Why did Fred and Ginger wait 10 years before their next, and last, film together?
This film was excellent.
well fred left RKO and ginger wanted a move away from musical comedy anyway, barkleys of broadway was originally going to be an astaire-garland picture but garland was fired and rogers brought in to replace her, i'm just glad a tenth picture was made and sorry that it was also the last
shareOne of the main reasons that this was their last film together was from "Shall We Dance" on, the Fred & Ginger films made less and less money for RKO. The decision to end their partnership was mainly a financial one. Hollywood is a business after all.
sharei think the only reason they made 'the story of vernon and irene castle' together was because rko had bought it for them otherwise they probably would have stopped at carefree because as you say their films were now losing rko money rather than making it
i've danced with you, i'm never gonna dance again - Lucky to Penny in Swingtime 1936
The Arlene Croce bio on Astaire and Rogers just states a matter of practical finance and changing aspirations for both performers: Rogers wanted to do more than be half of a dance team, so RKO began grooming her for a solo career in comedy and drama, while Astaire ran out his contract and tried other studios. His next one was MGM, intersected with Columbia, Paramount, United Artists, and Fox.
shareFred also toyed with the idea of retirement, however briefly. He's said his mother wanted him to retire when he was 34! (He must have made a lot of money on Broadway.)
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