Main Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Alice Brady, Edward Everett Horton, Erik Rhodes
Release Year: 1934
Country: US
Run Time: 107 minutes
MPAA Rating: NR
Plot
Based on Dwight Taylor and Cole Porter's play of the same name, The Gay Divorcee centers on Mimi (Ginger Rogers), a woman seeking a divorce from her husband. Mimi travels to an English seaside resort, pursued by the love-stricken Guy (Fred Astaire), whom she mistakes for the hired correspondent in her divorce case. Among the many musical numbers featured are "Night and Day," the only song from the original Broadway musical included in the film, and "The Continental," which won the first ever Academy Award for Best Song. Directed by Mark Sandrich, the film features supporting performances by Alice Brady and Edward Everett Horton. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
Review
The Gay Divorcee is a good example of Depression-era escapism at its best. The glamorous Ginger Rogers was already a big star and the debonair Fred Astaire was on his way to becoming one. The viewer is treated to a feast of opulence free from the cares of the world -- except the ones necessary to provide the film with a plot. The film's happy ending is welcomingly contrived in a way that protects the morality of the primary characters, providing the audience with a guilt-free, feel-good conclusion. The music and the dancing of Astaire and Rogers are the primary reasons why current-day audiences continue to enjoy The Gay Divorcee. Among the musical highlights is The Continental, a witty and sophisticated exercise in flirting that brought the first-ever Best Song Oscar to Con Conrad and Herb Magidson. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide
Carroll Clark - Art Director, Van Nest Polglase - Art Director, Fred Astaire - Choreography, David Gould - Choreography, Hermes Pan - Choreography, Walter Plunkett - Costume Designer, Argyle Nelson - First Assistant Director, Mark Sandrich - Director, Willaim Hamilton - Editor, Con Conrad - Composer (Music Score), Mack Gordon - Composer (Music Score), Samuel Hoffenstein - Composer (Music Score), Cole Porter - Composer (Music Score), Harry Revel - Composer (Music Score), Kenneth Webb - Composer (Music Score), Herb Magidson - Composer (Music Score), Max Steiner - Musical Direction/Supervision, Dave Abel - Cinematographer, Pandro S. Berman - Producer, Vernon Walker - Special Effects, Edward Kaufman - Screenwriter, George Marion, Jr. - Screenwriter, Dwight Taylor - Screenwriter, Dorothy Yost - Screenwriter
Night and Day (Cole Porter) at nighttime beach, sung by Fred, danced by Ginger and Fred
Plot summary
The plot sees Mimi Glossop (Ginger Rogers) arrive in England to seek a divorce from her geologist husband Cyril (William Austin), whom she hasn't seen for several years. Under the guidance of her domineering and much-married aunt Hortense (Alice Brady), she consults a bumbling and less-than-competent lawyer Egbert Fitzgerald (Edward Everett Horton), who happens to be one of Hortense's previous fiancés. He arranges for her to spend a night at a seaside hotel and to be caught in an adulterous relationship, for which purpose he hires a professional co-respondent, Rodolfo Tonetti (Erik Rhodes). But Egbert forgets to arrange for private detectives to 'catch' the couple.
By coincidence, Guy Holden (Fred Astaire) an American dancer and friend of Egbert's, who briefly met Mimi on her arrival in England, and is now besotted with her, also arrives at the hotel, only to be mistaken by Mimi for the co-respondent. Whilst they are in Mimi's bedroom, Tonetti arrives and holds them 'prisoner'. They contrive to escape and dance the night away.
Quotes
Tonetti: Your wife is safe with Tonetti - he prefers spaghetti!
