Follow the Fleet (1936)

How sad is this?

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

One of the best Astaire-Rogers film is this 1936 gem of a flick.With the constant theme of Let Yourself Go in the background, Astaire and Rogers dance up their usual storm and by film's ending- Let's Face the Music and Dance is so appropriately for how the story has turned.Astaire meets up with Rogers, his ex-girlfriend, while he is on liberty from the navy.Harriet Hilliard steals the show, particularly at the beginning, as the sister of Rogers. A spinster schoolteacher, she almost looked like Bette Davis in beginning scenes of 1942's "Now, Voyager."Randolph Scott co-stars as Astaire's mate, who falls for Hilliard after she dolls herself up.The plot may be corny, but the dance routines sparkle and there is a story after all.

Another worthy entry in the Astaire - Rogers series of hit movies in the mid 30's "Follow The Fleet" as ever finds Fred chasing Ginger this time over love's crashing waves with him as a U.S. Navy ensign and her as his ex-fiancée who ditched him to try and make it as a dancer. Wouldn't you know it, but Fred's ship comes into port in Ginger's backyard and wouldn't you know it again that the sailors' furlough sees them all end up in the club where Ginger's berthed and wouldn't you know it just one more time that Ginger has a dowdy sister named Connie visiting her, who runs into Fred's best mate "Bilge" (terrible name) Smith played by Randolph Scott at the same club but who transforms swan-like into a pretty and stylish young woman when she gets a makeover from Ginger's show-girl pals.Of course the course of true love never runs smoothly in one of these films with both couples riding the waves of uncertainty and misunderstanding before the inevitable conciliatory ending at a "let's do the show right here" finale as Fred puts on a fund-raiser to provide the funds to buy Ginger and Connie's dad's old boat.This movie is quite long by 30's musical standards and occasionally shows it with the overlong played-out sub-plot between Bilge, Connie and a gay divorcée "other woman", in fact the way Bilge treats Connie, it's a wonder she takes him back at all. As ever, I can't detect any chemistry in the straight acting of Fred and Ginger, but put them on the dance-floor and just watch the sparks fly. Interestingly, Ginger gets a solo dance number and we even get to see Fred soloing actually playing the piano. The superb score, by the great Irving Berlin boasts songs like "We Saw The Sea", "Let Yourself Go", "I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket" and for the big finish, the classic "Let's Face The Music And Dance".There are some pithy, humorous lines in the script but equally there are also some clichéd, drawn-out scenes which are rather tiresome. You also get a little bored, I think of seeing Astaire in his navy duds so that it's a relief when he eventually dons the white-tie-and-tails for the show-stopping finish. Carping apart, the dance scenes between the two stars are wonderful and very much the best thing about the film. It's a shame in fact that they dance together so infrequently throughout the movie, although I'd have to say that it's all worthwhile especially when they step up for "Let's Face The Music and Dance". If only they could have danced all night...

Absolutely charming...one of the best Astaire-Rogers' movies. Although this time they're former lovers, so the flame of passion rises up again dancing together their old steps (of course the word marriage is mentioned several times....we're still in the 30s after all). The story is always very light, but you surely don't look for drama in this kind of movies, and if you do, well go somewhere else! relax yourself and enjoy the entertainment 'cause it's going to be very amusing! I found the choreographies much more articulated this time (!)....Rogers has improved her dancing skills and she can finally keep up to Astaire's dexterity and experience....the scene on the boat, the one in which they're "trying" some new figures is just hilarious...and ouch! Ginger really falls down! she must have hurt herself the poor girl, considering they certainly have rehearsed that a billion times! here you can see what great performer they were, not only athletically but theatrically... beyond any other!

....but it all ends well! Bake (Fred Astaire) and Bilge (Randolph Scott) belong to the US navy. At the end of the film, they don't........Let me start with something that didn't need to happen - the extra story time given to Connie (Harriet Hilliard). The film could have survived with Bake and Sherry (Ginger Rogers) carrying the story. Hilliard is a bit of a soppy, wet fish. And as for Randolph Scott.....my goodness me. How's this for an intro to a girl you like - "Hey, babe..."....what class! The film goes on for a little too long but the songs and dances are all good value.