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Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton, Erik Rhodes, Helen Broderick ... see more see more... , Eric Blore , Lucille Ball , Phyllis Coghlan , Gino Corrado , Peter Hobbes , Leonard Mudie , Edgar Norton , Tom Ricketts , Nick Thompson , Ben Holmes , Frank Mills , Dennis O'Keefe , Tom Costello , John Impolito , Rita Rozelle , Genaro Spagnoli , Charlie Hall

One of the best of the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musicals, Top Hat centers on a typical mistaken-identity plot, with wealthy Dale Tremont (Rogers), on holiday in London and Venice, assuming that Amer... read more read more...ican entertainer Jerry Travers (Astaire) is the husband of her friend Madge (Helen Broderick) -- who's actually the wife of Jerry's business manager Horace Hardwick (Edward Everett Horton). Complicating matters is Dale's jealous suitor Beddini (Erik Rhodes), whose motto is "For the woman the kiss -- for the man the sword." Beddini is disposed of by some last-minute chicanery on the part of Jerry's faithful valet Bates (Eric Blore), paving the way for the happy ending everyone knew was coming from the opening scene. The Irving Berlin score includes "Cheek to Cheek," "Isn't it a Lovely Day?," and the jaunty title song. The charisma of the stars, the chemistry of the supporting players, the white-telephone art direction of Van Nest Polglaise, the superlative choreography by Astaire and Hermes Pan, and the effervescent direction of Mark Sandrich all combine to make Top Hat a winner. Originally released at 101 minutes, the film was for many years available only in its 93-minute reissue form; it has since been restored archivally to 99 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

88% liked it

8,951 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

37 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 39 min.

Directed by: Mark Sandrich

Release Date: September 6, 1935

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DVD Release Date: August 16, 2005

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Stats: 631 reviews

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Top Hat Ginger and Fred Ginger and Fred Poster Ginger and Fred Poster Poster Poster Poster Poster Poster Eric Blore (right) Top Hat
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Flixster Reviews (631)

  • Saxia
    November 13, 2011
    Saxia
    Probably a classic in it's genre, but this rating is purely based on my personal taste.
    The balance between movie and music is excellent, the chemistry between Fred and Ginger is great. But I just didn't feel it.
    The decor and the clothing were hideous, and the movie a little to... read moreo theatrical for my taste. This is my first and probably my last dance movie.
  • ajv2688
    September 14, 2010
    ajv2688
    This is a funny movie of mistaken identity, starring Fred and Ginger, and including some dance numbers as usual, but I liked the comedy best.
  • flixsterman
    December 5, 2009
    flixsterman
    It's all about the dance, and oh what a dance it is! Astaire and Rogers and choreography that defies gravity. Classic.
  • rubystevens
    August 16, 2008
    rubystevens
    fred and ginger's best. the usual convoluted and frothy plot reaches dazzling heights. :D
  • jennifxu
    October 7, 2007
    jennifxu
    I savor the moments when Fred and Ginger dance together. Their chemistry is unforgettable. This cannot get any classier. Unexpectedly hilarious as well.
  • binky013
    September 29, 2006
    binky013
    Horace Hardwick: You mean to sit there and tell me that that girl slapped your face in front of all those people for nothing?

    Jerry Travers: Well, what would you have done? Sold tickets?

    Really, friends, is there any better dance duo in screen history than Rogers and Asta

    ... read moreire? It is difficult to believe that this move is over 70 years old. Aside, obviously, from the visual look of the film due to technological reasons, this could have been made yesterday. The chemistry between the two is mesmerizing, even though they apparently were not great friends. They dance like they're in love; it's a wonder they didn't end up together.

    Just to throw some balance into the flixster synopsis. I personally don't find the story "silly." The word I would use is charming. Charming in the tradition of a comedy of manners. That chemistry between Rogers and Astaire carries over into their non-dancing moments as well. They can exchange lines, looks, and gestures with the best actors, and that fine acting carries the whole story to a higher level per force.

