Flying Down To Rio 1933 RKO Studios

Flying Down to Rio

RKO 1933

Bo was 16 when this film (or “picture” as movies were called in the 1930s) was made.  And my Dad had hair like Gene Raymond, who was a star in this film.  This film had talking, and singing, tap dance sounds and even daring scenes with some special effects.  Cutting edge stuff in 1933. 

If you are new to watching Astaire & Rogers (A&R) films, please do not actually begin the viewing with this one because it’s silly.  The next seven are much better movies.  But if you are a purist and want to watch the evolution of the dance team, you have to start here.

This movie was the first pairing of Fred Astaire, a 33-year-old Broadway star who had recently come to Hollywood after his sister/partner had married an Englishman; and Ginger Rogers, a 22-year-old singing starlet who had started on Broadway and been pals with Fred, but had left New York City for Hollywood. 

Fred was an extremely accomplished dancer and a good singer who was not classically handsome but was excessively charming.  Ginger was an adorable, beautiful, perfect-physique petite redhead (eventually a blonde) who could sing with gusto and dance the same way.  She was not formally trained as a dancer but was loaded with natural talent and good experience.

This movie was not their movie.  It was a vehicle for Delores Del Rio (gorgeous) and Gene Raymond (handsome).  The script is dumb, but involves airplane travel, which was still new back then.  Only the wealthy could fly.  Fred and Ginger are supporting players who get to show off their singing and dancing abilities throughout the movie. 

They also show comedy chops.  They steal the show.  The studio noticed and that’s why they got to make 8 more movies together at RKO, and one at MGM.  They had a magical chemistry on-screen, and so much talent.

This movie actually had a reputation for the skankiness of the costumes.  They are pretty risqué at times.  Obviously, “old fashioned” doesn’t mean prudish here.  Or rather, there is nothing new in this world except technology.  I would prefer it if they hadn’t used so many see-through and loose floppy costumes.  I think they are not elegant, or even cute.  Costumes get much better in the future A&R movies.

Their best and most famous scene from this film is called “The Carioca” which is supposed to be a Brazilian folk song and dance about people in Rio de Janeiro.  However, Vincent Youmans, Edward Eliscu and Gus Kahn wrote it.  They are NOT Brazilian. 

Here’s the set-up:  Fred (FA) and Honey (GR), friends and co-worker musicians enjoying their evening at the nightclub, observe this hot local dance and decide to give it a try.  They dance brilliantly, of course, with their foreheads together.  Their dance not only entertains the crowd, but also helps these two realize that they like each other.  It’s sort of a “first date” dance.

You have to watch this scene twice.  First, watch and enjoy the dance.  Ignore the awkward cutaway moments to other people at tables at the club.  Enjoy the stage that looks like a flower of grand pianos.  Second time, look at their faces.  In 1933 Ginger is a newbie to dancing at the level of Fred, and she looks like she is working to keep up.  Her posture isn’t perfect, but her smile is. Every time.  This is beyond the current dance trend to choreograph the face.  This is acting.  One of the reasons their work is so timeless is their facial acting. 

My favorite moment:  In order to get those foreheads together after a turn, Fred (FA) gently guides Honey (GR) by a hand on the back of her head.  He uses his upstage hand, so it’s barely noticeable.

After their dance, some sort of strange flash-mob mentality takes over the film and there are dancers everywhere.  It gets so weird – but it’s been goofy all along.  This is a silly movie, but the A&R scenes are worth the watch.

There are other great Fred dance moments in this film.  He’s dancing beyond belief at times.  Ginger puts on a nearly see-through dress to sing with the band, just barely covering enough.  And then there are the scantily clad women dancing and singing on the wings of the airplanes.  Crazy.

And please don’t give up – this is definitely one of the worst, stupidest A&R films, and even so it’s still sort of fun.  If you just can’t cope, then skip through and only watch the Fred and Ginger scenes.  Great, right?  Trust me, in future films they get even better!