The Gay Divorcee

Composite Score: 82.63

Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Alice Brady, Edward Everett Horton, Erik Rhodes, Eric Blore, and William Austin

Director: Mark Sandrich

Writers: George Marion Jr., Dorothy Yost, and Edward Kaufman

Genres: Musical, Comedy, Romance

MPAA Rating: Approved

Box Office: $6,253 worldwide

Why should you Watch This Film?

                The Gay Divorcee is a musical comedy featuring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers about an American woman seeking a divorce from her absentee husband who becomes entangled with her lawyer’s good friend, the famous dancer Guy Holden. Its 1930s musical proclivities allow both Astaire and Rogers to shine in their roles, singing and dancing skillfully throughout the film’s runtime. The comedic aspects have aged comparably well, with an abundance of situational comedy that remains humorous nearly ninety years later. All told, the film is a solid representation from the early days of its genres, bolstered by its charismatic leading performances.

Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?

                The overall premise of the film’s romantic plot comes across as a bit problematic in the year of our Lord 2022. The meet-cute takes place in a moment when Mimi’s dress is stuck in the opening of a trunk, forcing her to stay and listen to Guy’s flirtations before he eventually gets her out by tearing her dress and then giving her his jacket so that she has to bring it back to him. Mimi simply sends the coat back without giving any information. Rather than be convinced of her disinterest, Guy insists on walking the city of London for two whole weeks, hoping to find her again (an unhealthy amount of obsession to say the least). When he does find her, he again corners her into conversing with him and gives her his number, insisting that she call him up. Overall, this budding romance is rife with red flags for the majority of the film’s first act and definitely does not encourage a modern audience to buy into that aspect of the film’s narrative.

So wait, why should you Watch This Film?

                Though its romance might be a bit lacking, The Gay Divorcee’s comedy has held up remarkably. For a 1930s film about divorce, it deals with the issue with a surprising amount of levity. Mimi’s Aunt Hortense, played with panache by Alice Brady, is a wealthy mid-Atlantic three-time divorcee herself whose consistent jokes about the nature of divorce and marriage keep the film light and keep the audience chuckling throughout the film. Despite a vastly different cultural conception of divorce, the film managed to land the plane with a satisfying “plot twist” of sorts that was equally funny and convenient to make Mimi’s divorce not quite as problematic for the day. The other comedic characters that fill out the film’s lineup also work wonders in their own parts. Edward Everett Horton’s inept lawyer Egbert works well in the hapless straight man archetype. Both Erik Rhodes as the hired tryst, Rodolfo Tonetti, and Eric Blore as the precocious waiter at the resort where the film concludes work wonderfully in their roles, serving as pure comic relief in two different brands – one as a farcical caricature and the other as a witty pun artist.

                In addition to its well-aged comedy, the musical aspects of The Gay Divorcee also work to please the crowd, particularly the dance choreography. Obviously, Astaire and Rogers are known for their dancing prowess, and the filmmakers gave them ample opportunity to showcase their skill. The film’s extras also showcase some of the quality choreography in the larger numbers with some really fun dance numbers, both ballroom style and more casual dances. The songs work to a lesser extent, serving more-so as vehicles for dance than as songs in and of themselves, with none particularly standing out, but servicing their roles well enough.

                As a well-crafted musical comedy, The Gay Divorcee shines, showcasing some particularly entertaining dance numbers and a plethora of well-aged comedy bits on its way to holding a place among the Greatest Films of All Time. Its less-than-ideal romantic situations serve as a very legitimate knock against it, but the comedy and dancing certainly bolster its narrative into a watchable film. This film is currently available to rent on most streaming platforms if you are interested.