Swing Time (DVD)

I concur with the five star reviews of this wonderful film. The gags are great, the acting superlative, and the dancing is just out of this world. It has so much great dancing, singing, and acting, that in truth, I don't know of ANY musical that can come close to its high quality. This is the top of the top.I might be a minority, but I like the humor. It's cleverer than in "Top Hat", and much less corny than "Singing in the Rain"...and I think the lively plot has more turns in it than the California Coastal Highway. The reason is that this is the Astaire/Rogers film where Fred can't make up his mind about Ginger...because he has made a prior commitment, of a sort, to another woman. This is the fun of the plot...which Ellen Broderick, as Penny's friend...and the audience's commentator...sees clearly throughout the film. I think the plot is not so fragile as some have proposed.And I'm not thrown off much by Romero turning into a good guy at the end. When his own bride is laughing at him at his own wedding, I think that's a pretty powerful incentive for him to back off. And becoming a nice guy is a valid option to cut his losses...in front of his own orchestra, the pastor, and all his friends. Romero had already shown himself to be influenced by public pressure, when Lucky traps him into playing the "Waltz in Swing Time" so he can dance with Penny....how much more so at his own wedding!When Penny learns that Fred's wedding is "off"...she first resists the idea that her wedding should be called off too. Her resistance is both brittle and tinged with sadness...as her best friend just laughs at the whole string of events, that has brought her to the point of correcting her quixotic decision, to marry a guy she so obviously doesn't love. This is great acting by Rogers, and great comedy.The ending is also predicted by Penny, before they dance their great "Waltz in Swing Time", when she says to Lucky that Romero: "is very nice". And Fred's answer is also predictive: "You must be joking.". In the end...the whole story turns into comedy...which was a George Stevens forte as a director. It's a shame that too many critics, and some of the public, have such low emotional IQs, that they have given the ending of this great film a negative tinge. This is an unanticipated role for the film for contemporary audiences...It's a teaching tool.I should also add that "Swing Time" was a high point of black and white photography, and that compared to the bright and primary colored musicals...I find the black and white adds to the quasi neo-realist and subtle effect....quite appropriate for the 30s Depression era. Fred and Ginger play an upwardly mobile couple...substantiating and fulfilling (on film), the deferred dreams of millions of depression-era Americans. "Singing in the Rain", as great as it surely is, to me, has no such poignancy. It's a positive self-referential film, for post WW II America. Its overly smooth transitions from plot to dance, are dramatically less effective, than the swelling anticipation of the coming of something truly wonderful.I think this is an extraordinary film with just so many high points, in both song and dance...I can't imagine how it can be rated at anything less than five stars. It's brilliant cinema...and one of the most magical films ever made.

My elderly clients enjoyed this movie alot music and dancing

Enough said!

Wonderful movie!

Astaire and Rodgers being perfect again. The chemistry between them. The witty script, the music classics,( "Just the Way you Look Tonight"for instance). And the DANCE! DANCE! DANCE! DANCE! It will take your breath away.

"Swing Time" remains a testament to the golden age of Hollywood musicals, capturing the essence of dance and romance in an enchanting manner. The chemistry between Astaire and Rogers, coupled with memorable musical numbers, elevates the film's charm. While some aspects may feel dated, the film's enduring qualities make it a treat for classic movie enthusiasts. For those who appreciate the magic of classic musicals, "Swing Time" is a delightful journey into a bygone era of cinema.

Swing Time (1936) is another Fred/Ginger classic musical that rivals their previous masterpiece, Top Hat. Here, several dance numbers steal the show, as the famed duo dance their hearts out in this fun, energetic, and lovable film about falling in love in unusual circumstances. Released during the Great Depression, this film must’ve given audiences a refuge from the bleakness of the 1930’s in America. This film is directed very well, and has top-notch cinematography. However, it’s strongest suit is the acting (and dancing), with superb performances by the entire cast. I just wish this film had a blu ray release; it’s shocking that the iconic Fred and Ginger films are yet to be released in that format. This DVD copy, however, is still of good quality and sound. There are some good special features as well, so be sure to view those. Overall, Swing Time is a classic era movie musical done right.

I love Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies!I decided to buy this one, so I can watch these two great actors and dancers any time!