Roberta

    Roberta
    1935

    Synopsis

    Football player John Kent tags along as Huck Haines and the Wabash Indianians travel to an engagement in Paris, only to lose it immediately. John and company visit his aunt, owner of a posh fashion house run by her assistant, Stephanie. There they meet the singer Scharwenka (alias Huck's old friend Lizzie), who gets the band a job. Meanwhile, Madame Roberta passes away and leaves the business to John and he goes into partnership with Stephanie.

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    Cast

    • Irene DunneStephanie
    • Fred AstaireHuck Haines
    • Ginger RogersComtesse Scharwenka
    • Randolph ScottJohn Kent
    • Helen WestleyRoberta / Aunt Minnie
    • Claire DoddSophie
    • Victor VarconiLadislaw
    • Luis AlberniVoyda
    • Ferdinand MunierLord Delves
    • Torben MeyerAlbert

    Recommendations

    • 90

      The New York Times

      The work is a model for urbanity in the musical films and Mr. Astaire, the debonair master of light comedy and the dance, is its chief ornament.
    • 90

      Variety

      Roberta is musical picture-making at its best - fast, smart, good looking and tuneful.
    • 80

      TV Guide Magazine

      Astaire and Rogers persistently upstage the romantic leads, Irene Dunne and Randolph Scott, and they simply fly, largely unburdened by the plot.
    • 75

      Chicago Tribune

      The musical evergreen, with Irene Dunne billed over Fred and Ginger. [03 Nov 2006, p.C5]
    • 70

      Los Angeles Times

      The trifling plot is overly talky, but all is forgiven when Dunne sings "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "Lovely to Look At" and Astaire and Rogers go into action. [01 Dec 1986, p.2]
    • 70

      The Guardian

      Scintillating partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, here still in supporting roles (to Irene Dunne), gives substance to otherwise flimsy fashion-set musical. [04 Oct 1990]
    • 63

      LarsenOnFilm

      There is pleasure in Astaire and Rogers floating, a foot apart, to “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” as well as the elaborate, heavily furred gowns that the fashion setting allows.
    • 60

      Chicago Reader

      William A. Seiter directed this 1935 release, with a light touch but not enough style to transcend the machinations of the trifling plot.