Review of Follow the Fleet (1936) by Marie M — 23 Jan 2010

Out of all their films, the Astaire-Rogers team make their most striking deviation from the formula in this, their fifth outing out, with the absence of Astaire's trademark coat and chapeau: that is, unlike their other RKO incarnations, Astaire and Rogers' characters are not part of that particular social class where parties are frequent, endless, and populated by tails and gowns.

In fact, in the only party they attend in this film, they are neither hosts nor invited guests - they are plus-ones, dates of guests. Astaire forsakes his white tie, cane, and lavish hotel suite for a navy blue uniform, chewing gum, and a communal locker room.

In like working-class fashion, the silver spoon in Rogers' mouth is replaced with a struggling ex-vaudevillian. Beyond characterizations, the formula remains in tact, and it seems that the addition of a second romantic couple, q.

E.d. in Flying Down to Rio and Roberta, bring out some of the team's most biting wit, though screen attention on either couple seemed more equitable this time around. Notable numbers include the film's opening to the delightfully sarcastic "We Saw the Sea"; Astaire's leading of a line of crewman with his feet in "I'd Rather Lead a Band"; "I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket," reminiscent of the playful "Hard to Handle" number from Roberta and including Astaire's impromptu prelude on the piano (proof positive of the man's overarching genius); and of course, "Let's Face the Music and Dance," certainly the darkest and most haunting of their dance duets with the theme of suicide and the arrangement and orchestration of the music.

Overall, an enjoyable and memorable change in pace.