MovieChat Forums > Swing Time (1936) Discussion > On screen kiss?

On screen kiss?

posted 17 years ago by MarxBrosFan
9 replies | jump to latest

The two times Astaire and Rogers actually kiss in this movie it's not shown but only suggested. The first time in Fred's dressing room just when the door opens, and at the very end he almost kisses her, steps back and takes a big leap to do it properly, but turns around so the viewer, again, doesn't see a thing.

I know it's probably better to suggest a kiss than to include scenes of their wedding night, but I wonder what's the furthest they ever went in displaying affection in their pictures together? Offhand I can only remember he kisses her on the cheek near the end of "The Gay Divorcee"... Was that the most outrageous moment?
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[–] brightcolors353 17 years ago

Astaire didn't think kissing was necessary in films because he made love when he was dancing. They didn't have a full kiss until "Carefree" which is one of the lesser know Astaire/Rogers films. And they put that in because audiences were tired of the "kisssing" they were (not) doing.

It is also rumored that Astaire's wife was jealous of Rogers so she didn't want Fred kissing her. But I don't really care if they kiss or not in their films. Their chemistry (and dancing!) is enough for me.

[–] MarxBrosFan 17 years ago

I agree, their chemistry in the dance numbers is more than enough, but there are moments, like here in the final scene, when it would have been better to just show the kiss and not from a safe distance with Fred's back to the camera. I could see audiences getting a bit tired of that... But usually it's better for the comedy alone not to show it, like when they are behind the door in the dressing room...

So Fred had to tell his wife that Ginger didn't really kiss him but actually brought some lipstick with her? There's no cut in that scene.... She would have had to apply it very quickly... I hope she bought it. :)
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Take another little piece, baby. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7JVxE2SYxo

[–] npaxton-3 17 years ago

There's a lot of kissing in "The Barkleys of Broadway", but it took another ten years and they portray a married couple, very naturally I must say.

[–] Mithol 16 years ago

Well, I'm pretty sure there is a cut between when the door opens and when it closes again in that scene. And he kisses her on the lips in Gay Divorcee, but it's just a very quick peck, unless you watch it in slow motion... O_O ...which I, of course, have never done... She kisses him very briefly in Top Hat but he doesn't even close his eyes because his character is so shocked, and it's not in the least bit romantic. In Carefree, their first real kiss was in a dream sequence. Then in the Story of Vernon and Irene Castle they had a real, proper kiss after his proposal as well as a peck on the cheek and another kiss towards the end. In Barkleys there is a lot of kissing. Being the strange and creepy person I am, I counted about five. I thought that movie was very cute and very romantic. xD

~Formerly known as "eowynmaiar".

[–] ebailey140 16 years ago

It is also rumored that Astaire's wife was jealous of Rogers so she didn't want Fred kissing her.

Other of Fred's co-stars brought up his jealous wife showing up on the set, so it seems there's a lot of truth to that.

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

If it's true the woman was a nut. Why marry an actor if you have an issue with kissing scenes? If her problem was with Ginger then that's especially stupid. Ginger and her husband were partners. Mrs. Astaire probably was living well, thanks in part to that partnership. Maybe Fred set her straight after a while.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] FredAndGingerMad 14 years ago

"Astaire didn't think kissing was necessary in films because he made love when he was dancing. They didn't have a full kiss until "Carefree" which is one of the lesser know Astaire/Rogers films. And they put that in because audiences were tired of the "kisssing" they were (not) doing.

It is also rumored that Astaire's wife was jealous of Rogers so she didn't want Fred kissing her. But I don't really care if they kiss or not in their films. Their chemistry (and dancing!) is enough for me."

I read somewhere that the first was true but not the second, i haven't seen either carefree or the story of vernon and irene castle, but the barkley's of broadway is fast becoming my fave astaire-rogers film because it had it all

[–] jcarpenter-1 8 years ago

I just remember when they were kissing in his dressing room, and she was in that gorgeous gown, it must have been a little cold on set... 💋

[–] prplayer 8 years ago

i liked that aspect of the movie actually

so many movies, so little time