The Story of Vernon & Irene Castle

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The Story of Vernon & Irene Castle

Released Mar 29, 1939

1h 33m

Biography

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86%

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7 Reviews

67%

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1,000+ Ratings

Aspiring dancer Irene (Ginger Rogers) convinces vaudevillian Vernon Castle (Fred Astaire) to give up his comic act for something more serious: ballroom dancing. Together, they work on perfecting their dance routine and take the act to Paris. It's a rocky road at first, but, after a knockout appearance at the Café de Paris, the duo become a sensation. With their fame steadily rising, the Castles seem on top of the world. But the outbreak of World War I threatens everything.

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SMH Staff

Sydney Morning Herald

[Despite] a lack of anything very virile, the film, the film has definite beauty... Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers are technically excellent.

Aug 28, 2020

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Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

If joy and liberation exudes from the best Astaire-Rogers films, this is defined by restriction.

Rated: 1.5/4

Nov 3, 2016

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Graham Greene

The Spectator

Perhaps the best the marvelous couple have made since Gay Divorce.

Dec 7, 2011

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Gabe Leibowitz

Film and Felt

It's not exactly a stretch for Astaire and Rogers, but they do the old rags-to-riches angle seamlessly, and the finale is surprisingly touching.

Rated: 68/100

Oct 13, 2011

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Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Lesser Astaire-Rogers vehicle, but pleasant.

Rated: 4/5

May 24, 2006

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 4/5

Oct 18, 2005

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Steve D

As thin as most of their films together.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/20/23

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ashley h

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle is a decent film. It is about a married couple, Irene and Vernon Castle, who are sensational ballroom dancers prior to World War I. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. H. C. Potter did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama and music.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

the last RKO Fred & Ginger pix is a bio-pic

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

A sad Fred & Ginger movie. :-(

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

This film has a surprisingly lavish production and the most engaging, as well as time enduring story of the Astaire/Rogers pairings that I've seen so far.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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Audience Member

Astaire & Rogers' final RKO film together is a conventional musical biography with plenty of dancing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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H. C. Potter

Director

Fred Astaire

Vernon Castle

Ginger Rogers

Irene Castle

Edna May Oliver

Maggie Sutton

Walter Brennan

Walter Ash

Etienne Girardot

Papa Aubel

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Synopsis

Aspiring dancer Irene (Ginger Rogers) convinces vaudevillian Vernon Castle (Fred Astaire) to give up his comic act for something more serious: ballroom dancing. Together, they work on perfecting their dance routine and take the act to Paris. It's a rocky road at first, but, after a knockout appearance at the Café de Paris, the duo become a sensation. With their fame steadily rising, the Castles seem on top of the world. But the outbreak of World War I threatens everything.

Director: H. C. Potter
Producer: George Haight, Pandro S. Berman
Production Co: RKO Pictures
Genre: Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 29, 1939, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 1h 33m

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