July 28 – Top Hat (1935), 191 minutes, directed by Mark Sandrich, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
There are a crazy number of artistic virtues in Top Hat. Fred and Ginger made ten films together, and this is most often cited as their best. But Top Hat also gives us superb character players Helen Broderick, Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore, and Erik Rhodes, who keep us amused between the heavenly dance solos and duets. Those include Irving Berlin's "Cheek to Cheek", "Isn't it a Lovely Day?" and "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails." It's all wrapped in huge fantasy Art Deco sets designed by art director Carroll Clark. 1930s musical escapism doesn't come any more sublime than Top Hat.
July 2023 CinemaLit – Musicals!
CinemaLit finishes the 2022-2023 season with three great film musicals. Each is from a different era, reflecting the rich history of the genre. And each is blessed with a sterling cast and unforgettable songs. Join us for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Cabaret (1972), and our season finale Top Hat (1935).
Matthew Kennedy, CinemaLit’s curator, has written biographies of Marie Dressler, Joan Blondell, and Edmund Goulding. His book Roadshow! The Fall of Film Musicals in the 1960s, was the basis of a film series on Turner Classic Movies.
“I don't have a favorite film,” Matthew says. "I find that my relationships to films, actors, genres, and directors change as I change over the years. Some don't hold up. Some look more profound, as though I've caught up with their artistry. I feel that way about Garbo, Cary Grant, director John Cassavetes, and others."
“Classic films have historical context, something only time can provide,” Matt observes. “They become these great cultural artifacts, so revealing of tastes, attitudes, and assumptions.”
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CinemaLit Films
