Roberta (1935) Review: A Charming, If Clunky, Classic Musical

Alright, so Roberta. Is this worth watching today? Yeah, absolutely, if you’re into classic musicals, especially if you’re already a fan of the whole Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers thing. You’ll probably enjoy it for the sheer charm and those amazing dance numbers. If you expect modern pacing or a super tight plot, you might find yourself checking your watch during the fashion show scenes. 🕰️

The setup is a bit… well, it’s 1935. We open with John Kent (Randolph Scott), an American jazz bandleader, and his buddies, including Fred Astaire’s Huck Haines, who are suddenly out of a job in Paris. It’s a pretty awkward way to kick things off, honestly. They’re just kinda standing there looking confused.

Lucky for John, his old friend, Roberta (Irene Dunne), runs a super chic fashion salon in the city. So, naturally, he just drops in. Dunne’s character starts off a little stiff, but her singing? That’s where she shines. Her rendition of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" is just lovely, really.

But let’s be real, most people come to Roberta for Fred and Ginger. Their first number together, "I'll Be Hard to Handle," is just a burst of energy. You can already see that spark, that easy back-and-forth they had. It’s effortless, even when the plot around them feels a bit like it’s trying too hard.

Ginger Rogers plays this character, Lizzie Gatz, who’s pretending to be a Russian Countess Scharwenka. It’s a silly plot point, of course, but it gives her some fun lines. And she wears those gowns beautifully. Seriously, the clothes are a big part of this movie, even if the fashion show itself can drag a little. It’s like, *we get it*, clothes are important here. 👗

Randolph Scott as the main guy, John, is… fine. He’s handsome, and he can sing a bit, but he doesn’t have the same zing as Astaire. He kind of just stands there a lot, looking a little bewildered by all the fashion and music. It makes you wonder how he even led a jazz band.

The famous "I Won't Dance" number with Astaire and Rogers is a definite highlight. The playful arguments, the way they move. It’s just so fluid. You watch them and you just *get* why they were so iconic. It’s not just steps, it’s a whole conversation between them.

Oh, and keep an eye out for a blink-and-you-miss-it appearance by a young Lucille Ball! She’s one of the models during a fashion show. It’s always fun to spot those early roles. ✨

The film, for all its charm, feels a bit uneven. There are these wonderful musical moments, especially with Astaire and Rogers, then long stretches where the main plot with Roberta and John feels a bit… secondary. It’s almost like the filmmakers knew where the real magic was, but still had to tell the main story.

Sometimes the dialogue feels a little stilted, like it’s trying to be witty but lands a bit flat. But then Fred will crack a joke with Ginger, and it just works. Their comedic timing is on point.

The whole romance between John and Roberta is sweet enough, but it doesn't quite have the same electricity as the Astaire-Rogers dynamic. It’s a bit more polite, you know? Like a perfectly nice cup of tea. ☕

If you're looking for a film that perfectly balances its plot and its musical numbers, this isn't quite it. But if you want to see some classic Hollywood glamour, amazing dancing, and hear some timeless songs, then Roberta is definitely worth a watch. It's a delightful piece of history, even with its little quirks.

It’s not as tightly put together as some of their later films, like maybe Footlights (no, wait, that's not right, Astaire and Rogers didn't do Footlights), but it has its own special vibe. A bit of a sprawling production, with a surprising number of writers involved, which maybe explains some of the slightly disconnected feel. Still, a classic for a reason.

Did you notice?

• The jazz band’s outfits in the opening scene look like they were pulled from different costume racks.
• The sheer number of people credited as writers on this thing! No wonder it feels like a few different stories sometimes.
• One of the fashion show models looks vaguely bored the entire time.
• How quickly everyone accepts Ginger Rogers’ character as a Russian countess. Nobody bats an eye!
• The elaborate sets for the fashion house. They spared no expense on that front.