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Flying Down to Rio (1933)

Generally speaking, when one hears the word “wow,” one immediately thinks that the speaker is referring to something marvelous and wonderful. However, the word “wow” also can refer to something really bad. I regret to inform you that this “wow” I’m about to offer is of the latter variety. Wow. I rented “Flying Down to Rio” because it is the first movie Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers ever made together. Their star quality shines through the minute they appear on the screen – they’re the only actors in this film with any personality whatsoever. The problem is, theirs is a … Continue reading →

Swing Time (1936)

Another addition to the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers catalog of dancing masterpiece movies is “Swing Time.” Astaire is John Garnett, a dancer who is scheduled to get married. But his gambling addiction makes him late for the wedding and gets him into a lot of hot water with his fiance’s father, who tells him that he can only come back and marry the girl if he manages to pull together $25,000. John hops a train for New York, determined to find the money, but instead runs into Penny Carrol, (Ginger Rogers) and finds himself very intrigued. When he discovers that Penny … Continue reading →

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939)

Vernon and Irene Castle were pioneers in ballroom dance and gave us such famous moves as “The Castle Walk.” Irene wrote two loving books in memory of her husband, and those books became the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie, “The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle.” Irene was a consultant on the film and oversaw the production, although not everything was done to her liking, and she clashed quite a bit with Ginger Rogers over some of the costuming. When Vernon and Irene meet, he’s already somewhat established in show business and she wants to break into it. She … Continue reading →