MovieChat Forums > The Gay Divorcee (1934) Discussion > Favorite Fred and Ginger pairing?

Favorite Fred and Ginger pairing?


I've only seen this, Top Hat, and Swing Time, with Follow the Fleet on my DVR. Granted, this is the first Astaire and Rogers film I've seen in years, so maybe I was too young to appreciate them in the past. But with that said, this is definitely my favorite film of theirs so far. I can't say it has any of the most memorable songs, with Top Hat, Swing Time, and Shall We Dance (though I haven't seen it yet) all having at least two iconic songs. But the plot is much more entertaining and credible in this one, and the supporting players are more memorable in this than in the others.

Obviously this genre isn't as concerned with plot as it is with song and dance, but I remember thinking Swing Time was massively overrated for its strained and tedious plot. A few good musical sequences do not make a great movie. I don't remember thinking George Stevens made the dances in Swing Time any more emotional, either. Top Hat was more believable and featured probably the two most iconic performances of Astaire's career.

Yet The Gay Divorcee is a captivating screwball comedy where everything feels fresh, because it was. Nothing's labored. The stars have genuine chemistry and you can tell they hadn't done this together several times before. Instead of musical or comic filler, mostly everything advances the plot. And the "Night and Day" number is a stunning moment in time because you can just tell that this is the start of a magical, beguiling film partnership.

I know I'm in the minority, but does anyone agree with me in preferring this film for how fresh and natural it is?

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The Gay Divorce is definitely my favourite. I find it more amusing than any of the others. i prefer the songs in top Hat though.

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