Oscar Levant is the cherry on the sundae. The Russian composer Shostakovich was in a New York music store playing one of his works from memory on the piano and then got stuck in the third movement. Oscar sat down and played it perfectly, from his own memory for the man who wrote the piece. Ginger ENJOYS dancing with Fred the way Eleanor Powell did and you can see it.
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals I can watch over and over again. This was a good one. The last pairing of the greatest dance partners in musical cinema history. Oscar Levant was always a lot of fun. Those one liners and the wonderful piano pieces. Just as the final song says. They can't take that away from me...or us.
You're right ...the amazing talent of FRED ASTAIRE a welcome appearance of GINGER RODGERS as co star ...Oscar Levant doing his supporting role and smashing production value all the way around. This is the type of old school musical comedy.i can appreciate.
Ginger Rogers was known to have a lot of "peach fuzz" on her face. On her first day of shooting "The Barkley's of Broadway", she received flowers from Judy Garland, whom she had replaced in the film. The flowers were delivered in a shaving mug.
Supposedly Judy wasn't taking too well to being replaced. I don't remember if I read it in Ginger's book, but Judy would show up and watch production as if she were still a part of it. They finally had to tell her to move along.
This film is so much fun and a better final film than "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" where they couldn't be their usual characters and danced only in historic styles. I never knew that Ginger told them to use They Can't Take That Away From Me from Shall We Dance . I thought Harry Warren's songs were cute, but they needed a major song from the Great American Songbook for that one great , elegant dance that was usually the peak of each film and they aced it. I loved your comparison of Levant to Eve Arden; i never would have thought about it but it's so true. Putting the Swing Trot dance behind the opening credits always bugged me., so I want to tell fans that the entire number sans credits is on That's Entertainment III. Happy Thanksgiving.
Around the same time, Ginger was also campaigning for the lead in "Annie Get Your Gun" but LB Mayer was less than thrilled with the idea. He advised Ginger to stick with what she was good at and not to attempt such a stretch. It didn't suit her as far as he was concerned. MGM secured the rights of the play and intended it to be a starring vehicle for Judy Garland.Apparently the studio ran out of patience and couldn't deal with Judy's issues anymore and eventually fired her from the film and terminated her contract . Betty Hutton was brought over from Paramount and gave a terrific performance in spite of the fact the fact that she had to endure much hostility and resentment from the co-stars and crewmembers who resented her for replacing their beloved Judy. Years later, even Judy herself had to admit Hutton did a terrific job in the movie
I totally agree about Betty! They should have thanked their lucky stars to get sucha perfect replacement. She's absolutely terrific in it and shame on them for treateing her so shamefully! I disagree with Mayer as well, I think Ginger would have been great, vocally she wasn't up to it, but she'd have acted it very well.
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ I guess I got sort of sidetracked but glad you like the film version of "Annie Get Your Gun" and think you should review that one too if you haven't already. I think Betty Hutton herself had a lot of personal demons throughout her career too. I think she struggled with alcohol and went through 10 million dollars ( a lot of jack in her day ) and at one point in the '70s she was discovered working as a kitchen worker in a RI monastery and actually taught drama in a local RI ( my home state ) college. She was always full of energy and enthusiasm, at least on screen. Happy Holidays!
This is such a wonderful movie, and I feel like it usually gets short shrift, or ignored altogether. Thanks so much for reminding folks about it! Your review is, as always, spot on in the way you capture the highlights. Happy Thanksgiving!! 😊
Steve, maestro, not only did you do it again, you outdid even yourself! The exuberance and utter joy with which you reviewed this marvelous film was positively infectious, and you packed more fascinating info, particularly of Rogers, into a few minutes than many a documentary. A tip of the famous Top Hat to you!. Michael - South Africa (and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours).
Thank you Steve, I’m fairly new to your channel and I just love your humour and your love for the movies, I’m posting this now to thank you for mentioning a few films of my all time favourite actress, Miss Ginger Rogers. A very Happy Thanksgiving from the U.K., best wishes, Geoff 😂
How wondserful! I hope you subscribe so I can vsisit you every month with a new classic. I love that I have friends in the UK! Best Wises anbd Happy Holidays! Steve
Another super review from Steve! Steven your reviews are terrific and an enterainment all their own and with lots of information. I can easily see you teaching a class on film history, but I still want to see you in a courtroom showdown scene in "Law & Order". --- You may already be familiar with this, but I wanted to mention how Ginger Rogers once did a screen test for the role of Queen Elizabeth when Katherine Hepburn played Mary Queen of Scots. Ginger Rogers was done up in full costume and makeup for the role of Elizabeth I and wasn't even recognizable. The studio heads were wowed by the performance of this "unknown" actress, but when they learned it was Ginger Rogers she didn't get the part. What a loss to film history! I guess the people in charge at R.K.O. wanted to keep Ginger Rogers in what was familiar and profitable rather than allow her talent to be expressed in a different way. I've seen part of that screen test and Ginger Rogers was remarkable. I don't think her ability for drama was ever fully used.
I've seen that screen test and she was remarkable. The strudio heads were never ones to be too imaginative in casting and that was always a problem. They pidegonholed you and it was a tough time trying to break the type casting. Too bad. Ginger was great! Happy Holidays!
Fred and Ginger were the absolute epitome of CLASS. To see them in beautiful Technicolor is just such a treat! Thanks for another great review with all the backstory, so interesting. Happy Thanksgiving, you two ❤❤
Thank you so much, Steve, for reviewing this wonderful film. Watching Ginger and Fred in this is pure pleasure from start to finish. Happy Thanksgiving!!
