Top Hat (1935)

While performing in London, an American entertainer (Fred Astaire) falls in love with a girl (Ginger Rogers) and after an initial reluctance, she finds herself falling in love with him. But in a case of mistaken identities, she believes that he's the husband of her good friend (Helen Broderick) so she breaks off the romance and flees to Italy with him in pursuit. Are there any two words in American cinema more magical than Astaire and Rogers? This is a dream of a film with a marvelous Irving Berlin score (including the sublime Cheek To Cheek), some terrific dance numbers and a witty screenplay that could stand on its own without the musical numbers. The Continental production number was such a big hit from their previous film THE GAY DIVORCEE that a similar number The Piccolino gets inserted and oh, that marvelous Art Deco Venice set. Directed by Mark Sandrich. The supporting cast is so perfect that they threaten to steal the film from Astaire & Rogers at any minute. In addition to Broderick there's Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore and Rhodes.