Considered
by many to be the quintessential Astaire-Rogers movie, Top
Hat encapsulated
the dreams of Depression-ridden audiences -- the glittering world
of the playful rich dancing through life in top hat, white tie
and tails, "stepping out, my
dear, to breathe an atmosphere that simply reeks with class...."
All
the ingredients are there: snappy dialogue, a roguish Fred pursuing
an aloof Ginger (who thinks he's someone else), the marvelous
supporting cast: the rattled Edward Everett Horton, the permanently
flustered Eric Blore, the outrageous "Italian" Eric Rhodes
("I am no man. I am Bedini!"), the deprecating humor of Helen
Broderick --combine all that with words and music by Irving Berlin
and the amazing sets by Van Nest Polglase---and you have a real gem
of a film. |