Earlier today I was wondering what movies I would be watching on Thanksgiving-- and here you are with a Thanksgiving suggestion- this is one I have never seen so I appreciated your rendition of that dance sequence….ALWAYS enjoy your reviews……Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving Holiday with all the trimmings 💃🕺🦃🍷🥧&🙏❤️
Happy Thanksgiving, Steve and TOQ@M gang! Steve, you're the only person who can make me understand and appreciate old Hollywood glamour. Thank you. Have you reviewed "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers?"
My first boyfriend was a movie nut and collector of movie paper, and he introduced me to all these films, especially the Astaire/Rogers musicals, about which I knew nothing. This was in the 70's, so we had to wait for the movies to be shown on TV, and how many times was I woken up in the middle of the night because a special movie was on. That's the best memory I have from that relationship (the little so and so). I especially liked this one because, although a comedy, it wasn't completely silly like so many of the earlier ones, and as you said, it sort of mirrored their real relationship. Thanks for your warm and loving review.
Yes, well I used to set my ar]arm for three or four AM if a Bette Davis or Joan Crawford movie was on. In thos e days, we had to do what we had to do! Best; Steve
Absolutely love that rehearsal number, so much fun! Great movie, one of my favorites. I understand that they had to change it a whole bunch when Judy dropped out 😢 Not at all what was originally planned.
Thank you Steve for highlighting this wonderful film! I especially loved it that you speak of that incredibly talented musician Oscar Levant. Mr. Levant (as you mentioned) possessed the remarkable ability to roll-out some of the most quick, biting, and often devastating one liners in Hollywood - or anywhere, for that matter. Oscar had a sort of an on-going "back-and-forth" feud with Milton Berle. One night (on the popular Jack Paar Show) Jack mentioned to Oscar that Milton had converted to Christian Science from Judaism. Without missing a beat, Oscar (himself Jewish) quipped that, "Our loss is their loss!" An entire book can be written about this brilliant, complex, funny, and sometimes disturbed man. One more Levant quip: Jack Paar (on another show) asked (the chain smoking) Oscar Levant, what he did for exercise: (Answer) "What do I do for exercise? I stumble and fall into a coma!" Thanks again Steve - cheers to all!
Seasn hayes just won a Tony playing him on Broadway. he was quite a character and a consumate artist in his own right. He was like Thelma Ritter and Eve Arden . The guy who said what the audiance was thinking and got a laugh to boot! Happy Holidays! Steve
Thanks , Buddy! You looked SO handsome in your Brigadoon regalia! I hope you had as fun a time as it looked like you were! Happy Holidays, Honey! Always so nice hearing from you!
I love your shorts, but look forward to these full-length reviews, Steve. Nobody does it better. You're the best. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Johnny.
Fred was quite the dancer, yet I've only seen Easter parade. Ginger sure could dance, not sure about her singing. Her dramatic roles, I only saw Kitty Foyle, and I don't remember much. I am reminded of all the talent Old Hollywood possessed. Things are different now.
Well, different times, different tastes and certainly different talents. That's the nature of the biz But there are always those of us who appreciate the classics and I am gratefuil for that. Happy Holidays. Steve
Dear Steve, (being a heartbreaker is rather a compliment to you - it shows how much I miss you when I don't hear from you) I remember this film very well, because it was a shock to see Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in colour. And you're absolutely right that it's delicious to see them - plus I have such a place in my heart for Oscar Levant (what would "The Band Wagon" have done without him?). But my feelings about Ginger are mixed; Fred was an incredibly meticulous and staggeringly hardworking dancer, and when he was still working with his sister he slapped her face because he didn't think she was working hard enough. But you can't slap leading ladies. Ginger worked extremely hard, without complaint, when she was making all those black and white films with him; she worked until her shoes turned dark with her blood, but only stopped because filming couldn't continue. The stories about how hard they worked together are legendary. But I remember a dancer commenting that if you watch, she can't stop her spins - Fred had to stop her. It sounds so nothing, but it's the sort of thing dancers notice. Plus, everyone mentions that they were both completely professional whilst working, but had no rapport off set. Contrast this with Rita Hayworth - I don't think I've ever seen Astaire so happy as when he was dancing with her - he radiates sheer joy. Also, I think what happened with "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" was absolutely tragic (although that was mostly due to the studio; long ago, I saw a television interview with Irene Castle, in her fifties still very striking, and they talked about the film, and showed a clip of a dance sequence so beautiful it could move you to tears, and asked her about it. She said guardedly that the dancing was correct, but virtually nothing else. (It's on Wikipedia these days - that their black friend and manservant was played by Walter Brennan (!), that Ginger Rogers refused to bob or darken her hair, or wear the clothes Irene had worn, that in reality the Castles had travelled with a black orchestra, etc., etc.) Ah, well. And then there are the politics - Dirk Bogarde was enormously grateful to Jessie Matthews, who gave him what he described as invaluable advice about contracts and much else when he was just beginning, and in an interview contrasted her kindness with ring wing Ginger Rogers and her mother, (who'd screamed abuse at Joseph Losey); Bogarde wasn't political but greatly admired Losey, who directed "The Servant". After all of which, dear Steve, I must have exhausted your patience utterly, but have to add how glad I am that you've seen "The Woman In Question" because I think it's so clever. Very, very best wishes, Alida
Dear Alida; As I've said, I like Ginger, but she always left me a little cold, because she seemed to have a chip on her shoulder. She worked so hard and she deserved her success, but she resented being what she thought was "common" and there was nothing wrong with it. When she played those roles, she was so comfortable and real. In particular, " Primrose Path" and "Roxy Hart" where she's, touching, funny, warm & lovely. It was only when she tried to get into the "Lady In The Dark" etc. that she got out of her league. Stanwyck was smart. she grapbbed " Ball Of Fire" when Ginger didn't want to play "common" and got an Oscar nomination. " I'll play common! I am common!" Hepburn, her RKO rival could never have played common, just as Ginger could only 'act" the lady. But Rogers never had the warmth of Jean Arthur, Irene Dunne or Claudette Colbert. As to her mother, the less said or remembered about her the better. The woman was a monster in the grand Show Biz/Hollywood tradition, who jumped on the H.U.A.C. bandwagon for her own self aggrandizement. Horrible. MO-nster & MO-ther... Both start the same way and sometimes/accompany each other in the same direction. Fun to watch from a distance in the movies. Tough to live with. Happy June, My Friend.
