Follow the Fleet

Follow the Fleet
February 20, 1936
RKO
Musical, Romance, Comedy
DVD
B+

Although Fred & Ginger are again sharing the bill and the screen with another couple, and the other man is played by Randolph Scott, this is far superior to 1935's Roberta.  It helps that the other woman, as Ginger's mouse-turned-knockout sister is Harriet Hilliard, AKA Ozzie Nelson's wife, and she sings in a likable, realistic way, unlike Irene Dunne.  True, she doesn't look all that much different after Lucille Ball gives her a makeover, but this isn't the most realistic movie.  (Lavish stage sets on a boat?  Which never rocks?)  Yes, Lucy has more to do here than in Roberta, and as "the tall blonde angel" puts a sailor in his place with a memorable putdown.  As for Scott, he's playing a bit of a heel here (as he admits), but he's not beyond redemption.  He has a fling with a rich divorcee, who's not presented as a bad girl, although a bit of a dumb blonde.  Also surprising, Ginger and Fred slip some naughtiness past the Code, as when Ginger, who sings in a dime-a-dance club, says she convoyed a fleet of sailors on the dance floor, "on my feet."  Fred even leads an all-male-couples dance lesson!

Mostly though, he's dancing on his own or with Ginger, and she gets a solo turn as well.  In their dance contest number in particular, they're remarkably fluid, helped by the bellbottoms they both wear, although it's back to gown and tux for the final production number, which is about renouncing suicide!  And there's a monkey in a sailor suit.  Maybe Flying Down to Rio isn't their most surreal film.  In any case, this has their best chemistry so far, and I loved how they banter about who's going to propose to whom.  They also work well with their best friends in the movie, she with Hilliard of course, and he with Scott.  While this is much less of a drama than Roberta, the emotions feel more genuine.  Plus the Irving Berlin et al. score is great, although there are probably too many reprises of "We Joined the Navy."  Overall, this film is a delight!

Mary Stewart and Eddie Tamblyn were in Flying Down to Rio.  Jane Hamilton, Maxine Jennings, and Kay Sutton were in Roberta.  James Pierce was in Horse Feathers as one of the "attempted kidnap victims" of Harpo and Chico.  Harry Beresford was the doctor in Little Women.  Allen Wood later appeared in Fred & Ginger's The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle.  Billy Dooley would go on to A Day at the Races,  Lita Chevret to The Women, Frank Jenks to His Girl Friday, Tony Martin to The Big Store, and Russell Hicks and Dick Purcell to The Bank Dick.  I can't tag everyone, and most of these are minor roles, here and elsewhere, although Martin gets far too much screen time in Store.