Top 50 Actors, #42 - Fred Astaire: "Top Hat" (1935)

Movie Stats:
Released 1935 (USA)
American, in English (minor, non-translated Latin & Italian)
Director - Mark Sandrich
Stars - Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton

Plot Summary:
When dance star Jerry Travers (Astaire) goes to work for producer Horace Hardwick (Horton), he meets and falls in love with the beautiful Dale Tremont (Rogers) without ever telling her his name. Unfortunately, she comes to believe he’s Horace, who’s married to her friend Madge (Helen Broderick). Hijinks ensue.

Warnings:
Very minor violence.

Bad Stuff:
I think the worst part of old romance movies is how bad the romances are. Like, I don’t consider kidnapping someone to be a romantic gesture. Also, domestic violence isn’t funny.

I don’t care for stories that rely on miscommunication as a central means to create drama/comedy/interest. It’s so frustrating. I spend the whole time thinking, “Just talk to each other, Jesus!”

I know this is a lighthearted comedy, so I really shouldn’t expect much in the way of character development, but I felt like people’s reactions in this made no sense. [SPOILER-y] For example, when Horace, Madge, and Beddini (Erik Rhodes) are adrift at sea, and Jerry & Dale — who presumably care about them — are like, “Lol, let’s go to a party!” Instead of, you know, sending them help before they’re lost forever. [SPOILER]

Good Stuff:
Of course, the song & dance routines are awesome. If you can believe it, I’d actually never seen Astaire in one of his singing/dancing roles before.

I loved the costuming & set design. The feather dress Rogers wore in her big dance routine was absolutely stunning.

Something about manservant Bates (Eric Blore) was so intensely entertaining. I enjoyed every scene that he was in.

About the Performance:
Astaire is quite likable in this. If I ignore the whole kidnapping thing (which is frankly light-hearted), Jerry is a sweet, innocent, kind-hearted guy who falls in love and puts his all into it. He’s cute. He’s got a great singing voice. His dancing is sublime. Would I watch this movie and think, “That’s a man with immense acting talent”? Probably not, but I’ve seen Astaire in some more serious films where I thought he was fantastic, so I understand why he earned himself a place on this list.

Other performances of Astaire’s I’ve reviewed: On the Beach.

The Verdict:
I feel kind of neutral about it. As comedies go, I didn’t find it particularly funny. At the same time, I didn’t hate it either. I enjoyed the spectacle of it. All of the actors were entertaining. I guess I just wasn’t particularly big on the story. I definitely would’ve liked to see a better script, I think that would’ve made me enjoy it a great deal more.

I give it 3.25 stars.