AFI Top 100: Swing Time (#90 in 2007; not listed in 1998)

Not to sound like an old fuddy-duddy or anything, but I'm so happy to be watching a movie that doesn't have lots of blood and cursing. What a joy!


This particular film won an Academy Award for best original song (The Way You Look Tonight) and many say it's the best Astaire-Rogers film (although there's a common perception that the plot needs improvement). It's funny to me that Lucky initially sings this beautiful song to Penny while she's washing her hair, a clichéd excuse women gave for not going out. (Yes, Lucky and Penny...)


Much of the film is centered around their performances at a club mysteriously called the Silver Sandal. I wish I'd been able to go out for dinner and see entertainment like this. What an experience that must have been! It makes me wonder how they can afford it though. Cover charge? Overpriced entrees? Sixteen drink minimum?


Some of the performances were less romantic than the above. For instance:

(so many feelings)
I mean, he's so talented. It's really unbelievable. And how did they even do this? I mean, I read how they did it but I just don't see how it's possible. It's so impressive. And yet... blackface. What a weird thing blackface was. Some people even said blackface was a way for whites to pay homage to African-American culture. I can't even. But my god, he's just so talented!

And perhaps the pièce de résistance:


Now, I'm not trying to talk smack, but I will say that the three minutes of film above, if Wikipedia is to be believed, were the result of 47 takes in one day, and that Ginger Rogers' feet were bruised and bleeding by the end of it. And you thought Goodfellas were tough.