    Special praise for the performances of Erik Rhodes and, especially, Eric Blore as the butler of all butlers. And of course, flixsters, it's Irving Berlin. What could be better?
  • hypathio7
    November 19, 2010
    hypathio7
    This one is more stylishly glamorous, with elegant musical numbers. We have fantasy art deco versions of a London hotel and a Venice resort. There are still a couple songs that are great fun and even familiar to my ear. Even though a special feature stated that every one of th... read moree songs from this movie made it to the top ten pop charts of the day, I thought I would have been more familiar with these Irving Berlin tunes. The supporting cast of Horton as Horace Hardwick, Rhodes as Alberto Beddini, Broderick as Madge Hardwick, and Blore as Bates is strong. The story of mistaken identities is silly, but the comedy that fills the spaces between the music makes this one better than Swing Time in my opinion.
  • brandonw161
    February 27, 2012
    brandonw161
    My my, what a lovely film. The world of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers seems to be a completely different world than the one we live in - it's lavish, sparkly, delightful and carefree. It's exactly what the world needed to forget the troubles of The Great Depression. Fred Astaire... read more charms and Ginger Rogers lights up the screen. Their chemistry couldn't be better. It's pure magic watching the grand, energetic musical numbers. In my personal opinion, the "I'm in Heaven" scene ranks with "Singin' in the Rain" and "Over the Rainbow" as one of the greatest musical numbers ever filmed. "Isn't it a Lovely Day" is another bright spot in the film. Top Hat is pure bliss to watch. It's a movie I just want to hug.
  • staindslaved
    December 16, 2011
    staindslaved
    Not an Astaire fan and not a fan of dance movies at all. So it's difficult to judge a film this historically significant and universally loved through unbiased eyes. "Cheeck to Cheeck" and whatever the last song was, were pretty good. Most musicals pre-The Wizard of Oz don't of... read moreten get it done in the song department but this one gets by. Some lighthearted humor keeps the film interesting and a great performance from Helen Broderick were able to elevate this beyond just film-buff homework.
  • crazydannielle16
    May 16, 2010
    crazydannielle16
    Really funny movie. Great costumes and great dancing. Fun.

    Funny lines:
    Beddini: "Will you marry me? Why not? I am young, I am pretty."
    Beddini: "I am Beddini, I kill him for you!"
    Jerry: Do you need rescuing?"
    Dale: "No thank you I prefer to be in distress."


    The only thing I... read more didn't like was how Dale married Beddini when she wasn't in love with him, and then decided she would divorce him to marry Jerry.

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Critic Reviews

April 24, 2009
TIME Magazine

Finally, thanks more to Fred Astaire than any other single influence, the character of musicomedy in the cinema has now completely changed. Full Review

Variety Staff
January 11, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

This one can't miss and the reasons are three -- Fred Astaire, Irving Berlin's 11 songs and sufficient comedy between numbers to hold the film together. Full Review

Don Druker
January 11, 2008
Don Druker, Chicago Reader

This 1935 musical finds Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers at the top of their form. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 20, 2006
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Because we are bound by gravity and the limitations of our bodies, because we live in a world where the news is often bad and the prospects disturbing, there is a need for another world somewhere, a w... Full Review

Douglas Pratt
September 7, 2005
Douglas Pratt, Hollywood Reporter

The plot is involving, especially as it builds to its seemingly impossible-to-solve finale.

Andre Sennwald
May 20, 2003
Andre Sennwald, New York Times

All the minor players are such skilled comedians that they are able to extract merriment from this none too original comedy of errors. Full Review

Gabe Leibowitz
April 6, 2010
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt

Most of what I liked about Top Hat centers around its two stars: full of energy and grace, they breathe life into the film whenever it threatens to lose its luster. Full Review

April 24, 2009
Film4

Arguably the classiest and funniest of the RKO Astaire-Rogers musicals. Full Review

April 24, 2009
Empire Magazine

If you want only one Astaire-Rogers musical, Top Hat is obligatory. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
March 21, 2008
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

The fourth pairing of Astaire-Rogers is one of their best and RKO top grosser of the year. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Bates: Where do you want it, sir?
    • Horace Hardwick: Want what, Bates?
    • Bates: The steak, sir.
    • Horace Hardwick: On my eye.
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Top Hat Trivia

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