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Roberta, least shown of Astaire/Rogers musicals

posted 17 years ago by npaxton-3
8 replies | jump to latest

I can't understand why this movie isn't shown more often. I love the chemistry between Fred and Ginger in this one, especially when they do the "I'd Be Hard to Handle" tap. That chemistry also shows in the "Lovely to Look At/Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" romantic dance. Ginger is quite an eyeful in that one. All the hours of dancing she did with Astaire really show in her svelte and toned figure in that sexy black gown she almost wears! You can see a very blonde Lucille Ball in the fashion show at the end of the film.

[–] dame_taylor 17 years ago

I totally agree with you. I think it's one of Fred and Gingers best movies together. "I'd Be Hard to Handle" is a wonderful dancenumber, I just love it!

[–] mrplankton 17 years ago

i quite agree about that particular dance number. brilliant really! rogers and astaire made dancing look absolutely effortless, tho i'm sure many hours were spent rehearsing that scene.

cheers.

[–] NSurone 16 years ago

When casting FOLLOW THE FLEET, RKO intended using the same stars who were in ROBERTA. However, when filming began, Irene Dunne was over at Universal making SHOW BOAT. So the studio cast Harriet Hilliard (who later became famous on TV as Harriet Nelson). She played the ugly duckling who was transformed into a swan and nailed Randolph Scott.

[–] BarryTrexel 14 years ago

MGM purchased the rights to three Jerome Kern musicals ("Roberta", "Showboat" and "Very Warm for May" and then the entire Kern song catalogue for the Kern biography "Till the Clouds Roll By") after the original RKO
'Roberta" and the 1936 Universal "Showboat" were originally released. "Showboat" was remade in 1951, and "Roberta" was remade as "Lovely To Look At" in 1952, The stage show "Very Warm for May" was turned into the film "Broadway Rhythm" which had practically nothing to do with the play, but retained "All the Things You Are" and a medley of other Kern songs from the show.

For a long time, properties that were purchased by MGM (for eventual remakes) found their original and often superior screen versions taken out of circulation. Until the 1970s revival houses and the coming of video in the 1980s, to see the 1930s screen versions of "Showboat" and "Roberta" was extremely rare.

[–] justaudrey 14 years ago

Their chemistry in this is among the best they ever had (though this is only the fourth movie I've seen with them). They just play off each other so well, and while their dances in this are not among their most famous, there seems to be an a unique sense of passion and feeling in them.

[–] sludgehound 8 years ago

Roberta being so unknown is so true. Only became aware of it yesterday when our singing group in NYC had been discussing tunes and somehow Roberta came up because of Kern.
I drew a total blank on this one. The group was all over the lead pairings.
Now that I read about it here and see Scott's name I do remember seeing him in some early comedy classy roles playing the "large American businessman often from the Midwest".
Don't think this is the one where he is caught up in a love triangle since no dancing pairs in that one.
Going around now to find Roberta for fast run through to round out seeing all Fred and
Ginger wonders.

[–] cyninbend-149-610489 8 years ago

Same here! And to npaxton3 (the OP), I agree. Where have they been hiding this gem of a movie? Like Damsel In Distress, I don't remember ever hearing of this before. *Being in my 60s, I may have watched and loved it 35 years ago and not seen it since and forgotten all about it, but I doubt it... I've been watching Fred and Ginger for over 50 years, and I think this is my favorite--at least now! Although I did miss Edward Everett Horton...;) Ginger was so pretty and her tap dancing was such fun--she kept up with Fred and showed her talent--I couldn't take my eyes off of her.

I admit I really hated those Irene Dunne numbers because they were so out of place (and I hate 90% of sopranos)--but then, that's what fast-forward is for... It's like stars are wearing giant billboards screaming "SEE MY EGO!" in flashing red lights whenever films contain such misplaced scenes intended to use their box office to increase screen time--I mean, an operatic soprano that came out of nowhere to compete with Fred and Ginger dancing and singing with their none-too-perfect but extremely lovable voices?

What I loved so much about this movie was how happy Fred and Ginger seemed to be to be dancing--and acting--together. Really very thrilled to be performing together--it must have been a low-stress film? Randolph Scott was a class act--no tenor numbers to expand his exposure...but now I'll fantasize a Luciano Pavarotti number being belted out in the elevator each time he's stuck.... His accent playing hide and seek with us was endearing--one of those touching things about old movies was how they tried and did their best even when it did not work out too well. His aunt in the movie was a pleasure as well--she was so likable I was afraid I'd be choked-up when she passed, but they handled it smartly, and didn't get sentimental, so it was fine....simply the plot device required...

A fantastic movie and great fashions, jewelry and best of all flawless numbers with my favorite stars. Beautiful, and lacking the intense art deco (or nouveau--I can't tell the difference ever), which, although I adore, I love being able to concentrate on the actors alone, and not swan-boats or super-artistic stages, stairways, lighting fixtures, etc (I love then, but it was fun stripped down too..

[–] sludgehound 8 years ago

Well stated. The best of these golden oldies is just candy for the eyes. Randy Scott indeed, there's a fun guy. It was great to see him in such a setting. Must have been a real treat for him too showing his chops that way.
The star chemistry did jell for sure. They had to be thinking, now this is what it's
all about. Top of the world ma, years before that killer line.
Rita Hayworth could really jump with Fred who said she was his true fave even over Ginger who gets all the ink due to so many films together. But check his physical presence going on with Rita. Respect but also a low slow burn of excitement unlike the pro formula dancing of FA & GR. Different approach and demeanor. Both work.
"intense art deco (or nouveau--I can't tell the difference ever"
Sure, too much pretty pretty can get annoying. Can't all be Martha Graham minimalism though. Kidding because to me it's all just fun or fail.
art nouveau pre WW I and art deco post WW I Key on the length of the 2 words.
nouveau is longer, as is the piling on of heavy decoration like a Tif lamp.
Art deco is shorter, more minimal using industrial materials and forms (Chrysler Bldg).
Busy vs sleek. Less is more would be another memory trick.
The two movements of course share some techniques which makes for confusion but they were separate forms.
Memory tricks do come in handy as we progress along the human timeline. Lady friend told me of B M W as her dodge to remember Man'h bridges north to south. Now I can't walk past the far west side BMW salesroom and not think of that.
Honestly haven't seen too much lately. My fave standard after A Streetcar Named Desire or Lawrence would be Bullets Over Broadway, or a Waiting for Guffman kind. Not much like that now. Maybe Zoolander (first) or the rough, but rather stylish, The Hateful Eight, and The Revenant. Titanic had its moments but is more of a fem fave. Took a look at Woody's Amazon trailer Cafe Society. Sadly it's way too much warmed over him. Tries too hard but can't shake the phoned in look.
Of course if one were 18 maybe it would be cool?
Oh, did love Midnight in Paris. That had strong performances and art style. Enjoyable on both sides of screen.
Hope you catch some great films.