The Barkleys of Broadway (DVD, 2005)

The Barkleys of Broadway (1949) was the tenth and final film partnering the legendary Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It was their only movie together at M-G-M, and, while it is good, the duo's RKO musicals are superior.

Fred and Ginger play the Barkleys, an argumentative married couple who perform together in Broadway musical comedies. When a French playwright convinces Rogers she could be a great dramatic actress in his play, she leaves Astaire. However, as Fred learns by spying on her rehearsals, she flounders as a serious actress and is in desperate need of guidance. Astaire pretends to be the French playwright and begins calling her with acting advice. His suggestions work, and she greatly improves, but is there any hope she'll discover the truth and their romance can resume?

Oscar Levant is his usual self as the Barkleys' friend, and Astaire and Rogers are great together again. The Barkleys of Broadway is a very enjoyable musical, though I prefer the earlier Astaire-Rogers pictures, such as Top Hat and The Gay Divorcee.

What an inferior transfer of what should be a bright Technicolor musical. The film is so-so on script, but the Astaire-Rogers musical numbers are worth the price. Too bad the picture quality is so muted and dark.