That was an excellent one.

Fresh and Exciting

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Another worthy entry in the Astaire - Rogers series of hit movies in the mid 30's "Follow The Fleet" as ever finds Fred chasing Ginger this time over love's crashing waves with him as a U.S. Navy ensign and her as his ex-fiancée who ditched him to try and make it as a dancer. Wouldn't you know it, but Fred's ship comes into port in Ginger's backyard and wouldn't you know it again that the sailors' furlough sees them all end up in the club where Ginger's berthed and wouldn't you know it just one more time that Ginger has a dowdy sister named Connie visiting her, who runs into Fred's best mate "Bilge" (terrible name) Smith played by Randolph Scott at the same club but who transforms swan-like into a pretty and stylish young woman when she gets a makeover from Ginger's show-girl pals.Of course the course of true love never runs smoothly in one of these films with both couples riding the waves of uncertainty and misunderstanding before the inevitable conciliatory ending at a "let's do the show right here" finale as Fred puts on a fund-raiser to provide the funds to buy Ginger and Connie's dad's old boat.This movie is quite long by 30's musical standards and occasionally shows it with the overlong played-out sub-plot between Bilge, Connie and a gay divorcée "other woman", in fact the way Bilge treats Connie, it's a wonder she takes him back at all. As ever, I can't detect any chemistry in the straight acting of Fred and Ginger, but put them on the dance-floor and just watch the sparks fly. Interestingly, Ginger gets a solo dance number and we even get to see Fred soloing actually playing the piano. The superb score, by the great Irving Berlin boasts songs like "We Saw The Sea", "Let Yourself Go", "I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket" and for the big finish, the classic "Let's Face The Music And Dance".There are some pithy, humorous lines in the script but equally there are also some clichéd, drawn-out scenes which are rather tiresome. You also get a little bored, I think of seeing Astaire in his navy duds so that it's a relief when he eventually dons the white-tie-and-tails for the show-stopping finish. Carping apart, the dance scenes between the two stars are wonderful and very much the best thing about the film. It's a shame in fact that they dance together so infrequently throughout the movie, although I'd have to say that it's all worthwhile especially when they step up for "Let's Face The Music and Dance". If only they could have danced all night...

Continuing my affair with the delightful Ginger Rogers, I can't go for long without her. This is great stuff, up there with Top Hat and Shall We Dance - the three best Fred 'n' Ginge films - all directed by Sandrich in the mid 30s. Irving Berlin's tunes are all pedigree again here, including 'Let's Face the Music and Dance', the scene paid tribute in Fellini's Ginger and Fred. The dancing is lively and inventive, and it's good value at 110 minutes.To draw the story out, the subplot follows another couple, Randolph Scott and Harriet Hilliard - the latter even gets a couple of songs. The contrast between Hilliard and Rogers (who play sisters) is fascinating. Rogers' face somehow sparkles and you know she's witty, humane and is high on emotional intelligence by her mannerisms and the way she uses her voice with that cute Southern edge. Hilliard is good but doesn't have that something which is evidently star quality. We don't have to worry about Fred, he is so good at what he does it all looks like a holiday for him - he lets himself go and enjoys it, and the others follow his lead. Sandrich clearly had the knack of getting everyone in the right frame of mind.I'll no doubt be dipping into this regularly, as I do with the other Fred & Ginger films, particularly on those nights when you can't sleep and you want a reason for not hating the world.

. . . Fred Astaire as Seaman "Bake" Baker has convinced me that any recruiting center I may enter will be playing "Anchors Aweigh!" In the Navy, according to FOLLOW THE FLEET, multiple rich chicks seem to fight over any sailor who's halfway decent-looking. In the Navy, you can then leave the girls for months at a time to make "their hearts grow fonder" (and/or give them a chance to refurbish giant ships for your eventual personal use). In the Navy, you have lots of free time between ports to conduct jazz bands and perfect dance routines. In the Navy, it's okay for enlisted guys to punch out officers, as long as it's at a social gathering during off-duty hours (you even can deck them aboard ship while on-duty, if you have a really good reason!). In the Navy, you can study for and pass tests to become a civilian ship captain the minute you're mustered out. In the Navy, they have cooks and galleys, so you don't have to settle for C-rations, or K-rations, or any other kind of alphabet soup. In the Navy, you're never ordered to dig fox holes. In the Navy, there's not as much of that noisy shooting you have to put up with in the Army or in the Marines. As far as I'm concerned, FOLLOW THE FLEET!

Follow the Fleet is a lot of fun and very charming. It isn't quite as good as Top Hat and Swing Time, but fans of Fred and Ginger won't be disappointed and will be enthralled instead. Like with almost all of their outings the story is somewhat silly and plays second fiddle to everything else and Harriet Hilliard, apart from her two wonderfully done solos(especially But Where are You?), is a little dull. However, while perhaps not as audacious or sophisticated as Swing Time, it is beautiful to look at with the photography particularly pleasing, the standout being Let's Face the Music and Dance. Irving Berlin's score and songs are not quite as consistent as his ones for Top Hat but are still wholly memorable and put a smile on your smile. Let's Face the Music and Dance is the jewel of the crown, helped also by Fred and Ginger's best ever dance routines, but Let Yourself Go and I'd Rather Lead a Band also stand out among the songs. The choreography is energetic and poised, Let's Face the Music and Dance once again comes to mind but Let Yourself Go positively makes you want to tap your toes. The dialogue is smart, funny and sweet, while charmingly swaggering Fred Astaire and sassy Ginger Rogers, in their graceful and full-of-personality dancing and in their performances, are entirely captivating. Randolph Scott is appropriately virile and doesn't look too out of his depth(considering that he's better known for his westerns), one wishes though that he had a stronger partner in Hilliard, who comes to life in her musical numbers but is lacking elsewhere. In conclusion, great fun and easy to like. 9/10 Bethany Cox