Roberta

William A. Seiter's 1935 film is a musical comedy set in Paris. The American footballer John Kent arrives with his friend Huck and his band; unable to find work, they go to his aunt's fashion house. When the aunt dies the house passes to John and he has to work with Stephanie, who runs it. A second story runs between Huck and Lizzie, an old acquaintance performing under the guise of a Polish princess. The film's real strength lies in the dances of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and the songs of Jerome Kern. The fashion show sequence is counted among the most lavish of its period. The plot is weak and the balance of interest tips towards the secondary couple rather than the leads. Who it's for: viewers who like classic Hollywood musicals and Astaire and Rogers. Who it's not for: anyone expecting a strong story; the film exists for the numbers.