Swing Time (1936)

My Review

“Swing Time” is the sixth Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers match-up, where Fred plays a gambler/dancer looking for money to secure his marriage, and manages to hook up with dance instructor Ginger. The singing, dancing, and romance proceeds from there, well directed by George Stevens (“Giant” 1956) from a screenplay by Howard Lindsay and Allan Scott.

Jerome Kern wrote the music and Dorothy Fields the lyrics for this film, including “Pick Yourself Up,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” and “Bojangles of Harlem” (a salute to Bill Robinson done with trick photography). Co-stars include Betty Furness, Helen Broderick, Victor Moore, and Eric Blore.

The very entertaining “Swing Time” was the ninth highest grossing film of 1936 for producer Pandro S. Berman and RKO Radio Pictures. It was filmed at RKO Studios and Paramount Studios, both in Hollywood. “Swing Time” was nominated for two Academy Awards, winning one for Best Original Song (“The Way You Look Tonight” music by Kern, lyrics by Fields). The non-winner was for Best Choreography (“Bojangles of Harlem” Hermes Pan).