Steve, your hands and gestures have rarely been faster..I thought you were going to have a yak attack on the spot! lol 🤣 Tremendous review of Golden Hollywood. ❤
You never know. Best to you in the UK. I love London at this time of year. I was there last December and went to Bath and Brighton to see shows with Hayley Mills and Sir Ian McKellan. Had a wonderful time and loved how everyone got in the holiday spirit.My favorite time of year! Best Wishes; Steve
Certainly not their greatest, but still a very enjoyable and underrated movie. Oscar Levant is an interesting contrast to Fred's 30's sidekick Edward Everett Horton - both are extremely funny.
Steve, your reviews are so enjoyable, plus I always learn so much interesting background information! For a moment there I thought you were going to surprise us with a dance, but it was not to happen. Oh well, still a glorious review!
Happy Thanksgiving guys! , Wow I am up here for the holiday and it’s so cold that my Ni***** are hard 😮. Love these old musicals and all those great older pictures. Nothing like watching one of these on the holiday …..you both have great times with family and friends this Thursday….
Hey Anthony! Hooray!!! It was so nice to meet you guys and I'm delighted you liked the books! I love the Strand and I always meet such nice people there! I hope you will subscribe to my channel so I can bring you a new classic every month. Have a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year! Here's to The STRAND & The MOVIES!!! I hope our paths cross again very soon! Best; Steve
@STEVEHAYESTOQ I subscribed, and I watched a bunch of your videos on my train ride home. We also went to the academy afterward, and I picked up a few criterion films I'd been eyeing for a while. Next time I visit my friend in the city I'll let you know. It would be fun to sit and talk movies. It was great meeting you. Your enthusiasm and humor is awesome I love it!!
Happy Thanksgiving, dear Steve and Johnny. Your passion for musicals and movies rocks my world, Steve. But when I saw BOTH Gene and Trent, I knew this was going to be a Doozy!
Great selection and review, Steve. I haven’t seen this in ages. Going to stream it via Amazon Prime tonight. A fabulous and Happy Thanksgiving to you and Johnny. 🦃 🍂 🍁
Since Steve (and everyone else) likes Oscar Levant one-liners, here's my favorite to add to his collection: When Milton Berle, who was born Jewish, started taking up Christian Science, Oscar (himself Jewish) said, "Our loss is their loss."
Hilarious! I've always loved the one he said to Joan Crawford in " Humoresque"; ' Tell me Mrs Wright, does your husband get in the way of your nmarriage?" Thanks for watching & sharing and Happy Holidays! Steve
Side note: one person was not happy when the decision was made to use "They Can't Take That Away From Me". Harry Warren ( who composed the rest of the songs )
I was Howling 😅😅😅 I said the same thing about Oscar being a male version of Eve Arden at the same time 😅😅 I almost pissed my pants too funny .. but he was a male version of her . Gosh Eve Arden what a great smart ass one liner .
Another wonderful recommendation, Steve😊❤ I saw this one as a child on TV and it was my first Ginger qnd Fred film experience. Would you please consider doing Heaven Can Wait (1943) ? I saw it yesterday and it made me think of your videos. ❤
I heard the Swing Trot number was buried under the credits because Fred really didn't like it all that much. The final number Manhattan Downbeat had way too many extras on that revolving stage. The duo looked fab doing it, however.
Steve darling! Any chance you could do The Bishop's Wife with Cary Grant, David Niven and Loretta Young for Christmas? It has become my go to Christmas movie and in the spirit of goodwill and peace to all men, I force the whole family to watch it every Christmas Eve...they secretly love it.
Oscar Levant was a interesting guy. Liked him in O Henry's Full House with another hoot, Fred Allen. Ginger Rogers was a great star. When I was very young, and she was still alive, I'd write her fan letters. She always answered rather detailed responses, always sent photos. Later, I wished I'd slipped in a twenty or so, those photos must have been an expense, but like Elton John said, "I was just a kid", and didn't even have 20 cents then. I can't watch her with Astaire without thinking what his widow did to Ginger when she was up for the Kennedy Center Awards. I know Ginger could be right wing before today's madness, I know she could be horribly pious, but there must have been bad blood between her and Fred for that to happen, not allowing any of their famous film clips to be shown. Tragic and needlessly sad.
It’s quite good, though I could have done without those great long piano solos. It doesn’t end with They Can’t Take That Away From Me though, it ends with the number about Manhattan that you show at the beginning of your review.
