Stage Door (1937)

I watched Stage Door (1937) the other day and knew right there and then that it certainly deserved a post. I mean, Ginger Rogers, Katharine Hepburn, Adoplhe Menjou and Lucille Ball, all in one film? Count me in!

"It'd be a terrific innovation if you could get your mind to stretch a little further than the next wisecrack."

~Terry Randall from Stage Door

Stage Door (1937) Directed by Gregory La Cava

Terry Randall: I see that, in addition to your other charms, you have that insolence generated by an inferior upbringing. Jean Maitland: Hmm! Fancy clothes, fancy language and everything! Terry Randall: Unfortunately, I learned to speak English correctly. Jean Maitland: That won't be of much use to you here. We all talk pig latin. 

Cast:

• Katharine Hepburn as Terry Randall
• Ginger Rogers as Jean Maitland
• Adolphe Menjou as Anthony Powell
• Constance Collier as Catherine Luther
• Gail Patrick as Linda Shaw
• Andrea Leeds as Kay Hamilton
• Samuel S. Hinds as Henry Sims
• Lucille Ball as Judy Canfield

Plot:

The Footlights club is a theatrical boarding house in New York, inhabited by fast-talking, quick-witted showgirls all desperately in need of a job. Some of them, like Linda, take the easy way out by having a "sugar daddy" to buy her clothes and take her out, but the others take it the hard way. Work all the way. None more so than Jean Maitland who is determined to be "discovered" the right way. One day, Terry Randall arrives at the Footlights Club. Though slightly stage struck, Terry isn't going to take any nonsense. But she is teased by the other girls for being rich and well educated (her father is "Henry Sims, the wheat king", though she keeps that under wraps), especially by her new roommate, Jean. They don't hit it off well and Jean says they, "started off on the wrong foot, so lets stay that way." Despite Terry's efforts to be friendly.

One lodger in particular is finding it hard to get a job, Kay Hamilton was a big success in a play produced by Anthony Powell, but now can't get any work. 

One day she goes to Powell's office in search of the lead part in his new play "Enchanted April", with which she has a personal connection. After she is refused his audience for the nth time that week, she faints at the desk. Just before this, Terry comes in and sees all and she does storm the office - but to go and give Powell a piece of her mind.

Powell (left) "entertaining" Linda

After this, the girls start to give her a little more respect. But when Jean starts being tempted by Anthony Powell's fancy clothes and dinner trips and broadway star power, Terry steps in and goes to Anthony's apartment; to talk business. And not knowing that her good friend Kay wanted the part, get's the lead in Enchanted April. A play that her millionaire father is secretly financing on the condition that Terry plays the lead. But there is a lot more to go wrong than Terry suspects. And Kay is at her very lowest, with tragic results.

The Verdict:

I really liked this film. I know that it not everyone thinks it's amazing... but "I like it!" (Singing In The Rain reference, anyone? or just me.) I do completely get that Katharine Hepburn didn't understand her character and said that she was unimportant in the story, but the way that she plays Terry makes her essential to the film. It is quite vague and I can't imagine how hard it would be to make a memorable character from the lines alone, but Katharine Hepburn manages to give it the extra attitude and personality that was needed to make the role. She actually asked the director Gregory La Cava what the main point of her character was and he replied "She is a human question mark." After she asked him what that meant he replied, "Damned if I know." 

"The callalilies are in bloom again. Such a strange flower. Suitable to any occasion... I carried them on my wedding day and now I place them here in memory of something that has died." ~ Enchanted April

I really enjoyed Katharine Hepburn and Ginger Roger's performance together, even though they reportedly hated each other on set, but I liked the banter and the witty insults. Apparently {cue long-winded, might not even be true story...} the scriptwriters were inspired by listening to the actresses talk on set and lots of the fast paced exchanges and all that jazz is kind of what they sounded like! Cool, no? {And not as long-winded as predicted. Well there's a first time for everything ;-)} And this was my first Ginger Rogers film!

There are basically no men in this film, and I enjoyed the atmosphere of the predominantly women cast, a little like The Women. And this is all going fine and then BAM! Adolphe Menjou!

He's a good actor and all, but in this (and everything else I've seen him in) he has more than the average dose of sleazy. His whole section of the plot wasn't very well developed, and I think that problem stems from the fact that the character of Anthony Powell wasn't in the original play.

