Roberta

( 3 )

Overview

Alice Duer Miller's novel Gowns by Roberta was adapted into the 1933 Broadway musical Roberta, with music by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach. The 1935 filmization of Roberta was slightly adapted to accommodate the dancing talents of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, though their roles are secondary to the characters portrayed by Irene Dunne and Randolph Scott. Dunne plays a deposed White Russian princess who has become a famed Parisian couturier. Dunne is the partner of "Roberta" Helen Westley, who passes away, ...
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Overview

Alice Duer Miller's novel Gowns by Roberta was adapted into the 1933 Broadway musical Roberta, with music by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach. The 1935 filmization of Roberta was slightly adapted to accommodate the dancing talents of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, though their roles are secondary to the characters portrayed by Irene Dunne and Randolph Scott. Dunne plays a deposed White Russian princess who has become a famed Parisian couturier. Dunne is the partner of "Roberta" Helen Westley, who passes away, leaving her half of the business to American football player Randolph Scott--who of course knows next to nothing about the gown business, and couldn't care less anyway. Astaire co-stars as bandleader Huck Haines, the character played by Bob Hope in the original Broadway production of Roberta. Rogers rounds out the cast as a phony Polish countess who happens to be Astaire's former girlfriend. Many of the songs written for Roberta were retained for the film version, including ""Lovely to Look At," ""Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"" and ""I Won't Dance";" other tunes are heard as background music. Keep an eye out for a blond Lucille Ball as a fashion model. Withdrawn from circulation for many years due to the 1952 MGM remake titled Lovely to Look At, Roberta began making the public-domain rounds in the early 1980s.
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler
Like Flying Down to Rio, Roberta is a film in which Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers play supporting roles -- but provide the real highlights of the film. This is not to slight the film's female star, Irene Dunne, who turns in a good, stylish performance and sounds wonderful when singing a rueful "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and a charming "Lovely to Look At." But Dunne's love affair with Randolph Scott is less involving, interesting -- just plain less fun -- than that involving the dancing stars. Roberta includes three top notch Astaire-Rogers routines. "I'll be Hard to Handle" is justifiably famous, incorporating a difficult tap duet that turns into a magnificent challenge dance, and ending in a gorgeous swirl of energy that melts into a gentle collapse. In "I Won't Dance," Astaire solos for Rogers, displaying a catalogue of movement that belies the title, and their tender pas de deux to "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" is delicate and lovely. When not singing -- or displaying eye-catching fashions -- Roberta tends to drag a bit, but the musical moments, Dunne's way with a phrase, and Astaire and Rogers make it well worth the wait.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 5/2/2000
  • UPC: 012569535138
  • Original Release: 1935

    • Rating:

  • Source: WARNER HOME VIDEO
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Irene Dunne Stephanie
Fred Astaire Huck Haines
Ginger Rogers Countess Scharwenka, Countess Scharwenka/Lizzie Gatz, Lizzie Gatz
Randolph Scott John Kent
Helen Westley Roberta (Aunt Minnie)
Victor Varconi Ladislaw
Claire Dodd Sophie
Luis Alberni Voyda
Ferdinand Munier Lord Delves
Torben Meyer Albert
Adrian Rosley Professor
Lucille Ball Girl
Hal Borne
Candy Candido
Virginia Carroll
Lynne Carver
Diane Cook
William B. Davidson Purser
William Dunn Orchestra
Mary Forbes Mrs. Teal
Rita Gould Bits
Jane Hamilton
Grace Hayle Reporter
Maxine Jennings
Howard Lally
Muzzy Marcellino
Wanda Perry
Donna Mae Roberts Mannequin
Zena Savina Woman
Sam Savitsky Cossack
Gene Sheldon
Kay Sutton
Mike Tellegen Cossack
Dale Van Sickel Dance Extra
Judith Vosselli
Technical Credits
William Seiter Director
Fred Astaire Choreography
Pandro S. Berman Producer
Carroll Clark Art Director
Edward J. Cronjager Cinematographer
Willaim Hamilton Editor
Otto Harbach Score Composer
Jerome Kern Score Composer
Thomas K. Little Set Decoration/Design
Sam Mintz Screenwriter
Jane Murfin Screenwriter
Bernard Newman Costumes/Costume Designer
Hermes Pan Choreography
Van Nest Polglase Art Director
Allan G. Scott Screenwriter
Max Steiner Musical Direction/Supervision
Glenn Tryon Screenwriter
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 3 )
Rating Distribution

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Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    "Roberta" DVD - BALLROOM AND EVENING WEAR FASHION

    Purchased DVD mainly for fashion ideas. Dresses are ideal for dancing and evening wear. Story and dancing aren't bad either!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 15, 2003

    Lovely to Look At

    ''Roberta'' is one of the most overlooked of the Astaire-Rogers films. This may be because they are again playing second fiddle. The main story belongs to Irene Dunne, a lovely soprano/actress who has three numbers of her own. Rogers plays Lizzie Gatz who poses as a Polish noblewoman, Countess Scharwenka, in order to hold a job (''You've got to have a title to croon over here.'') We first see her throwing a tantrum (screaming in a mix of French and English) in the dress salon where Dunne works. Once Astaire meets up with her, she goes back to her normal (American) self while keeping up (Polish) appearances. This results in her rehearsing a song in her French accent, then launching into the spirited dance number ''Hard to Handle'' with Astaire. This routine is their absolute best in my opinion. While the movie can be a little dull in points, the Astaire-Rogers bits are always enjoyable, and Irene Dunne is no slouch! Definitly a must have for any Astaire-Rogers fan.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted December 2, 2008

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews