Swing Time

• Top Hat
• The Gay Divorcee
• Do the Right Thing (Widescreen)
• Thats Entertainment!: Pt1
• Intolerance

The songs in this movie were by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Field's. The songs included here are "Pick Yourself Up", "The Way You Look Tonight", "Bojangles of Harlem", "Never Gonna Dance", "A Fine Romance" and the instrumental "Waltz in Swing Time". Maybe the finest songs out of all the Fred and Ginger movies.

The movie is full of great dance numbers, which is what a Fred and Ginger movie is all about. The first dance scene in this movie, is to "Pick Yourself Up", with the two dancing together. Its easily one of the best tap-dances they ever did. Another dance, is to the "Waltz in Swing Time". Its a great piece of music, and its a great dance that the two do together. Although, the bandleader doesnt like seeing Ginger dance with another man, so he refuses to play. But Fred, as always, finds a way around these things. Then for the next dance, "Bojangles of Harlem". It opens with a whole load of girls dancing, where a minute or two into it, Fred comes along, in black-face, immitating Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson, and does most of the dance solo. Well, solo in a way. He is dancing with three shadows of himself in parts of it. A very long number, lasting approximately seven minutes. Then for the last dance in the movie, and maybe the best, "Never Gonna Dance". There are a number of stories behind the scene, which I wont go into, but lets just say they did this dance to perfection.

So just now a quick bit about the actual story of the movie. Fred plays a gambler named 'Lucky', who is engaged to marry a young girl named Margaret (Betty Furness). Thanks to his friends, who are part of a dancing team with him, they make him late to his wedding, by tricking him in certain ways. Margaret's dad is obviously angry, and does not like 'Lucky' being in the dancing business. Not thinking it makes him enough money. Margaret's dad, sends Lucky off to New York, since he wont allow Lucky to marry his daughter unless he earns $25000. While there, Lucky accidentally meets Penny (Ginger Rogers) a dancing teacher. They dont have a nice first meeting. Lucky has came to New York with his friend 'Pop' (Victor Moore), and when he wants to buy cigarettes, he needs change for a quarter. Lucky gives Penny his 'lucky quarter', which he later goes to try and get back. After a little accident of dropping her purse, Pop takes the quarter back, without Lucky knowing, and Penny accuses Lucky of stealing. The policeman comes along, and sorts it out, and makes Penny go along, on her way. Lucky finds out, that Pop took it, and goes to find Penny, in the dance place, where she teaches. He pretends he cant dance, and gets Penny into trouble, getting her fired. He, then feeling guilty, shows the boss, what Penny has supposedly taught him. This brings you to the "Pick Yourself Up" dance, and brings Lucky and Penny to be dancing partners (No, she is not fired anymore). The two, fall in love with each other, as expected, but she doesnt know he is engaged. He then tries NOT to earn the money, so he doesnt have to go back to his fiancee. So check out the film for the rest of the story. Thats only the start.

"Swing Time", a film full of great dancing, singing, and some decent scenes for comedy, is well worth adding to your collection. Being, by far, one of the top 3 greatest movies ever made, if not number one, that is. I love this movie a lot. I have watched it repeatedly so many times, and I simply have never gotten bored of it. By far the best from Fred and Ginger, even if others might argue over "Top Hat". Like all of the Fred and Ginger movies, this is highly recommended.

• Genres > Musicals & Performing Arts
• Genres > Musicals & Performing Arts > Instructional > Dance Instruction
• Genres > Musicals & Performing Arts > Musicals
• Genres > Special Interests > Dance

• Amazon.ca : Swing Time