There were quite a few emotional moments in the film, but the one that really got me upset was when Jean walks into Terry's dressing room *SPOILERS AHEAD* and tells her that Kay has committed suicide and blames Terry. Then after Jean leaves Terry has a complete crying fit and is just heartbroken and I was just sitting there with my sister and both of us were really sad.

All the supporting actresses playing the roommates in the boarding house are great. I love Ann Miller and she was actually only fourteen when she made this! In the words of the wise Jo March... CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS! That is actually only one year older than me and she is up there dancing with Ginger Rogers and acting with Katharine Hepburn and Lucille Ball and Adolphe Menjou... Wow. I better start getting a move on!

Awesome, if not a trifle over-enthusiastic...

Lucille Ball is a also lovely, I haven't seen any "I Love Lucy" and I really want to! It's not available on youtube either so I'm just gonna have to wait until at least Christmas.

Eve Arden was also really funny :-D. Andrea Leeds is so fantastic. Just heartbreaking!

Here are two great quotes from Eve Arden's character in the film:

Mary Lou: Well, certainly you must have heard of "Hamlet"! 

Eve: Well, I meet so many people.

Eve: A pleasant little foursome. I predict a hatchet murder before the night's over. 

My mum also told me that Constance Collier is a great favourite of my Grandma's. I can see why. She was totally in her character the whole way through. At the beginning I was a bit concerned about how the performance would turn out, but I found that her portrayal worked out better than I had expected. Also, during the filming, she and Katharine Hepburn became great friends and remained so for the rest of her life. During Katharine Hepburn's stretch of time during the 50s when she played lots of Shakespeare and classics Constance Collier was her acting coach and when Constance Collier died, her secretary came to work for Katharine Hepburn, and did for 40 years. I think that's lovely :-)

And can I just say... Is Gail Patrick like, omnipresent? I don't know what it is but she has been in three of the films I've watched recently and I feel like she's just there... Always playing the same character... It's a bit weird...

Overall a very enjoyable film. Not a masterpiece and there are some holes and slow drags in the script but there are certain parts which I thought were fantastic. Definitely worth a watch.

~Bette

Star Of Midnight(1935).

Star of Midnight (1935). Directed by Stephen Roberts. Cast: William Powell, Ginger Rogers, Paul Kelly, Gene Lockhart.

Looking for his girl friend Alice, who has missing for over a year ago, Tim Winthrop goes to New York to ask his friend, criminal lawyer Clay Dalzell, for help. While there, Tim, Clay and Donna Mantin, Clay's fiancee, decide go to the theater, where actress Mary Smith, is performing. Just as the show begins, Clay receives a message to meet gangster Jimmy Kinland, to retrieve the love letters, that Donna, has asked him to pick up for her. He soon discovers the letters are not from Donna, but from a married friend. It is not long after he hears the news that Mary Smith, disappeared during her first act.

Soon after Clay, returns home and is visited by his friend Tim, who tells him that Mary Smith is Alice, and then by newspaper gossip columnist Tommy Tennant, who is shot and killed in Clay's bedroom. The killer throws his gun next to dazed Clay, making it look like he murdered Tommy. The producer of Mary's show and gangster Jimmy Kinland,  both seem to know more than their telling. Clay, is determined to find the killer with the help of Donna and his butler.

This movie is very enjoyable with plenty of humour, intrigue, everything we love about William Powell . Ginger Rogers,  also gives a wonderful performances and seems very natural playing opposite William Powell.

Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942).

Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942). Romantic comedy/drama. Cast: Cary Grant, Ginger Rogers, and Walter Slezak.

The story begins when Katie O'Hara, a ex-burlesque queen who pretends to be Philadelphia socialite Katherine Smith, who is about to marry, Baron Von Luber. Katie is visited by reporter Pat O'Toole, who is writing an article trying to expose the baron as a Nazi undercover agent. Recognizing Katie as stripper, Pat follows her to Prague, where Katie and the baron are to be married.

After the fall of Czechoslovakia, the baron and Katie board a train for Poland. When the baron is questioned by the police about the money found in his wife's purse, Pat goes to warn Katie about her new husband. Katie, does not believe him, and sends Pat back to his compartment with his saxophone.

In Warsaw, Pat meets Katie at her hotel and invites her to a cafe, where he tells her she should leave her husband.