After all the videos, Steve Hayes is still at the top of his game. I have never heard a movie expert describe the Ginger Rogers career decline as well as Steve. Ginger was a lot like Joan Crawford in that she wanted to forget her hard scrapple beginnings and become the Great Lady. Crawford could carry it off, Ginger just looked silly.
Ginger Rogers saying "la Marseillaise" in french ! LOL! The opening dance hidden by big titles is nonsense. The "dancing shoes "are a great scene.Still a pleasant movie.
TBH this movie probably isn't for me 🤫 ... nevertheless, Steve's movie reviews are so entertaining, it doesn't matter if I like the movie or not. Also, I'd seen the short clips of TOQ, and they're great - however, here's a vote for even looonger TOQ videos (20 minutes plus if possible).
Oscar Levant is the cherry on the sundae. The Russian composer Shostakovich was in a New York music store playing one of his works from memory on the piano and then got stuck in the third movement. Oscar sat down and played it perfectly, from his own memory for the man who wrote the piece. Ginger ENJOYS dancing with Fred the way Eleanor Powell did and you can see it.
Thery had a good time all around. Thanks!
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musicals I can watch over and over again. This was a good one. The last pairing of the greatest dance partners in musical cinema history. Oscar Levant was always a lot of fun. Those one liners and the wonderful piano pieces. Just as the final song says. They can't take that away from me...or us.
Nope. And so glad they got to do one in Technicolor in the grand MGM musical tradition. Thanks for watching! Steve .
Astaire and Rogers seemed much more relaxed in this film than their classic films of the 30s and it shows! Another fabulous recommendation!
Thanks for watching and have a lovely holiday season! Steve
You're right ...the amazing talent of FRED ASTAIRE a welcome appearance of GINGER RODGERS as co star ...Oscar Levant doing his supporting role and smashing production value all the way around. This is the type of old school musical comedy.i can appreciate.
It's the best way to spend Thanksgiving Day. After the meal, a bit of excerise...let them do it. Dance away! Happy Thanksgiving! Steve
@@STEVEHAYESTOQtofurkey if you will. SAVE THE TURKEYS of the world. I'm watching AGE OF INNOCENCE the masterpiece from 1993.
Ginger Rogers was known to have a lot of "peach fuzz" on her face. On her first day of shooting "The Barkley's of Broadway", she received flowers from Judy Garland, whom she had replaced in the film. The flowers were delivered in a shaving mug.
LOL! I never heard that before! Hilariouis!
Supposedly Judy wasn't taking too well to being replaced. I don't remember if I read it in Ginger's book, but Judy would show up and watch production as if she were still a part of it. They finally had to tell her to move along.
This movie knew exactly how to use Oscar Levant - sparingly but with deadly effect. 💃
Yup. Happy Holidays!
This film is so much fun and a better final film than "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" where they couldn't be their usual characters and danced only in historic styles. I never knew that Ginger told them to use They Can't Take That Away From Me from Shall We Dance . I thought Harry Warren's songs were cute, but they needed a major song from the Great American Songbook for that one great , elegant dance that was usually the peak of each film and they aced it. I loved your comparison of Levant to Eve Arden; i never would have thought about it but it's so true. Putting the Swing Trot dance behind the opening credits always bugged me., so I want to tell fans that the entire number sans credits is on That's Entertainment III. Happy Thanksgiving.
That's great! TThanks for the reminder. I love them in color! Steve
It was glorious seeing Fred and Ginger in Technicolor - cheers to you, Steve, and Johnny too, for Thanksgiving!
Thanks for watching! You too!
Around the same time, Ginger was also campaigning for the lead in "Annie Get Your Gun" but LB Mayer was less than thrilled with the idea. He advised Ginger to stick with what she was good at and not to attempt such a stretch. It didn't suit her as far as he was concerned. MGM secured the rights of the play and intended it to be a starring vehicle for Judy Garland.Apparently the studio ran out of patience and couldn't deal with Judy's issues anymore and eventually fired her from the film and terminated her contract . Betty Hutton was brought over from Paramount and gave a terrific performance in spite of the fact the fact that she had to endure much hostility and resentment from the co-stars and crewmembers who resented her for replacing their beloved Judy. Years later, even Judy herself had to admit Hutton did a terrific job in the movie
I totally agree about Betty! They should have thanked their lucky stars to get sucha perfect replacement. She's absolutely terrific in it and shame on them for treateing her so shamefully! I disagree with Mayer as well, I think Ginger would have been great, vocally she wasn't up to it, but she'd have acted it very well.
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ I guess I got sort of sidetracked but glad you like the film version of "Annie Get Your Gun" and think you should review that one too if you haven't already. I think Betty Hutton herself had a lot of personal demons throughout her career too. I think she struggled with alcohol and went through 10 million dollars ( a lot of jack in her day ) and at one point in the '70s she was discovered working as a kitchen worker in a RI monastery and actually taught drama in a local RI ( my home state ) college. She was always full of energy and enthusiasm, at least on screen. Happy Holidays!
Love every Fred and Ginger movie ever made. I am a sucker for musicals and such.
I am too and I love this one.
Fred and Ginger just had a special chemistry. This was lovely! Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!
And to you too! many thanks! Steve
This is such a wonderful movie, and I feel like it usually gets short shrift, or ignored altogether. Thanks so much for reminding folks about it! Your review is, as always, spot on in the way you capture the highlights. Happy Thanksgiving!! 😊
Happy Holiodays to you as well! Steve
Steve Hayes being absolutely swellegant :-) Love this !
