Early in their careers, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were not a dance team. Ginger made quite a few small-time films without Fred and Fred started out as a bit player in a musical named DANCING LADY which starred Clark Gable and Joan Crawford (the 3 Stooges were also bit players in this film). No one yet realized what a hot property there two were going to be together.
Rather accidentally, Astaire and Rogers were teamed in FLYING DOWN TO RIO. They were NOT the stars of the film (Gene Raymond and Delores Del Rio were) and the film was an amusing yet bizarre musical with some of the strangest dance numbers in the history of film. While worth seeing, it wasn't until their next film that they were in the leads. THE GAY Divorcée was a wonderful film--one of their best--and it set the stage for several more exceptional musicals together. The problem, though, was that they had just finished THE GAY Divorcée and RKO didn't realize that it would be a hit, so they assigned them to ROBERTA. Sure, it was becoming obvious they they were excellent when paired together, but it still hadn't been established that they were major stars--and big enough to get top billing. As a result of this uncertainty, ROBERTA is like a transitional film--not the pattern the team would soon be in but showing many aspects of a true Astaire-Rogers film.
For me, the biggest problem with the film was putting Irene Dunne and Randolph Scott in the leads. Ms. Dunne's singing was frankly pretty awful--very operatic and hard on the ears. And, unfortunately, Scott wasn't given much to do and he came off as nice but wooden. So what about Fred and Ginger? Well, they dance a lot (often NOT together) and they have a few small good moments together but that's about it. And poor, poor Ginger--her role was simply awful. Someone had the bright idea of having her be an American pretending to be French or was it Russian or maybe Chinese. Her accent was dreadful and the part just seemed silly. As a result of all these short-comings, the film is rather limp but historically important--and a must-see for fans of Astaire and Rogers. All others, think twice before you watch this film--it might turn you off the dance team altogether!
Rather accidentally, Astaire and Rogers were teamed in FLYING DOWN TO RIO. They were NOT the stars of the film (Gene Raymond and Delores Del Rio were) and the film was an amusing yet bizarre musical with some of the strangest dance numbers in the history of film. While worth seeing, it wasn't until their next film that they were in the leads. THE GAY Divorcée was a wonderful film--one of their best--and it set the stage for several more exceptional musicals together. The problem, though, was that they had just finished THE GAY Divorcée and RKO didn't realize that it would be a hit, so they assigned them to ROBERTA. Sure, it was becoming obvious they they were excellent when paired together, but it still hadn't been established that they were major stars--and big enough to get top billing. As a result of this uncertainty, ROBERTA is like a transitional film--not the pattern the team would soon be in but showing many aspects of a true Astaire-Rogers film.
For me, the biggest problem with the film was putting Irene Dunne and Randolph Scott in the leads. Ms. Dunne's singing was frankly pretty awful--very operatic and hard on the ears. And, unfortunately, Scott wasn't given much to do and he came off as nice but wooden. So what about Fred and Ginger? Well, they dance a lot (often NOT together) and they have a few small good moments together but that's about it. And poor, poor Ginger--her role was simply awful. Someone had the bright idea of having her be an American pretending to be French or was it Russian or maybe Chinese. Her accent was dreadful and the part just seemed silly. As a result of all these short-comings, the film is rather limp but historically important--and a must-see for fans of Astaire and Rogers. All others, think twice before you watch this film--it might turn you off the dance team altogether!