Dec. 29, 1933
RKO
Musical, Comedy
DVD
B-
Released the same day as Design for Living, this is less obviously a pre-Code movie in its situation, but there is a lot of raciness in the dialogue, dancing, and costumes. As for the dialogue, the line "What have these South Americans got below the equator that we haven't" is a good sample, and most of Ginger Roger's lines are suggestive, as is her song "Music Makes Me." She and Fred dance a less dirty-dancing version of the Carioca than the "Brazilians" do but it's still a very flirty number for them, and, yes, this is the movie that made them stars. Unfortunately, we have to spend too much time on a love triangle that is "won" by the very unlikable Gene Raymond, when Raul Roulien's character Julio (pronounced by everybody with an American J) is much cuter, nicer, smarter, and nobler. Oh well, Dolores del Rio is OK. Pangborn once again works for a hotel, but only in the Miami scenes.
Watch this one not only for Fred & Ginger but for the chorus-girls-strapped-to-airplane-wings finale. It's not only incredibly campy but the outfits are very scanty. You're not hallucinating if you think you see nipples! Also, the film is notable for mocking racism, when black "savages" turn out to be civilized hotel staff.
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