Roberta (1935)
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80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
69% of users liked it
(1,023 ratings)
Alice Duer Miller's novel Gowns by Roberta was adapted into the 1933 Broadway musical Roberta, with music by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach. The 1935 filmization of Roberta was slightly adapted to accommodate the dancing talents of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, though their roles are secondary… More Alice Duer Miller's novel Gowns by Roberta was adapted into the 1933 Broadway musical Roberta, with music by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach. The 1935 filmization of Roberta was slightly adapted to accommodate the dancing talents of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, though their roles are secondary to the characters portrayed by Irene Dunne and Randolph Scott. Dunne plays a deposed White Russian princess who has become a famed Parisian couturier. Dunne is the partner of "Roberta" (Helen Westley), who passes away, leaving her half of the business to American football player Randolph Scott--who of course knows next to nothing about the gown business, and couldn't care less anyway. Astaire co-stars as bandleader Huck Haines, the character played by Bob Hope in the original Broadway production of Roberta. Rogers rounds out the cast as a phony Polish countess who happens to be Astaire's former girlfriend. Many of the songs written for Roberta were retained for the film version, including "Lovely to Look At," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "I Won't Dance;" other tunes are heard as background music. Keep an eye out for a blond Lucille Ball as a fashion model. Withdrawn from circulation for many years due to the 1952 MGM remake (titled Lovely to Look At), Roberta began making the public-domain rounds in the early 1980s. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- William A. Seiter
- Written By
- Jane Murfin, Sam Mintz, Allan Scott, Glenn Tryon
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy
G,
- In Theaters
- Mar 8, 1935 Wide
- Studio
- Warner Bros.
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Enjoyable if not one of the great Astaire-Rogers musicals, Roberta received nomination for the Best Song Oscar (Lovely to Look At).
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
You have to put up with a plot that's so sticky it doesn't fly.
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Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Weary book, still wonderful score.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Good Astaire-Rogers musical that suffers slightly from subplot.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Irene Dunne
as Stephanie
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Fred Astaire
as Huck Haines
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Ginger Rogers
as Countess Scharwenka, Lizzie Gatz
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Randolph Scott
as John Kent
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Helen Westley
as Roberta (Aunt Minnie)
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Victor Varconi
as Ladislaw
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Claire Dodd
as Sophie
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Luis Alberni
as Voyda
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Ferdinand Munier
as Lord Delves
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Torben Meyer
as Albert
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Adrian Rosley
as Professor
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Lucille Ball
as Girl
- Candy Candido
- Virginia Carroll
- Lynne Carver
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William B. Davidson
as Purser
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Mary Forbes
as Mrs. Teal
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Grace Hayle
as Reporter
- Maxine Jennings
- Howard Lally
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Donna Mae Roberts
as Mannequin
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Zena Savina
as Woman
- Gene Sheldon
- Kay Sutton
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Mike Tellegen
as Cossack
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Dale Van Sickel
as Dance Extra
- Judith Vosselli
- Hal Borne & His Orchestra
- Jane Hamilton
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Rita Gould
as Bits
- Wanda Perry
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Sam Savitsky
as Cossack
- Diane Cook
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William Dunn
as Orchestra
- Muzzy Marcellino
