My Favourite Ginger Rogers Movies
Happy Birthday to Ginger Rogers!
via Listal
This glamorous woman always played strong-minded, independent women instead of meek and mild little ladies, and, looking back, I can't help but think of the impact this probably had on me, seeing her take her rightful place in Hollywood history by standing up for herself and being her own person, always.
Plus, the often-quoted, "Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels," is such an important mental reminder to always consider your worth, professionally and personally. Thank you, Ginger!
On what would have been her 109th birthday, today I'm looking back at my top five favourite Ginger Rogers movies! Let's dive in.
1. The Major and the Minor (1942)
The Major and the Minor is my ultimate feel-good movie. Whenever I'm sad or just need a boost, I pop this in the DVD player and enjoy this little romantic comedy about a woman posing as a teen and the sweet Major just trying to do the right thing. Also features one of my favourite endings!
Read my deep dive into The Major and the Minor here!
2. Fifth Avenue Girl (1939)
via susanapplegate
Another feel-good story about a poor young woman helping out an under-appreciated millionaire and his ungrateful family to find the good in themselves again. The scene where Ginger chases around the Communist driver and the spoiled daughter with a kitchen knife is absolutely hilarious. Plus: Walter Connolly. You can't go wrong if Walter Connolly's involved.
3. Vivacious Lady (1938)
via durbeyfields
When people get married after a day of knowing each other in these old movies, I can't help but chuckle because...seriously? Did it happen that often or was it just a scenario that lent itself to many a movie hijinx? Anyways, Ginger's a nightclub dancer, Jimmy Stewart's a professor, Charles Coburn is his disapproving father-in-law (disapproving father figure was the pinnacle of his career, for the most part), and there's a cat fight about half-way through that's so much fun. In fact, the whole movie's fun!
4. Roberta (1935)
via marilynmonres
It's hard to pick a favourite Fred-and-Ginger movie, but I think, if I had to choose, based on storyline, I'd go with Roberta. This is another fun Fred-and-Ginger flick where they play hometown sweethearts, though she's pretending to be a Polish countess named Countess Scharwenka, who help both a fashion designer and an old friend in Paris.
But maybe in terms of choosing a film based on dance scenes... Swing Time for its tap class routine, or Top Hat for 'Cheek to Cheek.' But it's difficult!
Bachelor Mother (1939)
It's such a nonsensical premise (and one that wouldn't work today): a woman finds a foundling on the steps of an orphanage, about to fall, and helps him; the orphanage believes she's the mother in the process of abandoning her child; they call her boss(!) and she gets shamed into taking care of a child that's not hers. There's a happy ending (of course), and it all comes together so wonderfully, with great performances from Ginger, David Niven and Charles Coburn (again as the disapproving father figure).
HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Swing Time (1936), Romance in Manhattan (1935), Stage Door (1937), Kitty Foyle (1940), Monkey Business (1952)
___
What are your favourite Ginger Rogers movies?
Stage Door, Carefree, Swing Time
ReplyDelete