OK so there are certain film categories that everyone needs to sample at least one of. Fred and Ginger movies is one of those categories. No question that Top Hat is the creme de la creme of this category so I strongly recommend this one. It's plot is light as are the plots of all of the Fred and Ginger movies but it is funny, the supporting acting is good and the numbers are FANTASTIC, set to Irving Berlin music and choreographed by Fred and his longtime partner Hermes Pan.
Synopsis:
It is difficult to summarize the plot as it's more of a series of setups for songs than it is a plot. Nonetheless, here goes: Fred plays, song and dance man from New York, Jerry Travers (such a stretch), who has arrived in London to star in a show produced by Mr. Horace Hardwick, played by perennial Fred & Ginger co-star Edward Everett Horton. The two meet at Mr. Hardwick's stuffy British club where the rule of silence is scrupulously followed until Fred can't stand it anymore and tap dances his way out of the club. They return to Hardwick's hotel where we meet his valet, Bates, played by Eric Blore. It is not at all clear whether Hardwick or Bates is in charge - most likely Bates. Hardwicke then tells Jerry that his wife is expecting them in Italy the week-end after their opening to meet up with a friend of hers. Jerry insists he isn't ready for a set up since his is "Fancy Free and free for anything fancy..." When he moves into the tap portion of this number he awakens a woman on the floor below - namely Dale Tremont, Ginger Rogers. When she comes upstairs to complain Fred is immediately smitten. He even switches to soft shoe sand dance to lull her back to sleep in an early use of white noise.
The next morning he orders every flower in the place to be sent to her room and billed to Horace Hardwick. Then he hijacks her horse driven cab that is to take her to the riding stables. They are caught in a downpour which provides an opportunity for Isn't this a Lovely Day (to Be Caught in the Rain). Though the song wins her over, there is an unfortunate identity mix up when the desk clerk attempts to point out Mr. Hardwick to her and she sees Fred instead. From then on she believes Fred to be married to her good friend Madge whom she is going to see in Italy that week-end. Meanwhile we learn that Ginger's relationship with a man named Beddini, which the florist thought was romantic, is actually pure business, he's a designer and she' his model. Unfortunately, Hardwick believes that she and Beddini are romantically involved too, so he convinces Fred to forget her.
Soon an enthusiastic Horace and reluctant Fred, Ginger and Bates are headed to the Venice Lido (after Fred's show opens and we see the title number - the best collection of men in white tie and tail coats ever). In Italy we meet Horace's wife Madge, Helen Broderick, and Dale tries to tell her that her husband was flirting with her only to find that Madge doesn't care. She trusts Horace - insists his flirting doesn't mean anything. Of course, she's talking about her actual husband and Dale is talking about Fred... well you get the idea. The rest is all ironic and or confused encounters based upon these misunderstandings until all is straightened out but not until after Fred and Ginger have danced Cheek to Cheek and Ginger almost gets married to Beddini. Finally we get a paean to Venice, The Piccolino, the movie's biggest production number.
As you can see the plot is so light it could fly away. The important information is what numbers are in this movie. The other important part is the way Fred and Ginger dance, and boy are they magnificent. Don't over-think this one - just watch it. You will be amazed at how much of it you have already seen in clips. And what you haven't seen is really enjoyable. I dare you to keep from smiling ear to ear by the end.
Director ..................................................Mark Sandrich
Writers ...................................................Dwight Taylor
..................................................Allan Scott
Principal Cast:
Jerry Travers ..........................................Fred Astaire
Dale Tremont .........................................Ginger Rogers
Edward Everett Horton ..........................Horace Hardwick
Erik Rhodes ...........................................Alberto Beddini
Eric Blore ...............................................Bates
Helen Broderick .....................................Madge Hardwick
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