Themes: Ladder to the Top, Dancer's Life, Home From the War
Main Cast: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edna May Oliver, Walter Brennan, Lew Fields
Release Year: 1939
Country: US
Run Time: 93 minutes
Plot
The last of RKO's Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers vehicles, The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle is also the least typical. At their best playing carefree characters in gossamer-thin musical comedy plotlines, Fred and Ginger seem slightly ill at ease cast as the real-life dancing team of Vernon and Irene Castle. The stripped-to-essentials storyline boils down to novice dancer Irene (Rogers) convincing vaudeville comic Vernon (Astaire) to give up slapstick in favor of "classy" ballroom dancing. With the help of agent Edna May Oliver, the Castles hit their peak of fame and fortune in the immediate pre-World War I years. When Vernon is called to arms, Irene stays behind in the US, making patriotic movie serials to aid the war effort. Vernon is killed in a training accident, leaving a tearful Irene to carry on alone. To soften the shock of Astaire's on-screen death (it still packs a jolt when seen today), RKO inserted a closing "dream" dancing sequence, with a spectral Vernon and Irene waltzing off into the heavens. The film's production was hampered by the on-set presence of the real Irene Castle, whose insistence upon accuracy at all costs drove everyone to distraction--especially Ginger Rogers, who felt as though she was being treated like a marionette rather than an actress. In one respect, Mrs. Castle had good reason to be so autocratic. Walter, the "severest critic servant" character played by Walter Brennan, was in reality a black man. RKO was nervous about depicting a strong, equal-footing friendship between the white Castles and their black retainer, so a Caucasian actor was hired for the role. Mrs. Castle was understandably incensed by this alteration, and for the rest of her days chastised RKO for its cowardice. As it turned out, it probably wouldn't have mattered if Walter had been black, white, Chicano or Siamese; The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle was a financial bust, losing $50,000 at the box office. Perhaps as a result, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers would not team up again for another ten years. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle is an unusual Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers film for a number of reasons. For one, there's none of the cat-and-mouse games that are a hallmark of most of their films, with one chasing the other until finally wearing him/her down. Castle also uses period songs rather than an original score, and much of the dancing is based on the steps used in real life by the title characters. And, of course, the stars are playing real historical figures, one of whom dies in the course of the film. Those who may have seen one too many Astaire-Rogers films will probably welcome these changes, but others may find that these changes contribute to a certain flatness. Castle isn't bad or lifeless; nothing with these two stars could be that. But it doesn't have the same sparkle and pizzazz that one associates with the duo. Still, the death and subsequent "dream dance" both pack a significant wallop that is missing in other films for the pair. And although both stars feel a little restrained without the adversarial chase that is common to them, they still are in fine form throughout, whether singing, dancing, or acting. And even if The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle doesn't sparkle the same way that Top Hat or Swing Time does, it still has enough fizz to make it enjoyable. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Perry Ferguson - Art Director, Van Nest Polglase - Art Director, Hermes Pan - Choreography, Irene Castle - Consultant/advisor, Walter Plunkett - Costume Designer, Edward Stevenson - Costume Designer, Irene Castle - Costume Designer, Argyle Nelson - First Assistant Director, H.C. Potter - Director, Willaim Hamilton - Editor, Pandro S. Berman - Executive Producer, David Raksin - Musical Arrangement, Victor Baravalle - Musical Direction/Supervision, Mel Burns - Makeup, Robert de Grasse - Cinematographer, George Haight - Producer, Darrell Silvera - Set Designer, Vernon Walker - Special Effects, Douglas Travers - Special Effects, Oscar Hammerstein II - Screenwriter, Dorothy Yost - Screenwriter, Irene Castle - Screenwriter, Richard Sherman - Screenwriter, Irene Castle - Book Author
Irene Castle acted as advisor to this film, and constantly disagreed with the director as to details of costuming and liberties taken. When informed that white actor Walter Brennan was to play the part of faithful servant Walter, she was dumbfounded: the real Walter was black.[2]
The film tells of novice dancer Irene Foote (Ginger Rogers) who convinces vaudeville comic Vernon Castle (Fred Astaire) to give up slapstick comedy in favor of sophisticated ballroom dancing.
Their big break comes when they are stranded in Paris, along with their friend Walter Ashe (Walter Brennan), with no money. They catch the eye of influential agent Maggie Sutton (Edna May Oliver), who arranges a tryout for them at the prestigious Café de Paris, where they become an overnight sensation. After taking Europe by storm, the Castles return to the United States and become just as big a sensation. Their fame and fortune rises to unprecedented heights in the immediate pre–World War I years.
When Vernon volunteers to join the air force, Irene makes patriotic movie serials to aid the war effort. However, Vernon is killed in a training accident, leaving Irene to carry on alone.
