Carefree (1938)

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1. 

   Siskoid

   Though Fred Astaire musicals, with or without Ginger Rogers, always have dodgy sexual politics, Carefree is one of the hardest to watch by modern eyes (at least among the ones that don't have black face). Astaire is the world's least ethical psycho-analysts/hypno-therapists, doing his friend a solid by influencing his girlfriend to marry him, with various crazy complications resulting. It's pretty misogynistic, though I suppose Ginger lets her subconscious get some measure of revenge here and there with ridiculous rampages against the men in her life while under the influence of drugs or hypnosis. I've seen girls get punched out in '30s movies "as a joke" before (Loy and Powell often got violent in that way), but it's the accumulation of offensive elements that makes me dismiss this one like I do, and not want the leads to get together. It's ultimately kind of silly, and some of the dance numbers are good, but no songs feel essential to the canon, and they make us wait just a little too long between numbers for my tastes. 4 years ago
2. 

   Camille Deadpan

   That slow motion dream sequence is so beautiful.
   Also, the song I Used to Be Colorblind reminds me of Disney's A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes . 4 years ago
3. 

   cactacus_caractacus

   Of course the sexual politics are indeed terrible... but look past that and you’ll see a fabulous vehicle for Rogers in which Astaire repeatedly partners her, and not the other way around. She is hilarious and radiantly beautiful throughout, and gets her comeuppance often enough not to rankle. A strange little film with too few numbers, but it lands enough jokes and keeps things moving, and the dream sequence is breathtaking. Fabulous costumes and dancing, as always. 3 years 1 month ago

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