Carefree (1938)

82% of users liked it
(1,408 ratings)

It's more Ginger Rogers than Fred Astaire, and more comedy than singing and dancing in this Astaire-Rogers entry into the screwball comedy sweepstakes which features a top-of-the-line Irving Berlin score (Change Partners, I Used to be Color Blind, The Night is Filled with Music). Fred Astaire plays… More It's more Ginger Rogers than Fred Astaire, and more comedy than singing and dancing in this Astaire-Rogers entry into the screwball comedy sweepstakes which features a top-of-the-line Irving Berlin score (Change Partners, I Used to be Color Blind, The Night is Filled with Music). Fred Astaire plays Dr. Tony Flagg, a psychiatrist, who enters the psyche of Amanda Cooper (Ginger Rogers), a radio singer whom Tony's friend Stephen Arden (Ralph Bellamy) takes to see him. It seems Arden thinks that Amanda needs psychiatric help since she can't reach a decision regarding Stephen's proposal of marriage to her. As Tony explores her subconscious dream life, she falls in love with him. Tony feels that her love is temporary -- merely a sign of transference. To channel her love in the right direction, Tony hypnotizes her to believe that she is in love with Stephen. But then things become more complicated when Tony comes to realize that he, in fact, is in love with Amanda himself. He now has to figure out a way to bring her out of her hypnosis and get her back to normal so that they can both fall into the clinch. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: Mark Sandrich
Written By: Marian Ainslee, Guy Endore, Ernest Pagano, Allan Scott
Genres: Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1938 Wide
On DVD: Oct 24, 2006

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The story is slight and the comedy never quite jells.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...there are fewer musical numbers than usual, and the script does not integrate them too smoothly into the fabric of the lighter-than-air plot. (Ultimate Collector's Edition)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
You could probably call Carefree more of a screwball comedy than a typical Astaire-Rogers musical.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
It's lower rung Fred and Ginger, but it's still Fred and Ginger.

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A very funny dance/musical movie with Fred and Ginger. I really like the story.
Lanning :

Never saw this before. Why? No idea. I'm a Turner fanatic, for one. Is this the first time they've shown this? <p>Whatever, I'm glad I saw this before I die. There are not a whole lotta movies I'd ever say that about, boy. In fact, there are way more… More
Never saw this before. Why? No idea. I'm a Turner fanatic, for one. Is this the first time they've shown this? <p>Whatever, I'm glad I saw this before I die. There are not a whole lotta movies I'd ever say that about, boy. In fact, there are way more movies where I'd more likely say I'm sorry I actually saw that one before I died. Wasted time, you know? <p>You know that sport? I think it's called something like "urban jumping" or "urban freestyle" or maybe even "urban freestyle jumping"? The stuntmen in the newest James Bond movie do a great job of it. Climbing all over the landscape, sliding down stairs, jumping through windows. Exciting stuff. If I weren't 107, I'd give that sport a try. Anyway, I just want to say that Rogers and Astaire would have made great urban jumpers. They can dance on, over, around, and through anything. As I've said before, for me there is no greater dancing duo in the history of film, and I don't think they'll ever be topped. So glad I finally did see this. <p>And I'm still sorry that Jack Carson never had a greater acting career. He should have been given more chances to play leading roles, as opposed to functioning merely as a character actor. Carson is a first-class act.

Cast

            Fred Astaire as Tony Flagg

            Ginger Rogers as Amanda Cooper

            Ralph Bellamy as Stephen Arden

            Luella Gear as Aunt Cora

            Jack Carson as Connors

            Clarence Kolb as Judge Travers

            Franklin Pangborn as Roland Hunter

            Walter Kingsford as Dr. Powers

            Kay Sutton as Miss Adams

            Robert B. Mitchell & His St. Brendan's
            
            James P. Burtis as Truck Driver

            Charles Coleman as Doorman

            James Finlayson as Man at Golf Course

            Edward Gargan
            
            Paul Guilfoyle as Elevator Starter

            Hattie McDaniel as Hattie

            Grace Hayle
            
            Phyllis Kennedy
            
            Harold Minjir as Radio Announcer

            Frank Moran as Cab Driver

            Tom Tully as Policeman

            Jack Arnold as Elevator Operator

            Richard Lane as Henry

            The Bob Mitchell Boy Choir
            
            Harry A. Bailey as Sponsor
See full cast

Carefree (1938)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Lanning :

Cast