Picture 1 of 2
Stock photo
Picture 1 of 2
Stock photo
The Gay Divorcee (DVD, 2006)
Price:
C $27.99
+ C $3.49 shipping
Returns:
Condition:
- Buy It NowThe Gay Divorcee (DVD, 2006) Ginger Rogers Fred Astaire NEW
 | Shop by category |
{"delay":300}
|
The Gay Divorcee (1934) is one of the earliest and best Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals. It's got fantastic dancing, great comedy, and good acting. The Gay Divorcee (1934) was the first film starring Astaire and Rogers. Fred and Ginger appeared together in supporting roles the previous year in Flying Down to Rio, and their success in that picture prompted RKO to star them in the film adaptation of the play The Gay Divorce. The censors argued that a divorce ought not to be portrayed as a happy event, so the studio changed the name of the picture to The Gay Divorcee. The divorcee is Ginger, who is seeking a divorce from a husband who doesn't love her but refuses to let her go. The story takes place in England, where a law states that the only way for Ginger to get her divorce is to prove that he or she is having an affair, so she and her wacky aunt (Alice Brady) seek the help of inept lawyer Edward Everett Horton. He instructs Ginger to go to a seaside resort where he will arrange to have a man (Erik Rhodes) pose as her lover when her husband arrives. However, Fred Astaire, after having met Ginger in London in a hilarious scene, is obsessed with her and is searching all over to find her again, which he does at the seaside resort. There's plenty of confusion as to who is who and how the faked scandal should be carried out. Fred and Ginger escape to introduce the Oscar-winning song "The Continental" in an elaborate dancing sequence, and a surprising twist resolves everyone's problems. The story is silly, made even more so by the performance of Eric Blore as a bumbling waiter, and the picture very fun. Essentially the same cast were reunited and a similar plot was worked out for Top Hat the following year. Fred and Ginger are excellent on the dance floor and off, and the supporting actors are good too.Read full review
The Gay Divorce, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers' first starring vehicle, has a charm that their other films come close to but never quite achieve. Maybe because it is their first, and they wanted to make a good impression on the audience. The actual plot is rather absurd, but so are the plots to all their films. That's not the point, after all. The point is their dancing. There is the wonderful "Night and Day" number, written by the immortal Cole Porter, wherein Fred first seduces Ginger with the dance. Her breathlessness at the end of this sequence indicates, none too subltly, that his seduction has been successful. Throughout the film, Ginger is as cute as her name -- Mimi -- yet she is never too cute and retains a certain sassiness, which she had already exhibited in her stint at Warners in such films as "The Gold Diggers of 1933" and "42nd Street." "The Gay Divorcee" also contains the lavish "Continental" number which is easily as good as anything Busby Berekley ever did. Plus it has Fred and Ginger dancing wonderfully in a grand finale to a film that, despite some early talkie creakiness, is overall very satisfying. The supporting cast, including Alice Brady, Edward Everett Horton, and Eric Blore all have the comic panache to make the silliness of the plot acceptable. Later films were more accomplished in the song department, and featured better dancing by the duo, but none had the freshness and excitement Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers brought to this one. The DVD features a crisp transfer of the film, looking better than it has in years and with excellent sound quality (some VHS tapes have crackling and drops in the soundtrack). The included extras, exept for the original trailer, are rather lame, and are NOT what you would've seen in 1934 at a theater. This was an RKO film -- RKO made shorts and distributed cartoons too -- something by RKO of the same vintage would have been more appropriate. Thankfully, there is NO intrusive documentary or commentary. We don't need a bunch of Broadway wannabes or fey film critics telling us what is good about Astaire and Rogers. We know! Otherwise, the DVD is excellent and highly recommended.Read full review
One of the top three Rogers/Astaire movies in my opinion. I particularly enjoyed the performance of Erik Rhodes as the "fake Italian lover" of Ginger Rogers! All the cast is in top form and the dancing is simply remarkable as usual. The iconic "Night and Day" by Cole Porter and the elaborate Carioca dance sequence round out this classic 30's romantic comedy gem.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
It’s one of many Fred Astaire movies I hadn’t watched and since they don’t stream these out if date movies I decided to satisfy my curiosity. Good movie doubt they’d remake this movie it is a period piece.. loved it.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
RKO Pictures in the 30's and 40's has exceptional talent especially when it came to musicals. Talent like Irving Berling, George Gershwin and Cole Porter where writing their memorable songs. There were lavish sets and famous people were hired for the gowns. This movie has a very slim plot, but the film does continuously move with a great supporting cast. The films introduces Cole Porter's Night and Day with Astaire and Rogers dancing together. And the 17 minute production number "The Continental" which received an Academy Award for best song.
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
