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Swing Time

Swing Time

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A lovely film
Review: Swing time did quite badly at the box office in it's time, I don't quite understand that, Top Hat is always the more favoured film and yet, for me, the couple do what they do best at it's best in this film. The plot is just a touch more believable too and the trademark humourous support cast don't have quite so much to do. There is more emotive acting work to do here, to make the plot work, Ginger seems to particualrly honing her craft in this feild (little wonder she won an Oscar four years later!)
The dance numbers are staggering and more daring, "Pick Yourself Up" is so athletic and skilled it is a joy to watch, "The Walse in Swing Time" is half their trademark ballroom number and half a stunningly fresh approach. "Never gonna Dance" is quite simply sublime, elegant, emotive, powerful and beautiful. It really demonstrates the power of dance in motion picture form. I saw an interview with one of the writers many years ago who told the story of how the end sequence of this dance, when Fred and Ginger reach the top of the stairs, took at least 40 something takes to get right because a range of problems, lights blowing out, mistimed spins and even Fred's toupee flying off! He talked of how he saw Ginger changing her pink satin pumps after the 36th take and only then realised the pumps were white, stained pink because her feet were bleeding so much! A classic film and a must see if just for this last dance number, I defy you not feel moved by that number!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best of Fred and Ginger!
Review: "Swing Time" is my very favourite out of all of the ten movies that Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers made together through 1933-1949. It was their sixth film together, released in 1936, and directed by the great George Stevens.

The songs in this movie were by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Field's. The songs included here are "Pick Yourself Up", "The Way You Look Tonight", "Bojangles of Harlem", "Never Gonna Dance", "A Fine Romance" and the instrumental "Waltz in Swing Time". Maybe the finest songs out of all the Fred and Ginger movies.

The movie is full of great dance numbers, which is what a Fred and Ginger movie is all about. The first dance scene in this movie, is to "Pick Yourself Up", with the two dancing together. Its easily one of the best tap-dances they ever did. Another dance, is to the "Waltz in Swing Time". Its a great piece of music, and its a great dance that the two do together. Although, the bandleader doesnt like seeing Ginger dance with another man, so he refuses to play. But Fred, as always, finds a way around these things. Then for the next dance, "Bojangles of Harlem". It opens with a whole load of girls dancing, where a minute or two into it, Fred comes along, in black-face, immitating Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, and does most of the dance solo. Well, solo in a way. He is dancing with three shadows of himself in parts of it. A very long number, lasting approximately seven minutes. Then for the last dance in the movie, and maybe the best, "Never Gonna Dance". There are a number of stories behind the scene, which I wont go into, but lets just say they did this dance to perfection.

So just now a quick bit about the actual story of the movie. Fred plays a gambler named 'Lucky', who is engaged to marry a young girl named Margaret (Betty Furness). Thanks to his friends, who are part of a dancing team with him, they make him late to his wedding, by tricking him in certain ways. Margaret's dad is obviously angry, and does not like 'Lucky' being in the dancing business. Not thinking it makes him enough money. Margaret's dad, sends Lucky off to New York, since he wont allow Lucky to marry his daughter unless he earns $25000. While there, Lucky accidentally meets Penny (Ginger Rogers) a dancing teacher. They dont have a nice first meeting. Lucky has came to New York with his friend 'Pop' (Victor Moore), and when he wants to buy cigarettes, he needs change for a quarter. Lucky gives Penny his 'lucky quarter', which he later goes to try and get back. After a little accident of dropping her purse, Pop takes the quarter back, without Lucky knowing, and Penny accuses Lucky of stealing. The policeman comes along, and sorts it out, and makes Penny go along, on her way. Lucky finds out, that Pop took it, and goes to find Penny, in the dance place, where she teaches. He pretends he cant dance, and gets Penny into trouble, getting her fired. He, then feeling guilty, shows the boss, what Penny has supposedly taught him. This brings you to the "Pick Yourself Up" dance, and brings Lucky and Penny to be dancing partners (No, she is not fired anymore). The two, fall in love with each other, as expected, but she doesnt know he is engaged. He then tries NOT to earn the money, so he doesnt have to go back to his fiancee. So check out the film for the rest of the story. Thats only the start.

"Swing Time", a film full of great dancing, singing, and some decent scenes for comedy, is well worth adding to your collection. Being, by far, one of the top 3 greatest movies ever made, if not number one, that is. I love this movie a lot. I have watched it repeatedly so many times, and I simply have never gotten bored of it. By far the best from Fred and Ginger, even if others might argue over "Top Hat". Like all of the Fred and Ginger movies, this is highly recommended.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Musical Heaven!
Review: "Swing Time" was the first Astaire & Rogers movie I ever saw and I personally thought it was very good. The plot is quite homorous and cute, however, it is reather weak. The dance numbers in "Swing Time" are fabulous, especially "Bojangles of Harlem" done by Fred Astaire. My favorite number done by the famous team is "Start All Over Again", which will bring a smile to anyone's face. A must see.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best of Fred and Ginger!
Review: "Swing Time" is my very favourite out of all of the ten movies that Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers made together through 1933-1949. It was their sixth film together, released in 1936, and directed by the great George Stevens.

The songs in this movie were by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Field's. The songs included here are "Pick Yourself Up", "The Way You Look Tonight", "Bojangles of Harlem", "Never Gonna Dance", "A Fine Romance" and the instrumental "Waltz in Swing Time". Maybe the finest songs out of all the Fred and Ginger movies.