Meanwhile... the baron is trying to sell Polish General Borelski, guns. When the guns fail to work, Pat contacts the general, who now realize that the guns are part of the baron's plans to destroy Poland. The general, who is the only person who can testify against the baron, is assassinated, and the baron is jailed for questioning. Pat visits Katie in her hotel suite, where she begins to believe that her husband is a Nazi. Katie, fakes her death and runs off with O'Toole. In Paris, she is recruited to spy against her husband. Will she be able to go through with it?

Fun Facts:

The question of top billing was resolved by having half of the prints with Cary Grant listed first, and the other half with Ginger Rogers listed first. The TCM print lists Grant first, but the programs distributed for the world premiere at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City listed Rogers first.

Berlin-born Natasha Lytess, who appears in the small role as the Jewish hotel maid, was Marilyn Monroe's acting coach and friend for many years.

Once Upon a Honeymoon, reminded me a little of the film, Notorious. Which has Grant as an FBI agent who gets Ingrid Bergman to marry Claude Rains to spy on his activities. Once Upon A Honeymoon, does a wonderful job in the comedy and propaganda departments.

Ginger Rogers (July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995). During her amazing career, she made a total of 73 films, and is best known for her role as Fred Astaire's romantic interest and dancing partner in a series of ten  musical films that revolutionized the genre. She also achieved great success in a variety of film roles and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Kitty Foyle (1940).

Happy Birthday: Ginger Rogers!

Personal Quote:

My mother told me I was dancing before I was born. She could feel my toes tapping wildly inside her for months.

Please click here to learn more about Ginger Rogers.

Please chick here to view musical page Ginger Rogers posts.

Pre- Code: Upper World (1934).

Upper World(1934).Cast: Warren William, Ginger Rogers and Mary Astor.

Rich railroad tycoon Alex Stream, is a wonderful family man. His wife Hettie's, first priority in life is her rich society friends. When Alex rescues drowning showgirl Lilly Linder, he finds her very charming and she thanks him by cooking dinner for him. When Hettie forgets their wedding anniversary and makes other plans, Alex invites Lilly to join him for dinner. Alex find himself spending a lot of time with Lilly. Lilly's boyfriend, tries to convince her to blackmail Alex, and when she refuses, Lou steals Alex's letters to her. When Lou confronts him, Alex believes that Lilly was also involved in the plan. While he tries to get the letters back from Lou, he shoots and accidentally kills Lilly. Alex shoots Lou in self-defense, then tries to make it look like a murder-suicide. Alex thinks that nobody has seen him, but a policeman  recognised his car parked outside the apartment and is convinced that he is the murderer. Will Alex be able to prove his innocence?

Both Mary Astor and Ginger Rogers are both highly entertaining, in this early movie in their film careers. William is his typical cool self. Dickie Moore is also good as William's son and Naish nearly steals the scenes as the ruthless wannabe gangster. Sidney Toler, the future Charlie Chan, plays the cop out to break William. It is also fun to see a younger Andy Devine.

Warren William (December 2, 1894 – September 24, 1948) was a Broadway and Hollywood actor, popular during the early 1930s, who was nicknamed the "king of Pre-Code". He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After moving from Broadway to Hollywood in 1931, he reached his peak as a leading man in early 1930s pre-Production Code films. He was a contract player at the Warner Bros. studio and was known for portraying heartless businessmen and lawyers, including the Sam Spade character in the second filming of The Maltese Falcon, called Satan Met a Lady (1936) with Bette Davis.

He also played sympathetic roles, as in Imitation of Life, in which he portrayed Claudette Colbert's love interest. He appeared as her love interest again that year, when he played Julius Caesar to her Cleopatra in Cecil B. DeMille's version of Cleopatra. And he was the swashbuckling d'Artagnan in the 1939 version of The Man in the Iron Mask.

William was the first to portray Erle Stanley Gardner's fictional defense attorney Perry Mason on the big screen and starred in four Perry Mason mysteries. He also played Raffles-like reformed jewel thief The Lone Wolf  beginning with The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt (1939) with Ida Lupino and Rita Hayworth, and he starred as detective Philo Vance in two films in that series, 1934's The Dragon Murder Case and 1939's The Gracie Allen Murder Case .

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Ginger Rogers.

