The Gay Divorcee (1934)

100% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(3,119 ratings)

Based on Dwight Taylor and Cole Porter's play of the same name, The Gay Divorcee centers on Mimi (Ginger Rogers), a woman seeking a divorce from her husband. Mimi travels to an English seaside resort, pursued by the love-stricken Guy (Fred Astaire), whom she mistakes for the hired correspondent in… More Based on Dwight Taylor and Cole Porter's play of the same name, The Gay Divorcee centers on Mimi (Ginger Rogers), a woman seeking a divorce from her husband. Mimi travels to an English seaside resort, pursued by the love-stricken Guy (Fred Astaire), whom she mistakes for the hired correspondent in her divorce case. Among the many musical numbers featured are "Night and Day," the only song from the original Broadway musical included in the film, and "The Continental," which won the first ever Academy Award for Best Song. Directed by Mark Sandrich, the film features supporting performances by Alice Brady and Edward Everett Horton. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: Mark Sandrich
Written By: J. Hartley Manners, Dwight Taylor, George Marion, Dorothy Yost, Edward Kaufman
Genres: Drama, Romance, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 12, 1934 Limited
On DVD: Oct 24, 2006
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures

Critic Reviews

Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt
The Gay Divorcee offers a terrific mix of wit, humor, and, of course, song-and-dance.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
The second, charming teaming of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, probably his best dancing partner
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Aimed at cheering up a Depression audience--which it does do with animated song and dance numbers.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
As far as musical comedies go, this one wasn't musical enough.
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Just fast forward to the dance numbers and you'll be in heaven.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Not the best Fred and Ginger film, but not far from it. The 17 minute "Continental" is a stunner.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

This movie is really funny in some scenes, but the song and dance numbers are silly, and I just couldn't take it.
Cinema F

Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire were the very personification of the Hollywood dancing team. The film is a comedy of mistaken identitties in which Rogers mistakenly thinks Astaire. in the guise of her supposed lover, is the man who will help her get a divorce. The film is driven by… More
Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire were the very personification of the Hollywood dancing team. The film is a comedy of mistaken identitties in which Rogers mistakenly thinks Astaire. in the guise of her supposed lover, is the man who will help her get a divorce. The film is driven by many wonderful dance sequences. The climax of all Astaire's dancing scenes is the one where his steps seduce Rogers to the strains of Cole Porter's "Night and Day" song and where she finally falls in love with him. Ginger and Fred are exceptionally and truly are Hollywood's legendary dancing partners.
Brian R

It's a terrific movie and a terrific musical. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers shine throughout. Rogers isn't as charismatic as Astaire is and Astaire doesn't let his charismatic ego overtake Rogers. I guess that is why they work so well together. The plot really… More
It's a terrific movie and a terrific musical. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers shine throughout. Rogers isn't as charismatic as Astaire is and Astaire doesn't let his charismatic ego overtake Rogers. I guess that is why they work so well together. The plot really bares no meaning except that Mimi Glossop (Rogers) is in England seeking a divorce. She meets Guy Holden (Fred Astaire)who is a dancer and is infatuated with Glossop. The plot also deals with hiring a lawyer and to plan a fake adultous relationship. The scenes that really swept me off my feet were the formal dance sequences. This alone should have won big honors because it is perfectly choreographed, the framing is just right, elegant, epic, and straight simple. The extras make the dance routines look so easy and i'm sure those scenes must have took months to master. "The Gay Divorcee" left a smile on my face which few pictures today do.