Roberta (1933), a musical comedy by Otto Harbach (book, lyrics), Jerome Kern (music). [ New Amsterdam Theatre, 295 perf.] When all‐American fullback John Kent (Ray Middleton) inherits the exclusive Paris dress shop “Roberta” from his Aunt Minnie (Fay Templeton), he and his pal Huckleberry Haines (Bob Hope) go to Europe to take charge. John allows his aunt's young assistant Stephanie (Tamara) to run the shop, and soon a romance blossoms between the two. The appearance of John's old flame, Sophie (Helen Gray), nearly destroys the affair, but John recollects that Sophie deserted him before and could do it again. He settles for Stephanie, who turns out to be a Russian princess. Notable songs: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes; The Touch of Your Hand; Yesterdays; You're Devastating. Derived from Alice Duer Miller's novel, Gowns by Roberta, the musical exemplifies the ability a single hit song once had to turn a potential failure into a success. Critics lambasted the Max Gordon show, especially its dull book, but the raging popularity of “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” turned its fate around.
Audio-only bonus: Hollywood on the Air radio promo
Subtitles: English, Français & Español (feature film only).
Vintage musical short Starlit Days at the Lido
Classic cartoon The Calico Dragon
Theatrical trailer
Rating:
Genre: Musical
Movie Type: Musical Romance
Themes: Fashion World, Opposites Attract
Director: William Seiter
Main Cast: Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott, Helen Westley
Release Year: 1935
Country: US
Run Time: 85 minutes
Plot
Alice Duer Miller's novel Gowns by Roberta was adapted into the 1933 Broadway musical Roberta, with music by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach. The 1935 filmization of Roberta was slightly adapted to accommodate the dancing talents of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, though their roles are secondary to the characters portrayed by Irene Dunne and Randolph Scott. Dunne plays a deposed White Russian princess who has become a famed Parisian couturier. Dunne is the partner of "Roberta" (Helen Westley), who passes away, leaving her half of the business to American football player Randolph Scott--who of course knows next to nothing about the gown business, and couldn't care less anyway. Astaire co-stars as bandleader Huck Haines, the character played by Bob Hope in the original Broadway production of Roberta. Rogers rounds out the cast as a phony Polish countess who happens to be Astaire's former girlfriend. Many of the songs written for Roberta were retained for the film version, including "Lovely to Look At," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "I Won't Dance;" other tunes are heard as background music. Keep an eye out for a blond Lucille Ball as a fashion model. Withdrawn from circulation for many years due to the 1952 MGM remake (titled Lovely to Look At), Roberta began making the public-domain rounds in the early 1980s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Like Flying Down to Rio, Roberta is a film in which Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers play supporting roles -- but provide the real highlights of the film. This is not to slight the film's female star, Irene Dunne, who turns in a good, stylish performance and sounds wonderful when singing a rueful "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and a charming "Lovely to Look At." But Dunne's love affair with Randolph Scott is less involving, interesting -- just plain less fun -- than that involving the dancing stars. Roberta includes three top notch Astaire-Rogers routines. "I'll be Hard to Handle" is justifiably famous, incorporating a difficult tap duet that turns into a magnificent challenge dance, and ending in a gorgeous swirl of energy that melts into a gentle collapse. In "I Won't Dance," Astaire solos for Rogers, displaying a catalogue of movement that belies the title, and their tender pas de deux to "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" is delicate and lovely. When not singing -- or displaying eye-catching fashions -- Roberta tends to drag a bit, but the musical moments, Dunne's way with a phrase, and Astaire and Rogers make it well worth the wait. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
This article is about the 1933 Broadway play. For the 1935 film, see Roberta (1935 film). For the community in the United States, see Roberta, Georgia.
The play was made into a film in 1935 by RKO
starring Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Randolph Scott. The film omitted "The Touch of
Your Hand" (sung by a minor character), and "You're Devastating" (originally Middleton's big song in the show), but added the
Kern songs "I Won't Dance" and "Lovely to Look At", which became so popular that they are
now always included in revivals and recordings of Roberta.
The show was also presented on television in a highly adapted, modernized 1969 NBC color
telecast. This production was presented by Bob Hope, who reprised his original stage role,
inserting many new, then-topical jokes about current events. Others in the cast included Michele
Lee, John Davidson, and Janis
Paige (who sang "I Won't Dance" with a male chorus).
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