Pawsome Pet Pictures - Ginger Rogers and friend

I hope you haven't selected this pic yet of Ginger and her dalmation Dawn. If you did, I'm sorry to be posting it before you. It's a great photo.

Lucky Partners(1940).

Lucky Partners(1940). Cast: Ronald Colman, Ginger Rogers, Jack Carson and Spring Byington.

Artist David Grant, wishes book store owner Jean Newton, good luck when she passes by. When, Jean is given a beautiful dress she decides that David has brought her good luck. She then asks him to buy a sweep stake ticket with her, and he agrees on the condition that if they win, she will take a trip with him, before she marries Freddie. When David promises that the trip will be kept on a strictly impersonal basis, Freddie agrees .

Their ticket is picked and with their winnings they decide to vacation in, Niagara Falls, with Freddie not far behind. Expecting to find the couple together, Freddie breaks down their door, only to find that David has checked out of the hotel and is driving back to Manhattan. While driving home David is stopped on the road and arrested for stealing Jean's car. In court, Jean and Freddie try to explain the situation, but their story fails to convince the judge.After David and Jean cross-examine each other, the judge fines Freddie for breaking down the door. Will Jean and David ever declare their love for each other.

Ronald Colman had first performed in films in England in 1917 and 1919 for Cecil in, The Snow of the Desert. While performing on stage in New York in, La Tendress, Director Henry King saw him, and hired him for the film, The White Sister(1923), opposite Lillian Gish. Colman left the the stage for film. He became a very popular silent film star in both romantic and adventure films: The Dark Angel (1925), Stella Dallas (1926), Beau Geste (1927), and The Winning of Barbara Worth (1926). His dark hair and eyes and his athletic and riding ability led reviewers to describe him as a "Valentino type". He was often cast in similar roles. Towards the end of the silents era, Colman was teamed with actress, Vilma Banky and the two became a popular movie team rivalling Greta Garbo and John Gilbert.

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Ginger Rogers.

Ginger Rogers and her furry friend.

Newsreels of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.

Newsreels of Ginger making imprints at Grauman's Chinese Theater 1939,
receiving her Academy Award 1941,
Fred dancing and introducing his sister Adele at the Stage Door Canteen in London 1944,
Fred dancing on the streets of Paris 1944,
Fred and Ginger at the Oscar's 1967 (mute) and more.

Perfect Strangers(1950)

Perfect Strangers(1950). Comedy-drama. Director: Bretaigne Windust.Cast: Ginger Rogers, Dennis Morgan and Thelma Ritter. The screenplay for the Warner Bros. release by Edith Sommer was based on an adaptation of the 1939 Ben Hecht-Charles MacArthur play Ladies and Gentlemen by George Oppenheimer.

Jury members selected to sit for the Los Angeles murder trial of Ernest Craig are: Terry Scott, who is separated from her husband; David Campbell, married with two children; Lena Fassler, pregnant with her sixth child; Mrs. Isobel Bradford, a society woman; and womanizer Robert Fisher.

The sequestered jury discuss over dinner, how they believe Craig murdered his wife when she refused to give him a divorce so he could marry his secretary. Terry tells the others to keep an open mind until they hear the case.

After the first day in court, the jurors return to their hotel suite. During a heated discussion of the case, Terry and David walk out to the balcony, but are soon joined by Isobel and Fisher. David and Isobel agree that when Craig had the motive for the murder, Terry accuses them of being too opinionated.

Later David walks out to the balcony. He runs into Terry, who apologizes for her earlier outburst, they talk about what they would be doing if they were at home.
David talks about his family, Terry talks about her lonely life since separating from her husband. They end up in each other arms for a passionate kiss.

The following day in court, the district attorney reads a love letter from Craig to Eileen, which upsets Terry. During the next break, she tells David that they should stop seeing each other.

Things look bad for Craig when his sister-in-law takes the stand saying that she heard him quarrel with his wife before she fell to her death from a cliff. After the defense presents its case, the jury begins to deliberate the verdict, David is elected foreman.

Will Terry decide to she return to Cleveland and her husband?
Is Graig found Innocent or guilty?

I love all of Ginger's performances. Among the supporting roles, Thelma Ritter delivers as always.