Swelligantly put and muchly appreciated! LOL! Steve
So much fun for Fred & Ginger fans. I'd still love to see you review Top Hat some day! 😁
It's on my list! Happy Holidays!
Steve, maestro, not only did you do it again, you outdid even yourself! The exuberance and utter joy with which you reviewed this marvelous film was positively infectious, and you packed more fascinating info, particularly of Rogers, into a few minutes than many a documentary. A tip of the famous Top Hat to you!. Michael - South Africa (and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours).
Happy Holidays to you and South Africa! Always a delight to hear from you! Steve
You make the world a better place, Steve! Thank you!
Oh My Gosh! How nice! Thanl you! Steve
Even if you don't see her Billie Burke is unmistakable.
That incerdible/unmistakeable voice! Steve
So glad to see you, Steve! Looking lovely as ever ❤
Oh, my! Thanks you! Steve
Thank you Steve, I’m fairly new to your channel and I just love your humour and your love for the movies, I’m posting this now to thank you for mentioning a few films of my all time favourite actress, Miss Ginger Rogers. A very Happy Thanksgiving from the U.K., best wishes, Geoff 😂
How wondserful! I hope you subscribe so I can vsisit you every month with a new classic. I love that I have friends in the UK! Best Wises anbd Happy Holidays! Steve
Oh well done!! Thank you Steve❣
You're welcome and thanks for watching! Steve
Oh my. What a pleasant surprise. As always a fantastic review. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Johnny.
Andto you as werll. Thanks for watching! Steve
Another super review from Steve! Steven your reviews are terrific and an enterainment all their own and with lots of information. I can easily see you teaching a class on film history, but I still want to see you in a courtroom showdown scene in "Law & Order". --- You may already be familiar with this, but I wanted to mention how Ginger Rogers once did a screen test for the role of Queen Elizabeth when Katherine Hepburn played Mary Queen of Scots. Ginger Rogers was done up in full costume and makeup for the role of Elizabeth I and wasn't even recognizable. The studio heads were wowed by the performance of this "unknown" actress, but when they learned it was Ginger Rogers she didn't get the part. What a loss to film history! I guess the people in charge at R.K.O. wanted to keep Ginger Rogers in what was familiar and profitable rather than allow her talent to be expressed in a different way. I've seen part of that screen test and Ginger Rogers was remarkable. I don't think her ability for drama was ever fully used.
I've seen that screen test and she was remarkable. The strudio heads were never ones to be too imaginative in casting and that was always a problem. They pidegonholed you and it was a tough time trying to break the type casting. Too bad. Ginger was great! Happy Holidays!
Fred and Ginger were the absolute epitome of CLASS. To see them in beautiful Technicolor is just such a treat! Thanks for another great review with all the backstory, so interesting. Happy Thanksgiving, you two ❤❤
And to you. Thanks for watching! Steve
Aaahhh... Thanks Steve.
You're so welcome. Thanks for watching! Steve
Love Astaire & Rogers, all of their films are magic! Always enjoyed Oscar Levant, remember him more as an older man though.
Irracible and unpredictable. He added to every movie he was in. Steve
Fred and Ginger in color! One of my faves! Love your reviews....only wish there were more. Happy Holidays!
Well, we do whet we can and are grateful you like them! Thanks so much! Steve
Thank you so much, Steve, for reviewing this wonderful film. Watching Ginger and Fred in this is pure pleasure from start to finish. Happy Thanksgiving!!
I love this one and am so gld you ike it too! Steve
Ginger Rogers is quite good on “Storm Warning” with Doris Day. Happy Thanksgiving Steeeve!
I agree and so is Doris.
Viva, Oscar Levant and Happy Thanksgiving to you and Johnny, Steve! Aside: Bette should've won the Oscar for The Letter.
I totally agree! "The Letter "is my favorite of her films.
Happy Thanksgiving Steve and all of Team TOQ!!!
To you as well. Safe travels. Steve
A weekend in the country? How delightfully droll.
While we'r losing our control. LOL! I know that one too.
Quite possibly. @@violamateo
Earlier today I was wondering what movies I would be watching on Thanksgiving-- and here you are with a Thanksgiving suggestion- this is one I have never seen so I appreciated your rendition of that dance sequence….ALWAYS enjoy your reviews……Have a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving Holiday with all the trimmings 💃🕺🦃🍷🥧&🙏❤️
How mice! I hope you have wonderful holidays as well! Steve
Happy Thanksgiving, Steve and TOQ@M gang! Steve, you're the only person who can make me understand and appreciate old Hollywood glamour. Thank you.
Have you reviewed "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers?"
How kind! Stay turned in the coming months, you may be in for a surrpise. Thanks! Steve
I ❤ 7Brides!
Once again thanks so much and happy thanksgiving.
Awww, thank you. To you as well.
TOQ...AS USUAL YOU ARE BRILLIANT 🎉 THANK YOU AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND JOHNNY AND YOUR MARVELOUS TECH TEAM.
Many thanks from all of us! Happy Holidays!
My first boyfriend was a movie nut and collector of movie paper, and he introduced me to all these films, especially the Astaire/Rogers musicals, about which I knew nothing. This was in the 70's, so we had to wait for the movies to be shown on TV, and how many times was I woken up in the middle of the night because a special movie was on. That's the best memory I have from that relationship (the little so and so). I especially liked this one because, although a comedy, it wasn't completely silly like so many of the earlier ones, and as you said, it sort of mirrored their real relationship. Thanks for your warm and loving review.
