Ginger Rogers invites Fred Astaire to dance once more at the Orinda Theatre August 26.
This month’s Tuesday Movie Classic Matinee at the Orinda Theatre showcases the most famous dancing team of the silver screen.
Of course we’re talking about Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in “Swing Time,” with the melodious music of Jerome Kern and the clever lyrics by Dorothy Fields, a 1936 Radio-Keith-Orpheum (RKO) film, directed by George Stevens.
Three great hits from the Great American Songbook were first introduced in this picture, written specifically for Astaire and Rogers to sing: “A Fine Romance,” “Pick Yourself Up” and “The Way You Look Tonight.” the last of which won an Oscar..
Over the years and out of the 10 screen dancing duo’s appearances, only “Swing Time” was preserved and restored.
The negatives of their other RKO movies are worn from frequent re-releases and ownership changes. As a result, the films can no longer be shown theatrically until expensive and extensive restoration work is done. This leaves only this film to remind us of the great élan the exquisite pair brought to the big screen. The restored “Swing Time” is the way they and all their movies were meant to be seen.
Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and make your way to the Orinda Theatre for an elegant afternoon with the most iconic cinematic team to ever grace the motion picture screen.
“Swing Time” is presented with a program of selected short subjects on Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 1 p.m. Following the shorts, the feature film begins at 1:45 p.m. Admission to the Orinda Classic Movie Matinee is $10. For more information, visit orindamovies.com.