Thelma Ritter did stock theater and radio shows early in her career. Ritter's first movie performance was in the film, Miracle on 34th Street (1947). Her second role, A Letter to Three Wives (1949).Ritter was also cast in the film, in All About Eve (1950), which earned her an Oscar nomination. A second nomination followed for her work in, The Mating Season (1951) starring Gene Tierney and John Lund. Ritter performed steady for the next dozen years. She also performed in many of the episodic drama TV series of the 1950s, such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, General Electric Theater, and The United States Steel Hour. Later film roles were as James Stewart's nurse in Rear Window (1954) and as Doris Day's housekeeper in Pillow Talk (1959). Although best-known for comedy roles, she performed in occasional dramatic roles, Pickup on South Street (1953) and The Misfits (1961).

Happy Birthday: Ginger Rogers!

Ginger Rogers, made a total of 73 films, and is best known for her role as Fred Astaire's romantic interest and dancing partner in a series of ten Hollywood musical films. She also achieved success in a variety of film roles, and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Kitty Foyle (1940). Kitty Foyle, a hard-working girl from a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, meets and falls in love with young socialite Wyn Strafford but his family is against her.

Forgotten Film: The First Traveling Saleslady(1956)

The First Traveling Saleslady (1956). Cast Ginger Rogers, Carol Channing, James Arness and Clint Eastwood.

The story begins when Rose and her friend Molly, decide to head west to sell barbed wire. Unfortunately, they end up in trouble with the local cowboys. The the cowboys try to run them out of town, certain that the wire will injure the cattle. The women's only friend is horseless carriage inventor Charles Masters.

I thought it was a sweet little film, but no more than that. It was fun to see a Clint Eastwood 26 years old and handsome. He does fit the western mold, although there is little evidence of the figure that Clint would soon become.

Fun Facts:

The script for The First Traveling Saleslady was first offered to Mae West, who declined, and many of the film's reviewers, Rogers might have been wiser to do the same. "Lame, offbeat, an interesting but failed experiment, The First Traveling Saleslady only underlined the emptiness of such backward-looking fare in changing times," wrote Patrick McGilligan, author of Ginger Rogers.

Ginger Rogers would joke that this picture shut down RKO (it was the last film produced by that studio).

Clint Eastwood's first on screen performance with a speaking part.

A Chance at Heaven (1933)

A Chance at Heaven(1933). Drama. Director: William Selter. Cast: Ginger Rogers, Joel McCrea and Andy Devine.

Blacky, the owner of a gas station proposes to his long time girlfriend, Marje Harris. Soon after, the wealthy, Glory Franklyn moves to Silver Beach and the moment she sees Blacky, it is love at first sight.

Blacky leaves Marje to marry Glory, even though her mother strongly disapproves of Blacky. Glory, does not know how to cook and because Marge, still loves Blacky, Marje teaches Glory how to make, chicken pie. When Glory, discovers that she is pregnant, she panics and runs to New York, to be with her mother leaving her husband behind. What will happen to this mismatched couples marriage?

I thought this was a Fun film, even with a serious plot of love between a mismatched couple. Ginger Rogers, character was a little to sweet for her own good.

Marian Nixon (October 20, 1904 – February 13, 1983). Nixon began her career as a teen working as a chorus dancer on the vaudeville circuit. She began appearing in bit part in films in 1922 and landed her first role in the 1923 film Cupid's Fireman. Nixon continued to work steadily throughout the mid to late 1920s appearing in, Riders of the Purple Sage (1925), Hands Up! (1926), and The Chinese Parrot (1927). In 1929, she made her talkie debut as the lead in Geraldine. Later that same year, Nixon appeared opposite Al Jolson in, Say It with Songs followed by General Crack in 1930.

In 1932, she starred as Rebecca in the film adaption of, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm. Following the release of Rebecca, Nixon co-starred in, Winner Take All. The next year she had a supporting role in John Ford's, Pilgrimage. In 1934, Nixon attempted to change her wholesome image with a role in the comedy, We’re Rich Again. The film wasn't a success and after appearing in eight more films, Nixon retired from acting in 1936.

The Major and the Minor (1942)

The Major and the Minor (1942). Comedy. Director: Billy Wilder. The screenplay by Wilder and Charles Brackett is based on the play Connie Goes Home by Edward Childs Carpenter. Cast: Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland and Rita Johnson.