Yes, well I used to set my ar]arm for three or four AM if a Bette Davis or Joan Crawford movie was on. In thos e days, we had to do what we had to do! Best; Steve
OMG Yes! Fabulous review of this fabulous and classic pair. Can’t wait to watch it again. Thanks Steve.
Enjoy! And thanks for watching TOQ! Happy Holidays! Steve
I LOVE THIS MORE MORE!
Keep watching and there will be more, I promise! Steve
And Happy Thanksgiving to you and Johnny!❤🍗🥧🍗❤️
Many thanks. Wishing you the same. Steve
Oh Steve how wonderful. I love this musical. Great review xx
many thanks and Happy Holidays! Steve
Well done!
Many thanks! Happy Holidays! Steve
What a perfect end to my saturday night. Great review of a couple i couldnt tire of watching. Happy thanksgiving to everyone in the good old USA. Xx
Happy Holidays to you! Steve
Absolutely love that rehearsal number, so much fun! Great movie, one of my favorites. I understand that they had to change it a whole bunch when Judy dropped out 😢 Not at all what was originally planned.
Yes, they had to make adjustments, but it all worked out in the end.
I have never seen this. Thank You again, Steve!
And Happy 🦃🥧🧡 Thanksgiving you guys!
Yontoo ! Best Wishes, Steve
Thank you Steve for highlighting this wonderful film! I especially loved it that you speak of that incredibly talented musician Oscar Levant. Mr. Levant (as you mentioned) possessed the remarkable ability to roll-out some of the most quick, biting, and often devastating one liners in Hollywood - or anywhere, for that matter. Oscar had a sort of an on-going "back-and-forth" feud with Milton Berle. One night (on the popular Jack Paar Show) Jack mentioned to Oscar that Milton had converted to Christian Science from Judaism. Without missing a beat, Oscar (himself Jewish) quipped that, "Our loss is their loss!" An entire book can be written about this brilliant, complex, funny, and sometimes disturbed man. One more Levant quip: Jack Paar (on another show) asked (the chain smoking) Oscar Levant, what he did for exercise: (Answer) "What do I do for exercise? I stumble and fall into a coma!" Thanks again Steve - cheers to all!
Seasn hayes just won a Tony playing him on Broadway. he was quite a character and a consumate artist in his own right. He was like Thelma Ritter and Eve Arden . The guy who said what the audiance was thinking and got a laugh to boot! Happy Holidays! Steve
Perfectly said - thank you!@@STEVEHAYESTOQ
Love love love your reviews !!!
Happy Thanksgiving to the whole team at TOQATM 🦃🌈
And to you too! I love the holidays! Hooray!!!
Happy Thanksgiving Steve & Johnny.
And to you! Safe travels !
Good one Steve!
Thanks , Buddy! You looked SO handsome in your Brigadoon regalia! I hope you had as fun a time as it looked like you were! Happy Holidays, Honey! Always so nice hearing from you!
Steve Hayes at his best!
Oh, thank you! Happy Holidays! Steve
Excellent review and very entertaining as only Mr. Hayes can provide! Love this and I must see the film now.🌟🎬
Great! Enjoy!
Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!
Best wishes to you as well; Steve
I love your shorts, but look forward to these full-length reviews, Steve. Nobody does it better. You're the best. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Johnny.
And to you and many thanks for watching! Steve
I love Fred Astaire! Thanks for the Thanksgiving video. Have a good one.
You too. Have fun and safe travels.
Great review Steve! It was good to see you and have a great Thanksgiving! 🦃
You too and thanks for watching!
Fred was quite the dancer, yet I've only seen Easter parade. Ginger sure could dance, not sure about her singing. Her dramatic roles, I only saw Kitty Foyle, and I don't remember much. I am reminded of all the talent Old Hollywood possessed. Things are different now.
Well, different times, different tastes and certainly different talents. That's the nature of the biz But there are always those of us who appreciate the classics and I am gratefuil for that. Happy Holidays. Steve
I love Steve Hayes! And Johnny, too!❤️
Thanks so much! Happy Holidays!
Love the Stanwyck/Rogers anecdote. Thanks for the delightful review.
Thank you for watching! Steve
Excellent - informative, perceptive and very entertaining! As usual.
I'm so glad you liked it. We'ren't many terrific together? .
Great review ❤
Many thanks! Steve
Happy Thanksgiving, Steve, Johnny, and fellow viewers!
And to you as well! Thanks so much for watching!
