Rent Fred and Ginger: Carefree (1938)

Guilty Pleasure. - Fred and Ginger: Carefree review by Steve

With the implementation of the Production Code in 1934 Hollywood films didn't only become less salacious, they were also more conservative. The censors were strongly allied to religious groups and asserted their role was to enforce 'American values'. Plus the '30s was a foreign country and they did things differently there.

Some directors pushed back and some didn't. And it seems Mark Sandrich was one who didn't. The screwball plot of Carefree is regrettably sexist and perverse, with Fred Astaire as a psychoanalyst who uses his professional prerogative to influence the romantic choices of Ginger Rogers. Sometimes under hypnosis.

OK, this is screwball, but it is also creepy. Even allowing for 90 years of social change, this is the Fred and Ginger series in decline. The few dance routines are not among the duo's best and are set to some of Irving Berlin's lesser songs. Ralph Bellamy is one of the great comedy support actors, but there's not much for him here.

Set against all that, there are some big laughs and Luella Gear is fun as Ginger's sassy older sidekick. Rogers gets an equal share of the spotlight for once. The romantic dance duet for Change Partners may not be one of the stars' greatest hits, but it's still pretty good. There are merits for hardcore fans, but it's a guilty pleasure.