Roberta [DVD] [1935]

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Great

This is a lesser known Astaire & Rogers film, seldom seen on TV but has a few cracking dance numbers that stand up well compared to the rest of their work together. The thing is you have to like the stylised soprano of Irene Dunne in the main storyline of her romance with Randolph Scott. It is Dunne who sings the films big number "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and goes incredibly high on a couple of notes. Having said that I have to add that the Amazon Prime print stream was better quality than a DVD.

Who cares if the plot is cheesy? The songs are great and the rapport between Fred and Ginger is more than usually fizzling. Fred did the choreography himself, and there is less of a feeling of an overall dance and more of a feeling of tap steps. Ginger shows her enormous talent for comedy. Add to this, you have Irene Dunne, a wonderful actress, as the main love interest.

Some unlikely plot contrivances allow the handsome Randolph Scott and gracious Irene Dunne to work out a complicated relationship, and Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to do the same in some amazing dance sequences. At Roberta's vast fashion establishment Irene Dunne totters back and forth on high heels and sings the screen premiere of Jerome Kern's "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", there are sumptuously dressed fashion models, and even a Russian group who provide the music for Roberta's afternoon sleep. Apart from some rather tiresome opening numbers provided by the so-called Warbash Indianians, there's never a dull moment in this lavishly-staged entertainment.

Amazing funny witty movie

This is a superb, stunning and highly entertaining movie; the music, dancing and clothes all from an age of high style - in every sense. A film well worth owning, because you will want to watch it again and again.

Can't fault Fred Astaire....