Dear Steve, (being a heartbreaker is rather a compliment to you - it shows how much I miss you when I don't hear from you) I remember this film very well, because it was a shock to see Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in colour. And you're absolutely right that it's delicious to see them - plus I have such a place in my heart for Oscar Levant (what would "The Band Wagon" have done without him?). But my feelings about Ginger are mixed; Fred was an incredibly meticulous and staggeringly hardworking dancer, and when he was still working with his sister he slapped her face because he didn't think she was working hard enough. But you can't slap leading ladies. Ginger worked extremely hard, without complaint, when she was making all those black and white films with him; she worked until her shoes turned dark with her blood, but only stopped because filming couldn't continue. The stories about how hard they worked together are legendary. But I remember a dancer commenting that if you watch, she can't stop her spins - Fred had to stop her. It sounds so nothing, but it's the sort of thing dancers notice. Plus, everyone mentions that they were both completely professional whilst working, but had no rapport off set. Contrast this with Rita Hayworth - I don't think I've ever seen Astaire so happy as when he was dancing with her - he radiates sheer joy. Also, I think what happened with "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle" was absolutely tragic (although that was mostly due to the studio; long ago, I saw a television interview with Irene Castle, in her fifties still very striking, and they talked about the film, and showed a clip of a dance sequence so beautiful it could move you to tears, and asked her about it. She said guardedly that the dancing was correct, but virtually nothing else. (It's on Wikipedia these days - that their black friend and manservant was played by Walter Brennan (!), that Ginger Rogers refused to bob or darken her hair, or wear the clothes Irene had worn, that in reality the Castles had travelled with a black orchestra, etc., etc.) Ah, well. And then there are the politics - Dirk Bogarde was enormously grateful to Jessie Matthews, who gave him what he described as invaluable advice about contracts and much else when he was just beginning, and in an interview contrasted her kindness with ring wing Ginger Rogers and her mother, (who'd screamed abuse at Joseph Losey); Bogarde wasn't political but greatly admired Losey, who directed "The Servant". After all of which, dear Steve, I must have exhausted your patience utterly, but have to add how glad I am that you've seen "The Woman In Question" because I think it's so clever. Very, very best wishes, Alida
Dear Alida; As I've said, I like Ginger, but she always left me a little cold, because she seemed to have a chip on her shoulder. She worked so hard and she deserved her success, but she resented being what she thought was "common" and there was nothing wrong with it. When she played those roles, she was so comfortable and real. In particular, " Primrose Path" and "Roxy Hart" where she's, touching, funny, warm & lovely. It was only when she tried to get into the "Lady In The Dark" etc. that she got out of her league. Stanwyck was smart. she grapbbed " Ball Of Fire" when Ginger didn't want to play "common" and got an Oscar nomination. " I'll play common! I am common!" Hepburn, her RKO rival could never have played common, just as Ginger could only 'act" the lady. But Rogers never had the warmth of Jean Arthur, Irene Dunne or Claudette Colbert. As to her mother, the less said or remembered about her the better. The woman was a monster in the grand Show Biz/Hollywood tradition, who jumped on the H.U.A.C. bandwagon for her own self aggrandizement. Horrible. MO-nster & MO-ther... Both start the same way and sometimes/accompany each other in the same direction. Fun to watch from a distance in the movies. Tough to live with. Happy June, My Friend.
Steve, your hands and gestures have rarely been faster..I thought you were going to have a yak attack on the spot! lol 🤣 Tremendous review of Golden Hollywood. ❤
LOL! Lon Chaney turns into a werewolf and I turn into a yak...figures. Thanks for watching and Happy Holidays! Steve
I just discovered you today and am I delighted! I look forward to watching more of your videos.
Hooray! I hope you subscribe, then I can visit you with a new classic every month! Happy Holidays and thansk so much for watching! Steve
Comden & Green, a incredible team
Absolutely!
Oh by the way, Happy Thanksgiving to you both.
You too!
Another one to look out for, it is rarely screened on TV in the UK but I will persevere. Thanks Steve!
You never know. Best to you in the UK. I love London at this time of year. I was there last December and went to Bath and Brighton to see shows with Hayley Mills and Sir Ian McKellan. Had a wonderful time and loved how everyone got in the holiday spirit.My favorite time of year! Best Wishes; Steve
Bath is beautiful and Brighton is not bad either. Take care!
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ
I'll play that part, I am common, let's go. Steve, loved your Barbara Stanwyck impersonation! And loved this and all of your reviews!
I'm delighted! Happy Thanksgiving! Steve
Certainly not their greatest, but still a very enjoyable and underrated movie. Oscar Levant is an interesting contrast to Fred's 30's sidekick Edward Everett Horton - both are extremely funny.
They both filled the side= kick bill in different ways. Love them both.
Love this film.
I do too! Steve
I love this movie and your review. My favourite dance is the tap dance u so eloquently narrated.
Mine too! One of my all-time favorites! Thanks for watching! Steve
Steve, your reviews are so enjoyable, plus I always learn so much interesting background information! For a moment there I thought you were going to surprise us with a dance, but it was not to happen. Oh well, still a glorious review!
Dear Bob, You're too cute! These days I do reasonable chair choreography. Period. Happy Holidays! Steve
Happy Thanksgiving guys! , Wow I am up here for the holiday and it’s so cold that my Ni***** are hard 😮. Love these old musicals and all those great older pictures. Nothing like watching one of these on the holiday …..you both have great times with family and friends this Thursday….
And you too! Stay inside, gorge and watch old movies! Perfect! Thanks for watching and Best Wishes, As Always! Steve
Steve! I met you at the strand yesterday! I got the books you recommended and im loving the channel! Thanks again!
Hey Anthony! Hooray!!! It was so nice to meet you guys and I'm delighted you liked the books! I love the Strand and I always meet such nice people there! I hope you will subscribe to my channel so I can bring you a new classic every month. Have a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year! Here's to The STRAND & The MOVIES!!! I hope our paths cross again very soon! Best; Steve
@STEVEHAYESTOQ I subscribed, and I watched a bunch of your videos on my train ride home. We also went to the academy afterward, and I picked up a few criterion films I'd been eyeing for a while. Next time I visit my friend in the city I'll let you know. It would be fun to sit and talk movies. It was great meeting you. Your enthusiasm and humor is awesome I love it!!
