Shall We Dance has been my favorite Astaire-Rogers film for a long time. That said, it has most of the flaws of the earlier films — a dull plot, uninspired camera work, bad jokes, bad pacing, and interminable mugging from Edward Everett Horton and Eric Blore. Except for the dances, it feels tired. And theContinue reading “Shall We Dance (1937)”
Category Archives: Mark Sandrich
Top Hat (1935)
Top Hat is considered by many to be the best of the Astaire-Rogers films, and for many others it’s second only to Swing Time. I don’t feel that way. I’m not crazy about it and I like it less and less with each viewing. I know that’s very much a minority opinion but it’s myContinue reading “Top Hat (1935)”
Follow the Fleet (1936)
I had an deep affection for Follow the Fleet for many years, but it’s time for me to admit that it’s not very good. There’s no doubt that it’s an unusual and interesting film in the Astaire-Rogers canon but watching it soberly now, it seems uninspired, spliced together with carpet tacks, hastily made and under-rehearsed.Continue reading “Follow the Fleet (1936)”
Holiday Inn (1942)
I’ve seen the Astaire-Rogers films so many times that I can practically name the dance steps, but I’ve seen very few of Bing Crosby’s movies. I wasn’t into him — I didn’t get the appeal. I knew him mainly from television and records, and the crooning style left me cold. (I don’t care for Sinatra,Continue reading “Holiday Inn (1942)”
The Gay Divorcee (1934)
The Gay Divorcee was the first true Astaire-Rogers film. Impressed by the way they had stolen the show in Flying Down to Rio the year before, RKO Studios hired them to be marquee stars. They also hired Mark Sandrich, who had directed the dance sequences of Rio, to helm the pictures. Folks differ in theirContinue reading “The Gay Divorcee (1934)”