Review of Top Hat (1935) by Adrian B — 28 Feb 2011

One of the most famous of the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film, "Top Hat" remains a charming, though slightly aged, film from the middle of the 1930's. The story follows a plot where Rogers thinks Astaire is a married man, where in actual fact, his friend (Ed Norton) is the one who is married.

The songs of the film are integrated quite nicely into this silly plot, and the dance numbers, most specifically the ending one, are pretty good. I have to say, though, I am not a big fan of the Astaire/Rogers films, just because I personally cannot get into them, but this one is pretty nice.

I did like a bit better than "Swing Time" which is regarded by some, most specifically Robert Osborne from Turner Classic Movies, as the best one of the trilogy of films. I think "Top Hat" is! Note: look for Lucille Ball in the first ten minutes as a tall flower girl setting up a huge wreath with another man, and I know it says that pretty much in every critical review out there.