Like Flying Down to Rio, Roberta is a film in which Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers play supporting roles -- but provide the real highlights of the film. This is not to slight the film's female star, Irene Dunne, who turns in a good, stylish performance and sounds wonderful when singing a rueful "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and a charming "Lovely to Look At." But Dunne's love affair with Randolph Scott is less involving, interesting -- just plain less fun -- than that involving the dancing stars. Roberta includes three top notch Astaire-Rogers routines. "I'll be Hard to Handle" is justifiably famous, incorporating a difficult tap duet that turns into a magnificent challenge dance, and ending in a gorgeous swirl of energy that melts into a gentle collapse. In "I Won't Dance," Astaire solos for Rogers, displaying a catalogue of movement that belies the title, and their tender pas de deux to "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" is delicate and lovely. When not singing -- or displaying eye-catching fashions -- Roberta tends to drag a bit, but the musical moments, Dunne's way with a phrase, and Astaire and Rogers make it well worth the wait.
Roberta (1935)
Directed by William A. Seiter / William Seiter
Genres - Comedy, Romance, Music, Sports & Recreation, Musical |
Sub-Genres - Musical Romance |
Release Date - Mar 7, 1935 (USA) |
Run Time - 105 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - NR
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