Review of Top Hat (1935) by Pat M — 07 Feb 2008

TOP HAT is a charming, feel good film that came at a time when it was desperately needed. Released in the midst of the depression, TOP HAT was the perfect remedy for the hardships that Americans were struggling with. Sure the plot isn't going to impress you with its wit, or the sets dazzle you (although they aren't bad), but that isn't what people wanted to see in 1935. They wanted to be taken aaway from their lives or anything that resembled them for the time that they were at the show.

TOP HAT is the ridiculously over-the-top hat story of mistaken identity. Fred Astaire plays Jerry Travers, a wonderful tap dancer who falls for the beautiful Dale Tremont (Rogers) only to be mistaken by her for his married producer Horace Hardwick (Horton). The following 90 minutes are spent fallling deeper into this mistaken identity crisis (and yes it does turn into a crisis!). Dale wants to fall in love with Jerry but can't because she thinks he is Horace who is married to her friend Madge. What pushes it even firther over the top is that Madge is playing matchmaker in all this buy trying to bring Jerry and Dale together. The only problem is Jerry isn't who Dale thinks he is and poor Dale can't understand why Madge would be so eager to set her up with her own husband.

The plot works for the times. In today's world the pot would be a horrible bomb but in the midst of the depression a ridiculous comedy is exactly what people needed and this one couldn't have been better! Astaire makes the dance scenes seem so effortless. As he dances across the set so gracefully, I had to remind myself of the hard work that goes into shooting a scene like that and since they were all done in one long take, it is even more amazing! Today, those sequences would be cut and chopped to give the actor a break and make it easier but Astaire wouldn't have it any other way. He was just that good. It really makes you appreciate his talent not only as an actor but also as a dancer. I have never seen a more graceful, talented male dancer.

The performances by Ginger Roberts and Edward Everett Horton were great as well. Ginger Roberts is with Astaire every step of the way never missing a tap. She holds] her own in each scene with Astaire and they were perfect together. I really fell for the story and loved watching them try to outsmart one another. Horton was also impressive. I have never seen someone be able to pull off double takes so easily time and time again within the same film. It was amazing how believable he was at being so slow to get things. Overall I thought this film was nothing short of perfect. Great scenes, great performances, and a very entertaining film. I highly recommend this one if you can stand black and white films, this one is definately a reel classic!