God Bless America (And Why He Created Hollywood)
I recently rented a copy of Swing Time, which you can and should rent or buy (like right here.) You know, honestly, I don’t find these movies very enjoyable. I find the acting shallow, the scripts tedious and contrived. Well, I think all that until something like this comes on screen, and then, I know why God created Hollywood:
I think what I love best is how Rogers makes it looks like she’s being led spontaneously. And isn’t it funny how, as is almost always the case with ballroom dance, everybody spends most of their time watching the girl, even when the guy’s better known?
I love this country. Happy 4th everybody!
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If you haven’t, make sure to watch Top Hat. It’s by far the best of the Astaire-Rogers films, and it’s an excellent comedy in its own right. It’s probably the best execution of a mistaken identity premise which I’ve ever seen.
(I own both Top Hat and Swing Time on DVD.)
Ginger had little formal experience or training in ballroom or tap before being paired with Astaire, and some fault her for not being as technically adept as some of his later partners, but I don’t think anyone can deny the magic they had as a team.
Swing Time is my least favorite (although the music and dancing is fantastic as those two always are), but Top Hat is great and so is The Gay Divorcee.
JLBussey’s last blog post..America The Beautiful
Oh God. That’s torture!!!
My girlfriend’s knit their brows when I tell them the only actor I’ve ever had crush on is Fred Astaire. I love him - so no - when I watch Fred and Ginger - I’m not watching her - I’m watching him.
Thanks for the tip - btw - I never thought of looking on Youtube for Fred clips. When my kids got addicted to Dancing with the Stars - I kept telling them that no one could dance like Fred. I kept searching the TV guide for Fred Astaire movies and all of a sudden I couldn’t find any. There was a time when you could always find a good old movie on TV - not anymore.
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