Rating: 
Summary: One of Fred and Ginger's Three Essential Films
Review: I can't quite agree with the editorial review, which indicated that this might be the one Astaire-Rogers musical to watch, if you could watch only one. This lags very, very slightly behind TOP HAT and THE GAY DIVORCEE, in my book, though I nevertheless consider it one of the very greatest musicals ever made. Another film, FOLLOW THE FLEET, features dance numbers that match any of these three, but suffers from a very weak script and lags when Fred and Ginger aren't dancing. SWING TIME is also is hurt by the presence of George Metaxa as Ricardo Romero, and by his implausibly quick reconciliation to his being jilted at the end of the film.My reason for rating it very slightly behind the other two films is the slightly weaker supporting cast and the fact that the humor is a tad less humorous. The dance numbers, however, are extraordinary, with at least two of them belonging in the Fred and Ginger Hall of Fame for their finest moments dancing together. These two numbers are the marvelously funny "Pick Yourself Up" and the marvelously dramatic "Never Gonna Dance." Luckily, this isn't the extent of the musical's treasures. There are two other great dance numbers and two marvelous songs that do not feature any dancing. The latter includes Fred's marvelous homage to Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, "Bojangles of Harlem," which Fred does in blackface and which just might be the only non-demeaning use of blackface in a 1930s film. Not only is it not demeaning, it is a powerful homage to the man regarded by his peers as the finest tap dancer of the early 20th century. Fred and Ginger also perform the "Waltz in Swing Time." The two songs are among the greatest pure songs appearing in any of Fred and Ginger's films. "The Way You Look Tonight" (which won the Oscar for Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields that year) features Fred playing the piano (yes, he really did his own playing) and singing while Ginger shampoos her hair (originally they were going to have her cleaning an oven, coming out mesmerized by Fred's singing, covered in grease, but it was decided the look didn't achieve the desired effect). And later Fred and Ginger sing perhaps their greatest comic song, "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off." As good as all the musical numbers are, however, the high point of the movie is the utterly amazing "Never Gonna Dance," in which Fred declares that if she leaves him to marry someone else, he will never dance again. The number is incredibly powerful with Fred first singing his intentions, and then luring Ginger into one last dance together. The number was exceptionally difficult to film, owing to a double staircase on each side of the set. The two had to dance upon it to time their arrival at the same precise moment. But for take after take, they kept arriving at slightly different moments. Unfortunately, Ginger's shoes were a bit too small, with the result that she cut her feet pretty badly during the forty odd takes. The result was worth it. The dance ranks with "Night and Day," "Let's Face the Music and Dance," and "Cheek to Cheek" as their greatest romantic dance number. Although the supporting cast and the humor is not quite at the same level as TOP HAT and THE GAY DIVORCEE, this is nonetheless a fine movie apart from the music. While I would still recommend those other two films above this one, I would recommend that anyone with the tiniest bit of interest in great musicals see all three, as well as catching the dance numbers of FOLLOW THE FLEET.
Rating:
Summary: musical masterpiece
Review: I had seen this movie on television before but I was able yesterday to see this movie in a theater run by the AFI and I'm glad I took advantage of the opportunity. It is said that a thing of beauty is a joy forever and that is what this film is. I had a smile on my face for an hour and half and after every musical and dancing performance people applauded as if it was a live performance. I especially liked the "A Fine Romance" sequence which had to be shot on one of the most beautiful sets in the history of motion pictures and of course the "Bojangles in Harlem" sequence among many including the "Waltz in Swing Time" and "Pick Yourself Up" are magnificent. a tremendous movie, one that surely will fill you with joy.
Rating:
Summary: musical masterpiece
Review: I had seen this movie on television before but I was able yesterday to see this movie in a theater run by the AFI and I'm glad I took advantage of the opportunity. It is said that a thing of beauty is a joy forever and that is what this film is. I had a smile on my face for an hour and half and after every musical and dancing performance people applauded as if it was a live performance. I especially liked the "A Fine Romance" sequence which had to be shot on one of the most beautiful sets in the history of motion pictures and of course the "Bojangles in Harlem" sequence among many including the "Waltz in Swing Time" and "Pick Yourself Up" are magnificent. a tremendous movie, one that surely will fill you with joy.
Rating:
Summary: Swingin' into the spotlight!
Review: I have seen this movie many, many times, and it still retains a quality of freshness about it. Every time I watch it, I am kept in suspense. Will Lucky marry Margaret, or will he choose Penny? Will Ricky steal Penny's heart away from the only man she's ever truly loved? Or will Lucky remain true to his name? These and many other questions will swarm through your head as you watch this Fred and Ginger gem. The singing is spectacular, and the dancing is even better. As the Entertainment Weekly's 100 Greatest Stars of All Times (1997) states, "The duet 'Pick Yourself Up' may be Astaire and Rogers' finest moment. Proof positive that dancing is better than sex." With a review like that, how can you help but watch this AMAZING movie?
Rating: 
Summary: Great until Fred puts on blackface
Review: I love Ginger and Fred movies. They are great and I was so excited to see this movie. The dancing was wonderful... right up until Fred smeared blackface makeup on his face and danced Mr. Bogangles. Everyone seems to think this is a classic dance number, but I find it racist and appaling. This is now my least favorite Fred and Ginger. For great dancing check out "Follow the Fleet," comedy watch "The Gay Divorcee," and a feast for the eyes and cheese, see "Flying Down to Rio" (Busby Burkley). It's not just blackface that makes the number racist, there is a huge "Sambo" creature on stage. Horrifing.
