The Gay Divorcee

Released Oct 12, 1934

1 hr. 47 min.

Musical

Comedy

List

93%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this beloved musical, Mimi Glossop (Ginger Rogers) journeys to England to seek a divorce from her absentee husband. When Mimi meets dashing performer Guy Holden (Fred Astaire), sparks fly, and, most importantly, lavish song-and-dance numbers ensue. While romance and comedy factor into the film, the production is largely a showcase for the legendary talents of Rogers and Astaire, most notably displayed in an extended sequence during the third act.

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acsdoug D

The lame story is worth sitting through to get to the wonderful "The Continental" finale. Fred and Ginger have a couple of other numbers too.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/02/23

Full Review

StephenPaul C

LOL, the funniest 01 hour: and 47 minutes ever!!!!!!!!!!!! Starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/23

Full Review

CodyZamboni

Charming Astaire and Rogers musical fluff. The slight mistaken identity plot used to showcase mostly fun dance numbers, especially Night and Day, and The Continental. But that number, at 17 minutes, was way too long, and gets too repetitive, and should've been edited down and streamlined.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

After hearing Fred Astaire put his stamp in a song, it's hard to imagine anyone else attempting to improve in what seems to be the definite rendition of it. That is the case when Mr. Astaire sings Cole Porter's elegant "Night and Day". In pairing Ginger Rogers with Mr. Astaire, Hollywood hit the jackpot as it produced a winning combination that went from film to film with such ease and panache, it will never be imitated. Mark Sandrich worked with Ms. Rogers and Mr. Astaire in several movies. Somehow, "The Gay Divorcée" is one of their best collaboration. This film is a lot of fun to watch, even after more than 70 years after it was made. It speaks volumes for all the people involved in the production of this movie. The Great Depression was the right background when movies like this were made. In a way, it was an escape from the harsh realities of the times America was going through. The public went to the movies to see their favorite stars that were shown in such a glamorous roles. How could anyone not admire the great Fred Astaire, always impeccably dressed? Or how could not any woman in the theater envy Ms. Rogers's beauty and easy grace? That era made it right for Hollywood to show the world a sensitivity and sophistication that only few rich types were able to enjoy in real life, while the rest was trying to eke out a life of whatever work they could find. The musical numbers are amazing. "The Continental" alone, must have blown the budget of the picture. Imagine how much it would cost today to have all those dancers in a sound stage! Not only that, but in that lengthy number, there are at least four changes of costumes for the women. Also, he is delightful singing "Looking for a Needle in a Haystack". A young and radiant Betty Grable makes an appearance singing "Let's K-knock K-knees" in which she shows a bit of her enormous charm and talent. Ginger Rogers makes a gorgeous Mimmi Glassop. Alice Brady, is perfect as the dizzy Aunt Hortense. Edward Everett Horton plays an excellent Egbert Fitzgerald, the divorce lawyer. Erik Rhodes is one of the best things in the film; his Signor Tonetti injects a funny shot into the movie. Eric Blore, as the waiter, has great moments in the movie. In setting the film in London and Brighton, a rich texture is added to this winning picture that will remain a favorite that will live forever because of the chemistry that Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire produced in anything they did together.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Fred Astaire's performance of "Just Like Looking For A Needle In A Haystack" is not to be missed. Check out the valet's tosses of the umbrella and hat. Just magical!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

Full Review

ashley h

The Gay Divorcee is a decent film. It is about a woman thinks a flirting man who is the co-respondent her lawyer has hired to expedite her divorce. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Mark Sandrich did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the humor and romance.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Mark Sandrich

Director

Fred Astaire

Guy Holden

Ginger Rogers

Mimi

Alice Brady

Hortense

Edward Everett Horton

Egbert

Erik Rhodes

Tonetti

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Just fast forward to the dance numbers and you'll be in heaven.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 8, 2004

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Also standard for their pictures, Astaire finds time to sing and dance alone, for his own amusement, as he ponders how to win over the girl.

Rated: 4/10

Jul 27, 2020

Full Review

Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

Though it's longer than it should be, it seems shorter than it actually is, thanks to Fred Astaire.

Oct 11, 2019

Full Review

Helen Brown Norden

Vanity Fair

Fred Astaire's first starring film, worth seeing for the Cole Porter tunes and the superb dancing and clowning of the star, himself.

Jun 7, 2019

Full Review

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Astaire and Rogers are so elegantly in sync that the ill-fitting conventions simply melt away

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 9, 2015

Full Review

Gabe Leibowitz

Film and Felt

The Gay Divorcee offers a terrific mix of wit, humor, and, of course, song-and-dance.

Rated: 75/100

Oct 13, 2011

Full Review

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Synopsis

In this beloved musical, Mimi Glossop (Ginger Rogers) journeys to England to seek a divorce from her absentee husband. When Mimi meets dashing performer Guy Holden (Fred Astaire), sparks fly, and, most importantly, lavish song-and-dance numbers ensue. While romance and comedy factor into the film, the production is largely a showcase for the legendary talents of Rogers and Astaire, most notably displayed in an extended sequence during the third act.

Director: Mark Sandrich
Screenwriter: Dwight Taylor, Kenneth S. Webb, Samuel Hoffenstein, George Marion Jr., Dorothy Yost, Edward Kaufman
Distributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co: RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 1934, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 18, 2008
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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