- Actors: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edna May Oliver, Walter Brennan, Lew Fields
- Directors: H.C. Potter
- Writers: Dorothy Yost, Irene Castle, Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Sherman
- Producers: George Haight
- Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, Original recording remastered, Subtitled, NTSC
- Language: English
- Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
- Region: (US and Canada This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- MPAA Rating:
- Studio: Warner
- Release Date: Oct 24 2006
- Run Time: 93 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000H6SXTM
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#36,292 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)
- #37 in DVD > Classics > Classic Stars > Fred Astaire
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle was the last of nine films Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers made together for RKO Pictures, and it is unlike any other. For the only time, Fred and Ginger play historical characters--the legendary dancing duo that was all the rage between 1912 and 1916--and a married couple, no less. Instead of their usual innovative, plot-driving dances, Fred and Ginger perform pastiches of what the Castles made famous--the fox trot, polka, and tango. And rather than an original score of great American standards by Berlin, Kern, or the Gershwins, the film uses a collection of period tunes, including "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" and "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee." No, this is not Top Hat, but fans will enjoy the film anyway. Vernon and Irene Castle is an affectionate tribute to a bygone era and to a team that Fred said was "a tremendous influence" on his career. As portrayed in the film (which was based on Irene Castle's memoirs and input), Vernon Castle is a small-time vaudeville comedian when he meets and marries Irene. The two not only manage to forge a career as proper, respectable dancers, they become the essence of style, setting national trends for dance, fashion, and even women's hairstyles. The film briefly touches on Fred and Ginger's usual themes of pursuit and union, but mostly they are warm and tender together as they deal with real-life problems, perhaps portraying the earlier films' characters after those "happily ever after" fantasy endings. And as we watch the Castles' performing career rise and decline, straight through to the film's touching last shot, we realize that Fred and Ginger are saying farewell, which makes The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle an appropriate finale to the most glorious partnership in Hollywood history. --David Horiuchi
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Story of Vernon and Irene,
This review is from: Story of Vernon and Irene Cast (DVD)
As I suspected this was a very entertaining movie with great dancing and acting by Ginger and Fred. I could watch this over and over and never tire of it.
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful,
By
This review is from: Story/Vernon&Irene Castle (VHS Tape)
this movie is so sweet. After seeing eight preceeding films (all wonderful no doubt)where they squabble, it's so sweet to see them really act like a couple. The scene on the balcony of the Paris apartment, where Fred kisses her is aborable. Not to mention the acting is ducky. It would be easy to overact in a film like this but they pull it off fine. Ginger is a little scene stealer. (what else is new)
3.0 out of 5 stars
A mildly disappointing end to their amazing run at RKO,
By
This review is from: Story/Vernon&Irene Castle (VHS Tape)
THE STORY OF VERNON AND IRENE CASTLE is one of the most disappointing films in the extraordinary musical partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and I frankly am utterly perplexed by the long line of five star reviews it has been getting here. Have these reviewers seen their other films? Fred Astaire is one my idols, and I have over the years seen all his musicals for an accumulated total of over 140 times, including TOP HAT nearly 20 times alone. So, my relatively low regard for this film is not a reflection of my overall regard for Fred and Ginger.The problem with THE STORY OF IRENE AND VERNON CASTLE is that absolutely none of the things that made Astaire and Rogers so great are able to make an appearance. Instead of the brilliant and innovative dances that invigorate their films, they have to do the famous dances of the Castles. Instead of great, original songs written especially for the film by some of the legendary songwriters of all time, they do period songs that fall short of the songs of their best films. Instead of a host of great comic actors and actresses that give the film a hysterical vitality, we get a rather average cast of characters. And instead of watching with delight Fred and Ginger's comic and musical courtship, we know how this one is going to end (at least those of us who know something of the Castles). In other words, the almost limitless possibilities that energize the typical Astaire-Rogers film is missing because of the need to tell someone else's story. It isn't that this is so much a bad film as it is a waste of Fred and Ginger's talents. You could have had far less gifted musical performers do the Castles's numbers. You could instead have worked up a completely original story for Fred and Ginger. As it is, their last RKO picture ends up being their least interesting. They did perform one more time, for MGM in THE BARKLEYS OF BROADWAY, but by then the magic was gone. That which had made them so unique and special didn't survive the horrors of WW II, and their tenth and final film seemed strangely out of place. I wouldn't discourage anyone who hasn't seen this film not to, but I will say that one could do themselves a far greater favor by rewatching one of their classics, such as THE GAY DIVORCEE, TOP HAT, or SWINGTIME. Or even FOLLOW THE FLEET, which had a terrible story, but featured some of their very greatest dances, including the extraordinary "Let's Face the Music and Dance," arguably their greatest number together.
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