-12-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

My favourite Astaire-Rogers outing. The dance sequences are just stupendous, through the sparkle of 'Pick Yourself Up', the stunning virtuosity of Astaire's solo Bojangles to the emotive 'Never Gonna Dance'. While Astaire has been recognised as one of the greatest dancers of the 20th century, what makes the partnership so potent is that Ginger won't play second fiddle to anyone, and it's this equality between the two that's so seductive. Add in some superb Art Deco sets, musical numbers like 'The Way You Look Tonight' and a supporting cast including Victor Moore, Helen Broderick and Eric Blore, and how can you give it less than 5 stars?

Complaining about the plot in A&R films is a bit like moaning about the queues at Alton Towers - you just have to put up with them if you want to experience the thrill of the rides. But the charm of the leads, and their enthusiastic supports carries you along.

Almost faultless
Review date: 2007-10-31 Rating: 8 out of 10

The music and songs are of a quality unheard today and the dancing is matchless - they are both at their peak and Ginger Rogers never looked more stunning. Why not 5 stars? Simply the ending, which is too forced (and rather cruel?)but it doesn't detract from a film about which it can really be said that they don't, and probably couldn't, make them like that anymore - buy it and escape to a better world.

Pure entertainment
Review date: 2007-03-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

One of my favourites - the quintessential Astaire-Rodgers movie. If you don't "get" what is so great about Fred and Ginger, watch this. Astaire plays a professional dancer who turns up late for his wedding. The bride's father declares he can't marry his daughter until he earns $[...] Astaire heads for the city where he encounters Ginger Rodgers, they team up and become a successful dance partnership. Astaire inevitably falls in love with her and has to try to keep his earnings down to prevent his other marriage as well as keep his distance from Ginger! You can imagine the plot situations this creates. Songs premiered include such standards as "The way you look tonight" (given an ironic twist- watch and see) and "A fine romance" set in snowy wonderland, Ginger wondering why Fred is so cold. Their set piece at the end, "Never gonna dance" is so full of yearning and unfulfilled desire it's breathtaking. Ginger Rodgers is absolutely radiant throughout - there's no doubt she would be a star today as well. And Astaire just oozes charm. The film is very funny, with a very witty script and great comic support from Victor Moore and Helen Broderick who have their own off-beat romance. Top Comedy, top songs, top dance, top romance - top class!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Fred Astaire
Victor Moore
Helen Broderick
Eric Blore
Ginger Rogers

Creators:
Fred Astaire (Primary Contributor)
Ginger Rogers (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
EAN: 5050582405255
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Black & White, PAL,
Release date: 2006-04-10
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 103 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1935
Language: English (Original Language)

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