Happy Thanksgiving, dear Steve and Johnny. Your passion for musicals and movies rocks my world, Steve. But when I saw BOTH Gene and Trent, I knew this was going to be a Doozy!
Hooray! So glad you are pleased! Happy Holidays!!!
Great selection and review, Steve. I haven’t seen this in ages. Going to stream it via Amazon Prime tonight. A fabulous and Happy Thanksgiving to you and Johnny. 🦃 🍂 🍁
A delightful way to spend Thanksgiving! Enjoy!
Great review thanks Steve! 😃
My pleasure! Thanks for watching and Happy Holodays!
Darling you never look tired or old!!💋💋💋💋
I'll give you an hour to cut that out! OXOXOX
Since Steve (and everyone else) likes Oscar Levant one-liners, here's my favorite to add to his collection: When Milton Berle, who was born Jewish, started taking up Christian Science, Oscar (himself Jewish) said, "Our loss is their loss."
Hilarious! I've always loved the one he said to Joan Crawford in " Humoresque"; ' Tell me Mrs Wright, does your husband get in the way of your nmarriage?" Thanks for watching & sharing and Happy Holidays! Steve
I watch Notorious tonight. Because of your video. Loved it
Hooray! Mission accomplished! Happy Holidays and thanks for watching! Steve
Side note: one person was not happy when the decision was made to use "They Can't Take That Away From Me". Harry Warren ( who composed the rest of the songs )
Despite that, I'm just wild about Harry!
I was Howling 😅😅😅 I said the same thing about Oscar being a male version of Eve Arden at the same time 😅😅 I almost pissed my pants too funny .. but he was a male version of her . Gosh Eve Arden what a great smart ass one liner .
She sure did and so did Thelma Ritter, Mary Wickes and...Oscar Levant! LOL!
Another wonderful recommendation, Steve😊❤ I saw this one as a child on TV and it was my first Ginger qnd Fred film experience.
Would you please consider doing Heaven Can Wait (1943) ? I saw it yesterday and it made me think of your videos. ❤
It's wonderful and on my "To Do" list. Thanks for watching and Happy Holidays!
Ginger's great in TENDER COMRADE.
Yup. Very romantic.
I heard the Swing Trot number was buried under the credits because Fred really didn't like it all that much. The final number Manhattan Downbeat had way too many extras on that revolving stage. The duo looked fab doing it, however.
I agree. My favorite number is that incredible tap routine they do in rehearsal at the begining. It ROCKS!
WHERE, oh where, can I buy one of the Steve Hayes coffee mugs?? In time for Christmas???
Check out the merchanise at the botoom of the episode and you'll see how to order one. Thanks so much!
Steve darling! Any chance you could do The Bishop's Wife with Cary Grant, David Niven and Loretta Young for Christmas? It has become my go to Christmas movie and in the spirit of goodwill and peace to all men, I force the whole family to watch it every Christmas Eve...they secretly love it.
I'll second that, with a special nod to Monty Wooley!
I've already done it! Go to my UA-cam page and you'll find my episode. It's may favorite Christmas movie!!!
Oscar Levant was a interesting guy. Liked him in O Henry's Full House with another hoot, Fred Allen. Ginger Rogers was a great star. When I was very young, and she was still alive, I'd write her fan letters. She always answered rather detailed responses, always sent photos. Later, I wished I'd slipped in a twenty or so, those photos must have been an expense, but like Elton John said, "I was just a kid", and didn't even have 20 cents then. I can't watch her with Astaire without thinking what his widow did to Ginger when she was up for the Kennedy Center Awards. I know Ginger could be right wing before today's madness, I know she could be horribly pious, but there must have been bad blood between her and Fred for that to happen, not allowing any of their famous film clips to be shown. Tragic and needlessly sad.
People in Hollywood are often grudge meisters and we may never know the real reasons.
It’s quite good, though I could have done without those great long piano solos. It doesn’t end with They Can’t Take That Away From Me though, it ends with the number about Manhattan that you show at the beginning of your review.
Thanks for watching! Steve
Okay, Steve….who was better at one liners….Oscar Levant or Eve Arden? Come on, tell us….
Thelma Ritter. LOl! Happy Holidays!
No no no Eve Arden
After all the videos, Steve Hayes is still at the top of his game. I have never heard a movie expert describe the Ginger Rogers career decline as well as Steve. Ginger was a lot like Joan Crawford in that she wanted to forget her hard scrapple beginnings and become the Great Lady. Crawford could carry it off, Ginger just looked silly.
Well, unlike Stanwyck, Ginger had to acknowledge the territory she was best in. Happy Holidays. Steve
Ridiculous comment.
Your cinematic insights are only outdone by your consummate discretion regarding Judy....
I appreciate your comment/compliment and hope you have a lovely holiday. Steve
xoxoxoxo
Thanks for watching! Happ y Holidays! Steve
Socko review.
Socko comment! Many thanks and Happy Holidays! Steve
Ginger Rogers saying "la Marseillaise" in french ! LOL! The opening dance hidden by big titles is nonsense. The "dancing shoes "are a great scene.Still a pleasant movie.
I'm glad you like it and thanks for watching! Steve
TBH this movie probably isn't for me 🤫 ... nevertheless, Steve's movie reviews are so entertaining, it doesn't matter if I like the movie or not. Also, I'd seen the short clips of TOQ, and they're great - however, here's a vote for even looonger TOQ videos (20 minutes plus if possible).
OMG! Thank you! Steve
Thank you for the recommendation. I can't wait to watch it!
Have a ball! Best Wishes; Steve