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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
Synopsis
The fifth sublime teaming of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Swing Time is regarded by many as their finest film. The tenuous plot, which mainly serves to connect the brilliant dance numbers, concerns John Lucky Garnett (Astaire), a gambler and professional dancer. When Garnett arrives late to his wedding, his prospective father-in-law implements a punishment, insisting that Garnett raise twenty five thousand dollars before he can marry Margaret Watson (Betty Furness). Still in tails, he hops a freight for New York, where he gets involved in a scrape with dance instructor Penny Carrol (Rogers). After following her to the dance studio, Lucky poses as a neophyte in need of training. Penny's boss Gordon (Eric Blore), happens to witness Lucky's incompetence, in the 'Pick Yourself Up' number and is about to fire the young woman for nonperformance when Lucky launches into a dazzling display of terpsichorean skill. Impressed, the studio owner offers to get them an audition at the famed Silver Sandal nightclub. Arguably the peak of the Astaire-Rogers partnership, the dancers' nearly perfect blending of song, dance, wit, and decor only improves with time. Especially memorable are the subtly erotic tempo shifts of 'Never Gonna Dance' and the coruscating technical command of 'Bojangles Of Harlem', a tribute to the great African-American tap dancer.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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!
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I first saw this movie on celluloid and it mezmerised me from the beginning. The gentle humour is wonderfully timed and observed and gives a feel-good sensibility to the film. The real focus, however, is the relationship between Astaire and Rogers. Their set piece dance routines are excellent, and indeed Astaire shows off his inimitable grace throughout, even when he is not dancing. The songs, written by Jerome Kerr, are beautiful and sung with Astaire's natural instinct for mood and tone. The classic set piece 'Never Gonna Dance' is an absolute gem, and a wonder of cinematography. Despite the slightly farcical ending (for which the film is all the more charming), this a one of the happiest movies which I have seen and one which will leave you with an overwhelming urge to buy a top hat and tails...
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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.
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not such a swinging time
The DVD arrived in excellent condition, but it's not one
of our favourite Fred and Ginger movies. Read more
of our favourite Fred and Ginger movies. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Pamela Garelick
Worth watching
Film is entertaining. Shows its age, of course. I liked it better than Top Hat. Worth watching for Astaire/ Rogers fans.
Published 6 months ago by Musical Fan
Sheer Heaven...
This DVD is sheer bliss for me,it's a trip to heaven personified!! Firstly,bearing in mind that the original film is pushing nearly eighty years of age,the quality and clarity of... Read more
Published 8 months ago by niloc
SWING TIME
As usual a great DVD of this wonderful pair of dancing stars. I never get tired of watching Fred and Ginger films as the dance routines as absolutely wonderful. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Pauline D
Enjoyable dance movie
Despite what other reviewers said, I did not find this to be "the ultimate swing dance movie" or whatever they called it. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Aremess
Lovely!
Dancing joy, these two are so good together and this film shows them both at their best. An excellent film.
Published on 21 April 2010 by D. Quintas
Magical
I think this film contains Fred and Ginger's best dancing. Unforgettable and the dances improve with repeated viewing - always something new to notice. Read more
Published on 23 Jan 2010 by Dylan
Good
It is the day of Lucky Garnett's (Fred Astaire) marriage to Margaret (Betty Furness). He misses it as his pals connive to delay him and when he arrives at Margaret's house to... Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2009 by Alex da Silva
Not to be carried away, but this is one of the best musicals Hollywood...
"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. Read more
Published on 9 April 2008 by C. O. DeRiemer
Reminded me of Laurel and Hardy!
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. Read more
Published on 16 Jan 2008 by Mr. Stephen J. Baker
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