Swing Time [1936]

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2004-03-04 rating:
Pure Class
In my opinion this is easily the best of the Astaire and Rogers films.

It follows the basic Fred and Ginger formula - boy meets girl, boy falls for girl but she doesn't return the sentiment, boy wins girl over with song and dance - but the thing that lifts it head and shoulders above the rest (yes, even Top Hat) is the perfect balance of comedy with the best song and dance routines the pair ever commited to film. There are no dud numbers, no tiresome sub-plots that make you want to reach for the FFD button, just one classic after another and some genuinely amusing moments.

I'll simply never tire of watching it.

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review by: zetajonesadmirer date: 2003-06-04 rating:
A toe-tappin' feast with Astaire and Rogers
The sheer brilliance and technical perfection of the Astaire-Rogers team has never been more apparent than in 'Swing Time', the peak of their achievement. The first time I saw the 'Pick Yourself Up' number was so breathtaking that I wound the film back three times and watched it again and again. It is a veritable feast of tap dancing finesse. You'll love the comical 'A Fine Romance', in which Ginger complains of the coldness of her relationship with Astaire whilst they are stranded in the snow, and the Jerome Kern classic 'The Way you Look Tonight' is given its first airing in Fred's inimitable rendition; the romance of the song is given an entertaining anti-climax when Rogers appears covered in shampoo! Also notable is Fred's only blackface number ever, 'Bojangles of Harlem', in which he dances with his silhouette. Good old-fashioned sentimental fun!


review by: date: 2000-11-11 rating:
Astaire's grace enraptures from the first reel
I first saw this movie on celluloid and it mezmerised me from the beginning. The gentle humour is wonderfully timed and observed and gives a feel-good sensibility to the film. The real focus, however, is the relationship between Astaire and Rogers. Their set piece dance routines are excellent, and indeed Astaire shows off his inimitable grace throughout, even when he is not dancing. The songs, written by Jerome Kerr, are beautiful and sung with Astaire's natural instinct for mood and tone. The classic set piece 'Never Gonna Dance' is an absolute gem, and a wonder of cinematography. Despite the slightly farcical ending (for which the film is all the more charming), this a one of the happiest movies which I have seen and one which will leave you with an overwhelming urge to buy a top hat and tails...

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Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Classics . Comedy
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Classics . Musicals
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Comedy . All Comedy
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Musicals & Classical . Musicals & Stage Performances . Classic
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Musicals & Classical . Musicals & Stage Performances . Film Musicals
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . VHS
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Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1970 - 1979
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Video . Video . Categories . Classic Films . Actors . Astaire, Fred
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