Rating:
Summary: A True Delight
Review: I was in the local video chain store the other day and since I was interested in seeing an Astaire-Rogers film I picked this up. The film was wonderful. So wonderful in fact, that I now own my own copy. I loved Astaire and Rogers together. The "Pick Yourself Up" number is one the most delightful and wonderful cinematic scenes that I have ever laid eyes on. "The Way You Look Tonight" makes a wonderful love theme for the movie and is a gorgeous song in its own right. A must-see in my opinion for any Astaire or Rogers or '30's and '40's musicals fan
Rating:
Summary: A gem from the masters
Review: If Edward Everett Horton had been in this one, it would have got six stars! I have all the Fred & Ginger movies (except Roberta) and regularly watch them. My favorite moment in this movie (apart from the dancing) is when they first kiss. It has to be one of the best examples of ham acting around. Well worth buying as you'll watch it again and again.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Film Ever Made
Review: If you only watch one Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers musical this should be the one. There has long been a debate over which film is their best: Swing Time or Top Hat. In my opinion, Swing Time definitely takes this honor, number two being Top Hat, followed by The Gay Divorcee. All of their films together are excellent, but Swing Time is set apart because it takes a much more realistic look at love and life. This film handles the love affair between Astaire and Rogers' characters in a way that none of the other films did. The romance is touching, sweet, charming - and believable!
The songs are amazing, including "Pick Yourself Up", "The Waltz In Swing Time", "A Fine Romance", "Never Gonna Dance", and "The Way You Look Tonight", which is the greatest love song ever written. The scene where Astaire sings this to Rogers is not to be missed. His reaction to her touch - in this scene, as well as in the "Fine Romance" scene - is priceless. Watch for another not-to-be-missed moment, also in the "Fine Romance" scene, as Rogers uses every feminine trick in the book to try to get Astaire to respond.
Although this goes without saying, the dancing in "Swing Time" is superb. I hardly know words that are sufficient to describe the beauty that is the bittersweet dance number "Never Gonna Dance". The emotion in this scene is phenomenal. It is absolutely exquisite. If Fred & Ginger had, indeed, never danced - before or after - to any other number, this alone would have made them famous. It is the most beautiful dance ever recorded in motion picture history. Every time I re-watch this film, I'm always caught off guard by the sheer beauty of this one scene. For this reason alone, "Swing Time" is definitely a "must see" film.
Rating:
Summary: Dancing head-to-toe, as it was meant to be seen.
Review: Know what I like about this one? It doesn't involve one frame of mistaken identity or a simple misunderstanding which takes an hour-and-a-half to resolve. Entertaining as "Top Hat" and "Gay Divorcee" were, their plots depended on this one-note formula and were wafer-thin. This plot, by comparison, is peerless: Astaire is initally betrothed to soceity girl Furness, but goes out into the world to raise a dowry and ends up meeting, dancing, and falling in love with Rogers instead. (If it reads like it all happens too fast, by all means acquaint yourself with the rest of the A-R film series.) The film plots ultimately don't matter; it's the duo's ravishing dances. Probably no more thrilling dances have ever been presented- full body, head-to-toe, in unbroken takes- on film: the cocky tap routine "Pick Yourself Up;" the elegant "Swing Time" waltz, performed at the height of their 'fine romance,' and the dramatically beautiful "Never Gonna Dance." The latter number is stunning for two reasons: it's a dance ending a love affair, and it's the dance which may have been their most difficult to film. The walking dance steps, the lunges and sways, and the dual climb up the two spiral staircases are all done in one continuous 3-minute shot- which cranes up to a second level, then cuts to a stationary angle to show off the stunning pirouettes and exit performed by Rogers (of the bleeding feet). History writes that the shoot on this number alone lasted nearly 16 hours and required FORTY-EIGHT takes before everyone (especially the dancers) was satisfied.
Rating:
Summary: A FINE ROMANCE
Review: Lucky and Penny(!) What happens to Astaire and Rogers on the dance floor is what happened to Gable and Colbert on that bus ride: each opens up to the virtues of the other. I love the close-up of Roger's smile of wonderment at seeing Astaire's tap riff. It's then that she realises that on the dance floor, Lucky isn't a bum masquerading as a gentlemen - he's a professional - like her - and in the same profession! That professionalism dazzles Rogers' Penny (it's also what the REAL Astaire and Rogers had in common). The melodies drifting through the movie's soundtrack underscore its ideals of high style and high romance: the actual instances of singing and dancing seem to have spilled over from these melodies. What's most impressive about this movie isn't the relation between the mood music and the numbers but how the director pays attention to the MEANING of the music. The team's last number, the great NEVER GONNA DANCE, which Astaire and Rogers perform in the empty nightclub is the most breathtaking dance in the picture - and probably the most emotionally daring dance ever devised for an Astaire and Rogers film! The last part of SWING TIME is awash with music and dancing - Jerome Kern's THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT won an AA for the best song of 1936; here we see Fred singing to Ginger while her head is covered with the white foam of shampoo!
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