After living in New York for one year, Susan decides to return home, but.. learns at the train stations ticket window that the fare has gone up and she does not have enough for the fare. Susan quickly comes up with an idea when she sees a child buy the ticket at half-price. She runs into the women's bathroom and dresses as a little girl. She then pays a stranger to buy her a child's ticket on the train. When one of the conductors catches her smoking a cigarette, Susan hides in the sleeper cabin occupied by Major Philip Kirby. Philip, befriends "Su-su" and hides her from the conductors and lets her stay the night in the lower bunk. The following day, the train is delayed by flooding on the tracks, and Philip's fiancee Pamela and her father, Colonel Hill, drive up to meet him. When Pamela sees Susan, she become suspicious, and Philip brings Susan to the military school to prove that she is twelve year old girl. After the misunderstanding is cleared up, Philip insists that Susan stays until someone can take her home. Pamela's teenage sister Lucy sees through Susan, but because her sister is a thorn in her side, she befriends Susan. Lucy shares that Pamela claims she is helping Philip to get active duty, she actually has been using her connections to prevent him from enlisting. Susan decides to trick Pamela's connections into getting Philip reinstated, when Pamela hears the news, she calls off their engagement. Pamela learns of Susan's involvement and threatens to expose her and Philip in a scandal. Will Susan reveal her true age to Philip?

I enjoyed this fluffy comedy because of its two stars. Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland who had perfect on screen chemistry in the film. it was also interesting to watch Billy Wilder's directorial debut.



Fun Fact:

Wilder was driving home from the studio one evening and pulled up at a red light next to Ray Milland. He called out, "I'm doing a picture. Would you like to be in it?," and the actor said, "Sure." Wilder sent him the script. Three years later the two men would collaborate on The Lost Weekend, which would win Oscars for both of them.

Vivacious lady(1938)

Vivacious Lady (1938). Romantic/ comedy. Cast: Ginger Rogers and James Stewart. Produced and directed by George Stevens. The screenplay was written by P.J. Wolfson and Ernest Pagano and adapted from a short story by I. A. R. Wylie. The music score was by Roy Webb. Cinematography by Robert De Grasse. Supporting cast: Frances Mercer, Beulah Bondi, Franklin Pangborn, and Charles Coburn, as well as an uncredited performance by Hattie McDaniel.

Peter is sent to Manhattan, to pick up his cousin Keith and falls in love with Francey at first sight, while watching her performance at a Night Club. After a one-day courtship, Peter and Francey are married, and return home, where Peter teaches at the university run by his father who is known for being an overbearing man. While Peter decides how to break the news to his father, Francey stays at a women-only hotel. Peter mentions Francey to his father twice, but Mr. Morgan interrupts his son when his mother has a flare-up of her heart condition, which makes telling his news impossible. Peter decides to announce the marriage to his parents at the university's prom. Keith brings Francey to the prom and Francey, develops a friendship with Mrs. Morgan, but gets into a fight with Helen in which Francey accidentally hits Peter's father. Now, how is Peter going to break the news to his father?


This film is a wonderful comedy. One of my favorite scenes is when she gets into a fight with Helen and says: Helen: I'm going to give you a piece of my mind...
Francey: Oh, I couldn't take the last piece!


Fun Facts:

This film is one of five times that Beulah Bondi portrayed James Stewart's mother. The others are: It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington(1939), Of Human Hearts (1938) and once on his television series, "The Jimmy Stewart Show" (1971).

Since Ginger's legs were insured for $500,000 they were strapped with boards and padded for protection during the fight scene. Filming on "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" started soon after this film wrapped, and RKO could not afford to have an injured musical star.

GINGER ROGERS

Ginger Rodgers, made a total of 73 films, and is best known for her role as Fred Astaire's romantic interest and dancing partner in ten Hollywood musical films. She also achieved success in many other film roles, and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Kitty Foyle (1940).

Rogers' first movie performances were films made in 1929, Night in the Dormitory, A Day of a Man of Affairs, and Campus Sweethearts. Shortly after opening in Top Speed, Rogers was to star on Broadway in Girl Crazy the musical made Ginger a star. She made her screen breakthrough in the film 42nd Street (1933). She went on to make films with RKO Radio Pictures, Flying Down to Rio (1933), where she performed with Dolores del Río and Fred Astaire.

