“Swing Time” is the best Astaire-Rogers RKO musicals, boasting Astaire’s virtuoso “Bojangles” dance and one of the most stunning and intimate dances with Ginger Rogers, “Pick Yourself Up.”
In the same year, Astaire and Rogers made another great musical, “Follow the Fleet.” Some critics claim that “Swing Time” is the best teaming of the stars, while others prefer “Top Hat.” Either way, “Swing Time” is terrific entertainment.
The sixth of RKO’s Fred Astaire -Ginger Rogers dance musicals of the 1930s, “Swing Time” starts off with bandleader Astaire getting cold feet on his wedding day.
Oscar Nominations: 2
Best Song, “The Way You Look Tonight,” music by Jerome Kern, lyrics by Dorothy Fields.
Dance Direction: Hermes Pan (a category that existed only several years
Oscar Awards: 1
Best Song
Oscar Context
The winner of the Dance Direction Oscar was Seymour Felix for Ä Pretty Girl is Like a Melody,” from the movie “The Great Ziegfeld,” which also won the Best Picture Oscar
Cast
Fred Astaire as John “Lucky” Garnett
Ginger Rogers as Penelope “Penny” Carrol
Victor Moore as Pop
Helen Broderick as Mabel Anderson
Eric Blore as Mr. Gordon
Betty Furness as Margaret Watson
