The Gay Divorcee, is technically Fred Astaire and Ginger Roger's second film (if you count Flying Down to Rio) and it's a fun little romantic comedy musical. It follows Ginger Rogers who travels to England to get a divorce from her husband, and meets Fred Astaire.
Ginger's lawyer suggests that she be spotted with another man in order to get her husband to divorce her, and she mistakes Fred Astaire as the man who she is to be spotted with. The truth comes out, and they dance together. Of course, everything works out in the end.
The plot is a bit stronger than Flying Down to Rio, and I liked the characters a lot more. You can really sympathize with Ginger Rogers as she feels ignored by her husband and is desperate for a divorce. Fred Astaire is a suave professional dancer, and falls in love with Ginger.
The humor in this movie works. I think the scenes with Ginger's lawyer and her aunt are funny, and Erik Rhodes, the man who Ginger is to be spotted with is hilarious. Some of Fred Astaire's lines are funny.
This is a classic movie musical, and it has the usual tropes. Near instant romance, miscommunication that could be solved with a two minute conversation, and elaborate dance numbers. Of course, the dance numbers were excellent. "The Continental" is a fun, beautiful dance sequence. Betty Grable's "Knock Knees" number is entertaining. "Night and Day" is a beautiful sequence with a beautiful dance by Fred and Ginger. And that's really why you watch these movies. Not for the practically non-existent plot, but the dance scenes.
Overall, The Gay Divorcee is nowhere near the best musical ever made. It's not even the best Astaire/Rogers film. But it's still a fun, enjoyable, happy movie to watch.
Ginger's lawyer suggests that she be spotted with another man in order to get her husband to divorce her, and she mistakes Fred Astaire as the man who she is to be spotted with. The truth comes out, and they dance together. Of course, everything works out in the end.
The plot is a bit stronger than Flying Down to Rio, and I liked the characters a lot more. You can really sympathize with Ginger Rogers as she feels ignored by her husband and is desperate for a divorce. Fred Astaire is a suave professional dancer, and falls in love with Ginger.
The humor in this movie works. I think the scenes with Ginger's lawyer and her aunt are funny, and Erik Rhodes, the man who Ginger is to be spotted with is hilarious. Some of Fred Astaire's lines are funny.
This is a classic movie musical, and it has the usual tropes. Near instant romance, miscommunication that could be solved with a two minute conversation, and elaborate dance numbers. Of course, the dance numbers were excellent. "The Continental" is a fun, beautiful dance sequence. Betty Grable's "Knock Knees" number is entertaining. "Night and Day" is a beautiful sequence with a beautiful dance by Fred and Ginger. And that's really why you watch these movies. Not for the practically non-existent plot, but the dance scenes.
Overall, The Gay Divorcee is nowhere near the best musical ever made. It's not even the best Astaire/Rogers film. But it's still a fun, enjoyable, happy movie to watch.