Rogers was best known for her partnership with Fred Astaire. From 1933 to 1939, they made nine musical films: Flying Down to Rio (1933), The Gay Divorcee (1934), Roberta (1935), Top Hat (1935), Follow the Fleet (1936), Swing Time (1936), Shall We Dance (1937), and Carefree (1938), The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939) and a tenth The Barkleys of Broadway(1949). Ginger Rodgers, combined her dancing skills, beauty and her talent as a dramatic actress and comedienne, complementing Astaire, who sometimes struggled as an actor and was not considered handsome. They had wonderful on screen chemistry in their performances in the comic numbers "I'll Be Hard to Handle" from Roberta (1935), "I'm Putting all My Eggs in One Basket" from Follow the Fleet (1936) and "Pick Yourself Up" from Swing Time (1936). Astaire made use of her flexible back in classic romantic dances such as "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" from Roberta (1935), "Cheek to Cheek" from Top Hat (1935) and "Let's Face the Music and Dance" from Follow the Fleet (1936). One of Gingers best performances with Astaire was in the "Waltz in Swing Time" from Swing Time (1936). She tried to avoid solo dance performances and performed only one: "Let Yourself Go."

Please check out Noir and Chick Flicks Musicals index, for Ginger Rodgers movie reviews.

Ginger Rogers Favorites:

Actors/ Actresses: Cary Grant, Lucille Ball, Lew Ayres, Fred Astaire
Films: All Quiet on the Western Front
Foods: eggs sunny-side up and crisp bacon, steak and baked Idaho potatoes, and ice cream
Color: pink
Drinks: ice-cream sodas
Car: Rolls Royce
Hobbies: sculpting, painting, swimming, tennis, golf


Some of my favorite Ginger Rogers films:

42nd Street (1933)
Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933
Sitting Pretty (1933)
Flying Down to Rio (1933)
Change of Heart (1934)
The Gay Divorcee (1934)
Romance in Manhattan(1935)
Roberta (1935)
Star of Midnight (1935)
Top Hat (1935)
Follow the Fleet (1936)
Swing Time (1936)
Shall We Dance(1937)
Stage Door (1937)
Vivacious Lady(1938)
Carefree (1938)
Bachelor Mother(1939)
5th Ave Girl (1939)
Kitty Foyle (1940)
Tom, Dick and Harry (1941)
The Major and the Minor (1942)
Once Upon a Honeymoon(1942)
Week-End at the Waldorf (1945)

STAGE DOOR (1937)

Stage Door (1937). Adapted from the play by the same name. Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, Gail Patrick, Constance Collier, Andrea Leeds, Samuel S. Hinds, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden and Ann Miller.

When Terry Randall, an aspiring actress arrives at the Footlights Club, she is greeted by a group of actresses and chorus girls. Terry's uppity manner immediately alienates her from her roommates who pride themselves on their down-to-earth style. Because of her relationship with producer Anthony Powell, known womanizer, Jean also dislikes another room mate, Linda Shaw. Loved by all is Kay Hamilton, a actress who had done well the previous year, has since been unable to find work. Jean is spotted during a dance rehearsal by Powell, who arranges an audition for her and her partner Annie at a nightclub. Later Kay faints in Powell's office when she learns that the producer has refused to see her. Angry, Terry bursts into Powell's office and gives him what for, for his callous behavior. Powell dismisses Terry, but when he is later approached by a potential backer who has made casting Terry a part of his offer, agrees to star her in his next play, Enchanted April. Powell then invites Jean to dine with him and to spite Linda, Jean accepts. Powell shows Jean pictures of his young son and estranged wife, and plays a "poor little me" routine to win her over. When Jean becomes drunk, Powell sends her home, where Terry helps her to bed. Later Powell tells Terry that he wants her to star in Enchanted April. Kay is stunned to learn that Terry has been cast in the role and blesses her room mate's good luck. In spite of Terry's bad performance during rehearsal, Powell keeps her in the show and prepares for bad reviews. What will it take to turn Terry's out look on life?

FUN FACTS:

Ann Miller was only 14 years old when she performed in this film. She had lied about her age and produced a fake birth certificate. Miller was tall and beautiful at age 14 that she pulled it off. It is quite impressive to see her holding her own while dancing with Ginger Rogers, by then the dance partner of Fred Astaire.