Roberta (1935)

80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(1,001 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 to… 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 Withdrawn from circulation for many years due to the 1952 MGM remake (titled Lovely to Look At), Roberta began making the public-domain rounds in the early 1980s.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

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: William A. Seiter
Written By: Jane Murfin, Sam Mintz, Allan Scott, Glenn Tryon
Genres: Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 8, 1935 Wide
On DVD: Oct 24, 2006
Studio: Warner Bros.

Critic Reviews

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).
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
You have to put up with a plot that's so sticky it doesn't fly.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Weary book, still wonderful score.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Good Astaire-Rogers musical that suffers slightly from subplot.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lanning :

What a cast! And, of course, it's Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Irene Dunne as a super bonus as well. Must say this again: Rogers and Astaire are <b>the</b> dancing couple of all time. More than anyone else, they dance as if they are in love, and their dancing… More
What a cast! And, of course, it's Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. Irene Dunne as a super bonus as well. Must say this again: Rogers and Astaire are <b>the</b> dancing couple of all time. More than anyone else, they dance as if they are in love, and their dancing acts out this love. Dancing, for them, is the same as acting.

Cast

            Irene Dunne as Stephanie

            Fred Astaire as Huck Haines

            Ginger Rogers as Countess Scharwenka

            Randolph Scott as John Kent

            Helen Westley as Roberta (Aunt Minnie)

            Victor Varconi as Ladislaw

            Claire Dodd as Sophie

            Luis Alberni as Voyda

            Ferdinand Munier as Lord Delves

            Torben Meyer as Albert

            Adrian Rosley as Professor

            Lucille Ball as Girl

            Candy Candido
            
            Virginia Carroll
            
            Lynne Carver
            
            William B. Davidson as Purser

            Mary Forbes as Mrs. Teal

            Grace Hayle as Reporter

            Maxine Jennings
            
            Howard Lally
            
            Donna Mae Roberts as Mannequin

            Zena Savina as Woman

            Gene Sheldon
            
            Kay Sutton
            
            Mike Tellegen as Cossack

            Dale Van Sickel as Dance Extra

            Judith Vosselli
            
            Hal Borne & His Orchestra
            
            Jane Hamilton
            
            Rita Gould as Bits

            Wanda Perry
            
            Sam Savitsky as Cossack

            Diane Cook
            
            William Dunn as Orchestra

            Muzzy Marcellino
            
See full cast