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ASIN : 0780625765
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Essential Video
The year before, in 1933, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers had grabbed America's attention in Flying Down to Rio, even though they were the second bananas in that film. The duo had a certain chemistry--Fred with his lighter-than-air elegance, Ginger with her moxie--and studio heads gambled that they could carry a starring vehicle of their own. Nobody guessed there would be another eight movies together after The Gay Divorcee, which turned into a huge success for RKO Pictures. The plot is the usual silliness, with Ginger a divorce-minded gal in England, Fred a dancer whose sincere interest in her is mistaken for something else. But plots never mattered much in these affairs, and this one achieves a kind of free-floating bliss. Astaire had starred in the stage version of the story, titled The Gay Divorce. The censors forced the extra e to be added to the title because surely no divorce could be portrayed as a happy one (this frothy movie's evidence notwithstanding). Only one song was carried over from the stage show, Cole Porter's smash hit "Night and Day," which forms the basis for a sublime pas de deux between Fred and Ginger. A tune, "The Continental," written for this film won the first Oscar ever awarded in the best-song category. --Robert Horton
Customer Reviews
My favourite Astaire and Rogers film (2004-07-16)  Fred Astaire plays a dnacer returning to England from a trip abroad. In the Customs shed he meets Ginger Rogers in an embarassing predicament. He tries to find out who she is, but she refuses to tell him, and he spends ages searching London for her until he finally tracks her down and begins to awaken her interest. Ginger goes down to Brighton with her friend dithery much-married Alice Brady, and Astaire and his dithery lawyer friend Edward Everett Horton go in pursuit. Ginger has gone to Brighton to try and obtain a divorce, she intends to spend the night with a professional co-respondent. Somthing Astaire says makes her think he is the co-respondent, which puts her right off him. Fortunately the real co-respondent, a diminutive Italian, turns up ("your wife is safe with Tonetti,he prefer spaghetti") and the mystery is sorted out. But what will happen when Ginger's husband arrives the next morning? will she get her divorce. This is a wonderful film, with a silly but extremley funny plot, and some wonderful dialogue, particularly between Horton and Brady, who somehow manage to end up married to each other, much to their surprise. An absolutely delightful film.
a joy to watch (2004-05-27) This is such a great movie! In their first starring roles, Fred and Ginger carry the movie on their shoulders. Alice Brady is more than hilarious, so is Edward E. Horton. Look for a very young Betty Grable singing "lets knock knees." the night and day nember is incredible. Ginger looks like something out of this world with her soft features. The look that she gives him at the end of night and day make the rest of the picture unnecessary. but then you would miss Fred's hilarious looks, especially when he's confused. The nice thing about this movie is that the mistaken identity plot only lasts for a little while. (about 13 minutes) the continental is great too.
A classic from its period (2004-01-02)  A classic. The dancing, first, with Fred Astaire, is perfect and many will remember the Continental. The singing is quite humoristic, light and entertaining. The comedy itself is very simple but extremely effective. An enormous amount of humor, of puns, of funny situations, etc, and a general situation that is both banal but dealt with so much grace and lightness that it is pleasant and entertaining. The punch line is of course totally unexpected, though a averagely trained viewer will have known the outcome some time before the end because it is hinted at all along the film. Definitely a film that will survive time as one of the best representatives of that type of light comedy with dancing and singing, and of course Fred Astaire. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
A 'Continental' Appeal! (2003-06-06) The Gay Divorcee is one of my favorite films. Fred plays a persistant bachelor determined to capture the heart of Mimi (Ginger), who is married and ready for a divorce. As the plot unfolds, this romantic comedy is hilarious and can make anyone smile. Fred and Ginger shine as they perform the hauntinly beautiful 'Night and Day' and the seventeen minute 'Continental'. A must see for any Astaire Rogers fan!
A preference for spaghetti (2002-10-09) What a marvelous movie, and one that I enjoy more every time I see it! Just watching Fred Astaire walk across a room is a delight. And it's fun to see how much naughty innuendo they managed to sneak past the early Hayes office. There's an astonishing amount of gay subtext: the cast is largely populated by classic "sissies" such as Edward Everett Horton and Eric Blore. And then there's the flamboyant Italian "professional co-respondent": women are safe with him because "Tonetti, he prefers spaghetti" (!!). Signor Tonetti is married, but he refers to his wife as "he" (I had to rewind the tape twice to believe my ears on that one). Of course, that's just his mangling of the English language, heh-heh.....
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