Shall We Dance

(source: tmdb.org)

George Gershwin is considered to be one of the greatest American composers of all time. Much of his fame was earned by successful blend of classical and popular music, namely jazz. The most common medium for doing so were Broadway musical, but Gershwin also worked on Hollywood musical films. One of his last works, finished shortly before his death, was the score for Shall We Dance, 1937 film directed by Mark Sandrich, also known as the seventh film in which legendary dance stars Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers appeared together.

The plot begins in Paris where American ballet dancer Peter P. Peters (played by Astaire) works pretending to be Russian with the stage name “Petrov”. He falls in love with American tap dancer Linda Keene (played by Ginger Rogers) who is just considering end of her career in order to marry bumbling Jim Montgomery (played by William Brisbane). She rejects Peters’ advances before two of them meet again on ocean liner traveling to New York. Before departure Peters tries to get rid of assertive Lady Tarrington (played by Ketti Gallian) by claiming that he and Linda are secretly married. As a result, rumours about it start to spread on the ship and even reach media. Linda’s manager Arthur Miller (played by Jerome Cowan) doesn’t want her to end the career and does everything in his power to make those rumours look true in order to sabotage the upcoming marriage. When Peters and Linda arrive to New York, they discover that they are booked at the same hotel and, as supposedly married couple, even share one of its suits. This leads to all kind of misunderstandings and complications, but Linda gradually discovers that she is actually attracted to her alleged husband.

Shall We Dance was supposed to be the last Astaire-Rogers pairing. Rogers, despite later urban legends that would claim otherwise, loved working with Astaire, but she was angry at RKO Pictures for paying her less than her partner. The studio recruited ballerina Harriet Hoctor as her possible replacement; she briefly appears near the end of the film playing herself and performing “Hoctor’s Ballet”, composition Gershwin wrote exactly for her. Apart from this, Shall We Dance looks like standard Astaire-Rogers musical, with weak and unoriginal plot and rather mild humour. Scenes that don’t feature music or dance are made interesting only through comedic abilities of supporting actors who have appeared in two previous Astaire-Rogers films - Edward Everett Horton (as Peters’ bumbling impresario) and Eric Blore (as long-suffering hotel manager Cecil Flintridge).

What ultimately makes this film interesting are music and dance numbers. Gershwin, who was partnered by his lyricist brother Ira, delivered some truly great compositions, including songs that would become some of the most popular 20th Century standards. They include “They All Laughed”, “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” and “They Can’t That Away from Me”. Although some of them don’t sound that impressive while being sung by Astaire (unlike when being sung with Rogers), they are followed by very impressive choreography, including delightful scene in which Astaire and Rogers dance on roller skates. The ending, which features an interesting attempt to blend jazz with classical ballet, is quite inventive and improves general impression of Shall We Dance. However, although very entertaining and still a good example of Classic Hollywood craftsmanship, this film represents one of the lesser works of legendary dance couple.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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(source: tmdb.org)

Even in the era of most intense globalisation huge differences in cultural norms between separate countries remained, even among countries usually associated with First World. Such differences can serve as basis for comedy and one of the better examples is Shall We Dance?, 1996 Japanese film written and directed by Masayuki Suo.

The protagonist is Shohei Sugiyama (played by Koji Yakusho), 42-year old accountant who is supposed to be happy with his life because he has achieved all aims of an average Japanese – wife, child and home of his own. However, he isn’t very happy because most of his life revolves around corporate drudgery. One evening, while returning from work, he notices beautiful woman (played by Tamiyo Kusakari) staring through the window of dance school. He is so intrigued by her and after gathering enough courage enrols into dance school where beauty named Mai Kishikawa works as an instructor. After passing through first lesson, Shohei meets group of eccentrics who adopted strange new hobby. He gradually realises that he is less attracted to Mai and more to dancing itself. This passion is, however, quite alien to most Japanese, so Shohei never talks about where and how spends so much free time. His wife Masako (played by Hideko Hara) becomes convinced that Shohei is having an affair, so she hires private detective in order to catch him in the act.

Touching persons of opposite sex in public is considered immoral by traditional Japanese and, consequently, ballroom dancing is frowned upon, roughly in the same way frequenting strip bars would be viewed in the West. Masayuki Suo nevertheless discovers the hidden world of Japanese dancing schools and competitions and does it in very sympathetic and well-thought way. Suo had good cast at his disposal, most notably Koji Yakusho who, with his look of an ordinary Japanese, helps non-Japanese audience to recognise various eccentric characters. Humour is very mild (and some of the gags probably won’t play that well in the West), but Shall We Dance? ultimately wins audience with humane approach to the characters and even the happy ending looks quite natural. The only problem of the film is lack of tempo in the last thirty minutes that makes it overlong. However, this imperfection is small price to pay when it comes to enjoying very likeable little film about people that find passion for life at unusual places. Shall We Dance? was big hit in Japan and even had decent box office results during North American distribution. In 2004 eponymou Hollywood remake was made with Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere in starring roles.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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