Search - CAREFREE on DVD

A harbinger of Ginger's future successes in film

Robert Moore | Chicago, IL USA | 04/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is probably the most unique of all the Astaire/Rogers films, because while it is enormously enjoyable, it isn't principally because of the musical numbers. In fact, the dance numbers are among the weakest of all their films. What makes the film a delight is the comedy, and the person who drives the comedy is Ginger Rogers. Ginger was not Fred's equal as a dancer, but she complemented him perfectly. Still quite young in their first film together (she was 21 when filming started for FLYING TO RIO), Fred was able to mold her dance style to fit his perfectly. She was able to follow him perfectly, and many of their dances have their finest moments as she reacts in her face to what is happening in their dance. Where Ginger far surpassed Fred was as an actress. At the time of CAREFREE, she had already scored a major success the year before in the drama STAGEDOOR (it was in the wake of this film that her costar Katherine Hepburn, who didn't get along with Ginger at all, quipped of Fred and Ginger, "He gives her class and she gives him sex." But by the time of CAREFREE, Ginger's abilities as an actress had begun to place her career apart from Fred on a higher individual plane. In fact, from this point until his comeback from retirement in 1948 (to replace the injured Gene Kelly in EASTER PARADE), Ginger was actually the larger box office draw. The next few years after CAREFREE would see Ginger starring in a string of superb comedies like BACHELOR MOTHER and THE MAJOR AND THE MINOR, as well as winning an Oscar for KITTY FOYLE.The plot is simple: Ginger can't quite bring herself to feel for suitor Ralph Bellamy as she should. So, she agrees to go to a psychiatrist (Fred) to find out why. She gets accidentally hypnotized and for the rest of the film she accidentally either loves Fred or wants to [do away with him]. The dance numbers are, as I mentioned, not among their best. There is a long slo-mo number that fails to work as well as one might hope. "The Yam" is a pale imitation of the classic numbers centering on a new dance in previous films. Possibly the best dance number, though one that is unfortunately eliminated from some television cuts of the film, is Fred's solo number "Since They Turned Loch Lomand into Swing," in which he combines dancing with golfing. But there is no question about it, you see this film not for the dance numbers, but for Ginger's escapades as a comedienne."

Don't miss this one!

Robert Moore | 01/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When most people think of Fred and Ginger, flashes of fabulous dancing come to mind, and Carefree delivers this! But beyound that, the comic timing and cleverness of the writing is superior to other Fred and Ginger movie. The hypnotic use of "Change Partners" (one of Irving Berlin's best, and just as a side note, it's featured on Harry Connick, Jr.'s newest album "Come By Me")is wonderful. More than just an adorable and cute movie, the writing and music, and of course the dancing, is fantastic."

A fun, funny film

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 01/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the best-plotted, most delightful Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers team-ups... The dance routines actually aren't as great here as in other films, but Rogers is a hoot as a wisecracking, no-nonsense gal who will have none of Astaire's patronizing airs in his role as a high-handed psychiatrist, hired by her bewildered beau (played by Ralph Bellamy) to find out why she doesn't want to tie the knot. All of Astaire's attempts to diagnose her fail: he talks to her and she runs rings around him, he hypnotizes her and the results are equally disasterous, he dopes her up with an inhibition-lowering "anasthetic" and she goes on a impish, hilarious crime spree. Ginger's comic timing is devastating, and she's also as gorgeous as ever in this fine, fun film. Recommended!"

One of the best

Rochelle Morrow | Spanish Fork, UT | 08/26/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"*Carefree* is one of my favorite of the Astaire/Rogers series. I like this one because Ginger is not her usual skeptical self about poor Fred, who's usually trying to woo her. She falls in love instantly, and it's convincing. After that, he can't really help himself. This film has some pretty good dance sequences and some great comedy."