Swing Time (1936)

Director:

George Stevens

Writers:

Erwin S. Gelsey (story)
Howard Lindsay (writer) ...

Release Date:

12 October 1936 (Brazil)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

A glorious songburst of gaiety and laughter!

Plot:

A performer and gambler travels to New York City to raise the $25,000 he needs to marry his fiancée, only to become entangled with a beautiful aspiring dancer.

Plot Keywords:

Dance | New York City | Nightclub | Wager | Backstage

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Fred Astaire	...	John 'Lucky' Garnett
Ginger Rogers	...	Penelope 'Penny' Carroll
Victor Moore	...	Everett 'Pop' Cardetti
Helen Broderick	...	Mabel Anderson
Eric Blore	...	Gordon
Betty Furness	...	Margaret Watson
Georges Metaxa	...	Ricardo 'Ricky' Romero

Also Known As:

I Won't Dance (USA) (working title)
Never Gonna Dance (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

Portugal:M/6 | Finland:S | South Korea:All | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #2273)

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

The shadow dance idea for "Bojangles of Harlem" occurred to choreographer Hermes Pan and Fred Astaire during rehearsals, when three different light sources illuminating Astaire produced three shadows.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Penny Carrol's things fall on the ground, Pop Cadetti takes her purse and introduces his left hand in it to pick up back the Lucky Garnett's quarter. But after the cut, he holds the quarter in his right hand.

Quotes:

Mabel Anderson: I used to go there in the summer as a kid. You know, before the war.
Everett 'Pop' Cardetti: Which war?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tokyo rapusodei (1936)

Soundtrack:

Never Gonna Dance

heavenly dancing, heavenly music, heavenly partnership

There's something special about all of the Astaire-Rogers movies, and "Swing Time" is no exception. Directed by George Stevens, it tells the story of a dancer and a gambler - not seen as much of a catch by his future father-in-law - who, after he misses his wedding, goes to New York. He promises his fiancée's father that he will return, solvent, and ask again for his daughter's hand in marriage. Once in New York, he falls for Ginger Rogers, who was never prettier than in this film. One thing leads to another, and the wind up as dance partners.

Eric Blore, Helen Broderick, and Victor Moore supply able support, and the film has a beautiful Jerome Kern score: "Pick Yourself Up," "The Way You Look Tonight," and "A Fine Romance" being a few of the numbers.

There are two knockout pieces in this film - Astaire's tribute to Bill "Bojangles" Robinson is one of the most stunning numbers Astaire ever did. He manages to wear blackface and not have it be offensive, as it's very light makeup to suggest his portrayal of Robinson. The number, with its accompanying huge dancing shadows, is magnificent. And the final number - "Never Gonna Dance" surely is one of their top dances ever, with that incredible deco set, the double curving stairways, and Ginger in that glorious dress.

It's hard to sum up how their dancing lifts you up and out of whatever ails you. Definitely their smoothness, footwork, chemistry, and glamor reach out to my soul every time I see them.