The movie is full of great dance numbers, which is what a Fred and Ginger movie is all about. The first dance scene in this movie, is to "Pick Yourself Up", with the two dancing together. Its easily one of the best tap-dances they ever did. Another dance, is to the "Waltz in Swing Time". Its a great piece of music, and its a great dance that the two do together. Although, the bandleader doesnt like seeing Ginger dance with another man, so he refuses to play. But Fred, as always, finds a way around these things. Then for the next dance, "Bojangles of Harlem". It opens with a whole load of girls dancing, where a minute or two into it, Fred comes along, in black-face, immitating Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, and does most of the dance solo. Well, solo in a way. He is dancing with three shadows of himself in parts of it. A very long number, lasting approximately seven minutes. Then for the last dance in the movie, and maybe the best, "Never Gonna Dance". There are a number of stories behind the scene, which I wont go into, but lets just say they did this dance to perfection.

So just now a quick bit about the actual story of the movie. Fred plays a gambler named 'Lucky', who is engaged to marry a young girl named Margaret (Betty Furness). Thanks to his friends, who are part of a dancing team with him, they make him late to his wedding, by tricking him in certain ways. Margaret's dad is obviously angry, and does not like 'Lucky' being in the dancing business. Not thinking it makes him enough money. Margaret's dad, sends Lucky off to New York, since he wont allow Lucky to marry his daughter unless he earns $25000. While there, Lucky accidentally meets Penny (Ginger Rogers) a dancing teacher. They dont have a nice first meeting. Lucky has came to New York with his friend 'Pop' (Victor Moore), and when he wants to buy cigarettes, he needs change for a quarter. Lucky gives Penny his 'lucky quarter', which he later goes to try and get back. After a little accident of dropping her purse, Pop takes the quarter back, without Lucky knowing, and Penny accuses Lucky of stealing. The policeman comes along, and sorts it out, and makes Penny go along, on her way. Lucky finds out, that Pop took it, and goes to find Penny, in the dance place, where she teaches. He pretends he cant dance, and gets Penny into trouble, getting her fired. He, then feeling guilty, shows the boss, what Penny has supposedly taught him. This brings you to the "Pick Yourself Up" dance, and brings Lucky and Penny to be dancing partners (No, she is not fired anymore). The two, fall in love with each other, as expected, but she doesnt know he is engaged. He then tries NOT to earn the money, so he doesnt have to go back to his fiancee. So check out the film for the rest of the story. Thats only the start.

"Swing Time", a film full of great dancing, singing, and some decent scenes for comedy, is well worth adding to your collection. Being, by far, one of the top 3 greatest movies ever made, if not number one, that is. I love this movie a lot. I have watched it repeatedly so many times, and I simply have never gotten bored of it. By far the best from Fred and Ginger, even if others might argue over "Top Hat". Like all of the Fred and Ginger movies, this is highly recommended.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: More great Rogers-Astaire entertainment
Review: A perfectly charming Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers comedy, with Fred as a ne'er-do-well bandleader who needs to raise a big bundle of dough to make himself an acceptable candidate to marry the daughter of a stuffy business tycoon. The thing is, he's not totally sure he *wants* to marry her, and when he hits New York City in search of fame and fortune and bumps in to Ginger... Well, that's all she wrote. Interesting interaction between Astaire and his ex, when she shows up and lets him go -- very modern, and not the big catfight you might expect. Includes dance numbers like "Never Gonna Dance," which has the legendary going-up-the-dual-staircase-together routine, and Fred's tribute to Bill "Bojangles" Robison, one of the greatest African-American hoofers of all time. Sure, Astaire's in blackface, but whatta gonna do? Another fun, uncomplicated story, and two of the suavest performers ever, putting on a swell show.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Best Rogers/Astaire Musical Ever Made!
Review: Although Top Hat usually is given the title of the best musical starring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, Swing Time is hands down, the best of all ten of the Rogers/Astaire musicals. Pick Yourself Up is the best dance number the couple ever did together, with Never Gonna Dance as a close second.

In this musical, the 6th in the series, Fred is a gambler who goes to New York to get 25,000 so he can marry his girlfriend. While in New York, he meets a dance teacher, Ginger Rogers, and falls for her. This is classic.

The stories behind Never Gonna Dance are great. Did you know that it took over 48 takes to shoot, and one take was going perfectly fine until Fred's toupee flew of his head. Also note, that while dancing, Ginger Rogers feet became so raw that they started to bleed. So as you watch her happy expression, realize that under those beautiful shoes she is wearing, blood is actually pouring out!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the Best Fred & Ginger Movies
Review: Fred & Ginger makes dancing look so easy. This is one of their best films that they have made together. it is worth adding to your collection for the dance number "Never going to Dance" with Fred & Ginger dancing on the stairs.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the Best Fred & Ginger Movies
Review: Fred & Ginger makes dancing look so easy. This is one of their best films that they have made together. it is worth adding to your collection for the dance number "Never going to Dance" with Fred & Ginger dancing on the stairs.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the Best Fred & Ginger Movies
Review: Fred & Ginger makes dancing look so easy. This is one of their best films that they have made together. it is worth adding to your collection for the dance number "Never going to Dance" with Fred & Ginger dancing on the stairs.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: fine musical
Review: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are fine in SWING TIME, a fairly standard musical comedy.

The delightful story brings Fred and Ginger together for their 6th film.

Fred plays an out-of-work hoofer, and Ginger plays a beautifully single dancing instructor. Fred pretends to be a dancing klutz in order to woo the teacher.

Feaures the songs "Pick Yourself Up", "Isn't This A Lovely Day (To Be Caught In The Rain?)", and some wonderfully-choreographed dance routines.


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