Despite participation of the then still living Irene Castle on the costumes and the script (and acting as Technical Adviser), this is a typically Hollywoodized version of the lives of the famous dancing couple who started the craze for ballroom dancing, including the Fox Trot, the Tango, the Castle Walk.
Even having pros like EDNA MAY OLIVER and WALTER BRENNAN in the supporting cast, can't conceal the fact that the screenplay is a trite affair, however accurate some of the incidents may be.
Fans of FRED ASTAIRE and GINGER ROGERS are hardly likely to count this among the dancing couple's best films. Beginning with the dreadful "Yama Yama" number Ginger does in clown suit and make-up, none of the subsequent musical numbers have any of the style and class associated with Astaire and Rogers when they're being themselves.
They both give it the old try, but Ginger has been seen to better advantage in any number of other musical comedy roles, as has Fred. Some of the familiar old-time songs ("You Great Big Beautiful Doll") and others are sprinkled throughout to give the story the needed period atmosphere, but even that period glow seems ineffective.
Summing up: A misfire as both a biography of the Castles and an old-fashioned song and dance show. Something went very wrong.
Even having pros like EDNA MAY OLIVER and WALTER BRENNAN in the supporting cast, can't conceal the fact that the screenplay is a trite affair, however accurate some of the incidents may be.
Fans of FRED ASTAIRE and GINGER ROGERS are hardly likely to count this among the dancing couple's best films. Beginning with the dreadful "Yama Yama" number Ginger does in clown suit and make-up, none of the subsequent musical numbers have any of the style and class associated with Astaire and Rogers when they're being themselves.
They both give it the old try, but Ginger has been seen to better advantage in any number of other musical comedy roles, as has Fred. Some of the familiar old-time songs ("You Great Big Beautiful Doll") and others are sprinkled throughout to give the story the needed period atmosphere, but even that period glow seems ineffective.
Summing up: A misfire as both a biography of the Castles and an old-fashioned song and dance show. Something went very wrong.