Carefree 1938 RKO Studios

Carefree

RKO – 1938

This film is a zany screwball comedy featuring Ginger Rogers (as Amanda Cooper) in the comic part and Fred Astaire (as Tony Flagg) as the straight man.  This is Ginger’s vehicle rather than Fred’s.  Ralph Bellamy is also in it, along with Luella Gear.  No one from our previous troupe of players is in this one.

The script is by Allan Scott.  The story is odd and sort of stupid, about the early days of psychoanalysis.  It seems immature to us now.  Don’t worry, our stuff will seem immature in 80 years too.  There are still great dance pieces.  The songs are by Irving Berlin.

First of all, may I say that Fred Astaire’s golf scene was beyond amazing.  Those are not fake golf balls nor fake ball flights.  There was no CGI back then. He was an avid golfer, and this is a great chance for him to show off his skill.

The next feature is a slow-motion dream-sequence dance called “I Used To Be Color Blind.”  It’s nice dancing with fun special effects.  And they actually kiss.  If you’ve been following these films, you have noticed a definite lack of smooching.  It didn’t used to be shown on camera very often.  Kissing is intimate and watching it all mouthy and make-out (ugh) on the big screen started later than the 1930s.  This kiss is fine.

My favorite moment:  Watching the lifts in slow motion is informative.  They are good dancers.

“The Yam” is a silly song (sung by Ginger only) and a great dance in a beautiful country club lodge.  That building looks like something we could live in, which is a departure from the glossy Art Deco sets of the previous films.  This dance sort of presages the types of dances done more in 1940s and 1950s movie musicals.  Even her dress is less elegant and more fussy, which is a direction fashion headed in the '40s.

My favorite moment:  Dancing through the place, room to room, even outside.  This one has a more realistic vibe, which is strange to say given how unreal this movie is.

There is a gun scene that is ridiculous.  It’s just not very funny either, and I think it’s supposed to be.  Ginger brings out all this scene can give, but it’s just not a great script.

“Change Partners” is a beautiful melody that has enjoyed some popularity since the film.  The dance is supposed to be a hypnotized woman dancing with her hypnotist.  OK, now that is scary and smacks of manipulation.  However, this is not a unique concept in musical theater.  Consider My Fair Lady (Pygmalion), Phantom of the Opera, On A Clear Day, Gigi, Funny Face, Daddy Long Legs and even Singin’ In The Rain.  A dominating older man “creates” his muse in a vulnerable younger woman.  Do we like this idea?  Nope, it’s not popular so much anymore, even when encountered in true stories with happy endings for all (cue The Sound of Music).  We should evaluate it in terms of the 1930s and not the 21^st century ideas.

My favorite moment:  He spins her with a spin of his fingers, as if he is controlling her by a remote.  She does a great job with her “trance dance.”

You will notice that I’m not glowing about this film.  It’s not their best, but the studio and the public wanted another one.  Their formula was getting a little tired, so this was different and had some nice music and dancing.  Watch and enjoy the good parts.