- Actors: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Ralph Bellamy, Luella Gear, Jack Carson
- Directors: Mark Sandrich
- Writers: Allan Scott, Dudley Nichols, Ernest Pagano, Guy Endore, Hagar Wilde
- Producers: Pandro S. Berman
- Language English
- Classification: U
- Studio: 4 Front
- VHS Release Date: 9 Feb 1998
- Run Time: 83 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004R66Y
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 7,710 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Perhaps because it was Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers's penultimate picture together for RKO, or perhaps because it is more romantic comedy than musical, Carefree tends to be a neglected entry in the series. This is unfortunate, because it retains many of the elements that made the duo so popular while also breaking new ground. Fred plays Tony Flagg, a psychoanalyst who is asked by his friend Steve (Ralph Bellamy) to try to figure out why his fiancée, Amanda Cooper (Ginger), keeps breaking off their engagement. During the course of treatment, and in a reversal of the usual pattern, Ginger falls for Fred and begins to pursue him. The emotionally repressed doctor resists, leading to a number of comic encounters, as well as a moment of genuine heartbreak. Other innovations include Fred's dance on a driving range, a slow-motion dream sequence (which was going to be shot in color until budget concerns won out), Fred and Ginger's first screen kiss, and some of Ginger's best turns as a comic actress. More familiar elements include Ginger fronting the band at the start of a large company dance number ("The Yam," which failed to catch on as a dance craze), an expert if skimpy Irving Berlin score including the lovely ballad "Change Partners," and of course fabulous, high-flying dancing. Fred and Ginger fans can't afford to miss Carefree. --David Horiuchi
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
With the diminishment in the popularity of the Astaire-Rogers musicals in the late 1930s, RKO had to reinvent the formula. Fred made 'A Damsel in Distress' and Ginger made two straight scting films between 'Carefree' and its precedent, and the Rogers films were the more popular. Therefore, Ginger was given a stronger acting role in their next film together, with Astaire playing the smaller role of a psychiatrist. The result is splendid. It's a shame that the number 'I used to be Colour Blind' was not filmed in colour as originally intended, but it is nonetheless breathtaking. 'The Yam' is typically spirited, but the real joy of this film is the melancholically romantic 'Change Partners', one of Irving Berlin's best songs. Romance, comedy worthy of Katherine Hepburn, and dancing are combined to make the last great teaming of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
CAREFREE differs from the style of the famous dancing duo's (Astaire and Rogers) previous films in many ways. Firstly, it is more of a screwball comedy than a musical with only 4 musical numbers. It has a very straight forward story line than they're other films and also Ginger becomes the lead in the film instead of Fred. What the film lacks in musical numbers is replaced by comedy and is probably the funniest of the duo's films. However, the two superb numbers "I used to be colour blind" and "The Yam" really make this another dazzling Astaire-Rogers film.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This is my favorite Fred and Ginger entry and is actually quite different than their standard if entertaining musical/dance films that preceded it. Those great elements are still here but are fewer and interspersed between some nice screwball comedy that finally got to showcase Ginger's comedic talents. Fred is great to, but this one is really Ginger's film, and she shines.
Tony (Fred) is a psychiatrist trying to do his pal Stephen (Ralph Bellamy) a favor by seeing his fiance Amanda (Rogers, who is a radio singer) so he can figure out why she's called off their wedding three times! She blows Fred off as a quack when she overhears a transcription he's done which is less than flattering but finally gives in and agrees to let Fred disect her dreams so he can see what's wrong with her.
A meal of lobster and mayonaise and a lot of other things make her dream alright! In her dream she's dancing and in love, but it's not Stephen but Tony in her dream! Amanda can't tell Tony of course, and when he threatens to stop seeing her she makes up a dream that would keep ten psychiatrists busy and the fun begins.
Rogers was wonderful in this film and it was the impetus for her very successful solo career. This light screwball comedy has some terrific moments. It's hilarious as Ginger walks out while being hypnotized thinking she does love Bellamy and going after Fred with a shotgun, thinking he deserves to die like a dog! Like Fred tells Bellamy as they run after her, "She's in a trance, she may even act, a little odd!"
During the dream sequence they get to dance to "I Used to be Color-Blind" and later on at a party they do "The Yam" in a very fun scene. But Ginger and the screwball comedy take top billing in this one, making it one of their best. It's sophisticated and funny and Fred and Ginger end up together as always. This time she's in a gorgeous wedding dress, and she has a black eye!
You don't hear as much about this one but don't let that stop you from picking up this wonderful film.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Carefree
Great Fred classics with the best Golf dance take ever, all done a one take so the story goes excellent film
Published 5 months ago by 2887 allen
Carefree Viewing...
Filmed in 1936,'Carefree' starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers,and with a musical score by the great Irving Berlin,this is truly an outstanding film!! Read more
Published 8 months ago by niloc
A fond RKO farewell (for now), cackhandedly remastered for DVD
Astaire and Rogers' last RKO picture aspired to be something of a cross between their established 'rom-dance' format and a screwball comedy. Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2009 by James Hayes
The amazing golf ball dancing sequence!!!!!!!!
Look at Amazon's description of the whole movie and the other reviewers, I'm going to write about my favourite scenes! Read more
Published on 26 Dec 2006 by G. HARVEY
The amazing golf ball dancing sequence
Look at Amazon's description of the whole movie, I'm going to write about my favourite scenes!
My favourite scene in this movie is the 'golf ball dancing sequence! Read more
My favourite scene in this movie is the 'golf ball dancing sequence! Read more
Published on 12 Jun 2006 by Gemma Harvey
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