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Ginger Rogers during the filming of Swing Time (1936)
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Swing Time (1936).
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cliftonweeb-deactivated20200705
Swing Time (1936)
Lingering in the empty art deco nightclub in which they had performed, the duo dances a farewell, moving through a dramatic sequence of choreography which re-enacts their affair. Musical themes and dance styles are reprised from earlier in the film. Critic Arlene Croce called the number “the supreme dramatic event of the [Astaire-Rogers] series, a duet moving through a succession of darkening emotions and abrupt rhythmic changes in which we see unfolded in dance the story of the film.” The scene was filmed as a continuous shot, with only one cut. Forty takes were necessary for the climax, a difficult set of rapid turns performed by Rogers.
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darlinghepburn
p i c k y o u r s e l f u p
"No one could teach you to dance in a million years take my advice and save your money!"
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darlinghepburn
"Does she dance very beautifully?" "Who?" "The girl you’re in love with" "Yes. Very."
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936).
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in ‘Swing Time’ (1936)
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Never gonna dance,
Never gonna dance,
Only gonna love you…
back-to-the-40s reblogged
Although the song “The Way You Look Tonight” is best known to modern audiences by the cover version by Frank Sinatra, it was originally introduced in the 1936 film Swing Time, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. In the movie, Rogers’ character is angry at Astaire’s — and he comes to her apartment to make amends, but she tells him to get out, from the adjoining room, where she is washing her hair. Instead of giving up, Astaire sits down at the piano and sings this tune to her — when she’s feeling anything but beautiful. As expected, it melts Rogers’ heart and she comes out and places her hand on his shoulder, showing that she has forgiven him.
The song became a hit almost at once in 1936, quickly winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was written by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, who later remarked — “The first time Jerry played that melody for me, I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.”
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"Why don’t you go up and give him a great big kiss?"
Swing Time (1936)
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Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swing Time (1936)
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Swing Time (1936)
Source : We Heart It
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Swing time, swing time, all musical guys have crowned it king
Right up to their eyes, they’re drowned in
Swing time, swing time…
The Waltz in Swing Time, composed by Jerome Kern, is considered by many to be the best piece of music that Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers have ever danced to. The score combines classical elements and 1930’s swing influences, which Astaire insisted upon. He wanted some of the numbers in the movie to actually “swing”, like the title, but Kern was reluctant to compose in that style. Despite the composer’s own doubts, the result is still spectacular, 77 years later. The scene and atmosphere are the epitome of elegance and the dance personifies the young love between Astaire and Rogers. They are both dressed impeccably, with Astaire wearing a creative variation of the black tie outfit, and Rogers in another one of her stunning ballroom gowns. The dance itself, choreographed by Astaire and Hermes Pan, blends tap, ballroom and ballet, and it is also one of many occasions in which Ginger Rogers shows her incredible dancing abilities. It is evident in this dance that she contributed her whole fifty percent to the partnership. Astaire choreographed it, but she executed it in high heels and a dress. As many have stated before, Rogers contributed her own ideas for the dances and thought on the same level as her partner. This, combined with the two performers’ ability to put romance on the screen through pantomime, makes the scene rise above average. Astaire and Rogers poured all their effort into this; one can only wonder how many hours of rehearsal it took for a dance that lasted two and a half minutes on celluloid. At the same time, it is truly a blessing that this dancing excellence has been captured on camera, and that generations to come will be able to see this masterpiece as many times as they want to.