Top Hat (1935)
Top Hat is the most famous of all the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals. It’s charming, romantic, and funny, with innuendo and mistaken identity running rampant through the screenplay. You’ll see the familiar faces of Edward Everett Horton, Helen Broderick, and Eric Blore, who were stock RKO character actors and often seen with Fred and Ginger in other flicks. The set-up is similar to their other movies: they initially dislike each other and have hostile banter until one of them thaws. But this time, the adorable songs and dances make the movie really stand out among the rest. “Isn’t This a Lovely Day?” is one of the most charming dance numbers in screen history. Confined to a little gazebo because of a thunderstorm, Fred and Ginger make it seem like they have all the space in the world. She’s wearing riding pants instead of a ball gown, and his classic tux is missing, but it’s just perfect.
Another tune you’ll be treated to is “No Strings”, during which Fred tap dances above Ginger’s hotel room and keeps her awake at night. To remedy the problem, he sprinkles sand on the floor and soft-shoes her to sleep. “Cheek to Cheek”, lovely and romantic, has the infamous feathered dress Ginger wore that led to her nickname. The dress started to shed during rehearsal, and since she refused to wear another gown, every feather had to be sewn and glued down during subsequent takes! Finally, there’s the titular “Top Hat” that shows off Fred’s charm and immense talent. It’s just impossible to feel blue or focus on anything else besides his adorable smile when you watch him. It’s too bad Fred and Shirley Temple belonged to different studios; if they made just one movie together, the Great Depression would have disappeared overnight!
Yes, the plot is pretty silly and dated, and yes, the gondolas look so ridiculously fake, but there’s so much to love about Top Hat. If it’s been a while since you’ve seen it – or somehow you’ve never seen it – rent it on a rainy afternoon. It’s the perfect matinee. Where else can you see a woman slap a man’s face, only to have him gaze dreamily into the camera and declare, “She loves me!”
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Juhi Thaker" for posting!
More Fred Astaire movies here!
Another tune you’ll be treated to is “No Strings”, during which Fred tap dances above Ginger’s hotel room and keeps her awake at night. To remedy the problem, he sprinkles sand on the floor and soft-shoes her to sleep. “Cheek to Cheek”, lovely and romantic, has the infamous feathered dress Ginger wore that led to her nickname. The dress started to shed during rehearsal, and since she refused to wear another gown, every feather had to be sewn and glued down during subsequent takes! Finally, there’s the titular “Top Hat” that shows off Fred’s charm and immense talent. It’s just impossible to feel blue or focus on anything else besides his adorable smile when you watch him. It’s too bad Fred and Shirley Temple belonged to different studios; if they made just one movie together, the Great Depression would have disappeared overnight!
Yes, the plot is pretty silly and dated, and yes, the gondolas look so ridiculously fake, but there’s so much to love about Top Hat. If it’s been a while since you’ve seen it – or somehow you’ve never seen it – rent it on a rainy afternoon. It’s the perfect matinee. Where else can you see a woman slap a man’s face, only to have him gaze dreamily into the camera and declare, “She loves me!”
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Juhi Thaker" for posting!
More Fred Astaire movies here!
Hot Toasty Rag Nominations:
Best Original Song of 1935: "Isn't It a Lovely Day?"
Best Original Song: "Top Hat, White Tie, and Tails"