September’s movie night at Old City Hall features the last of nine films made at RKO starring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire… The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle.

Castle is a reasonably accurate biography of the two dancers who set the dance world on fire in the Edwardian Age until World War I. They were even more famous than Fred and Ginger and the movie attempts to show the depth of their popularity. Beset with numerous problems, most of them personally caused by Irene Castle who wanted anyone but Ginger playing her life story, the film admirably succeeded in serving as a finale to Ginger’s partnership with Fred. It is a sweet, small, unpretentious film reflecting the era it portrays

The supporting cast includes three-time Oscar winner Walter Brennan and one of filmdom’s greatest character actresses, Edna May Oliver. Cinematography was by the great Robert De Grasse whose career spanned nearly half a century. His ending shot of Fred and Ginger dancing away from the camera is one that will linger with you, as will Fred’s choreography in their last number, “The Missouri Waltz.”

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle will screen at 7:00pm on Friday, September 18th, 2015. There will be an interesting talk about Ginger Rogers before the movie. Currently, there is no Britt concert scheduled for that date. Doors open at 6:30pm.

For Ginger Rogers Fans:

There is a film festival of Ginger Rogers’ movies being held at the Talent Branch Library located at 101 Home Street in Talent each Wednesday from 2 to 4 P.M.  The schedule is:

September 16, 2015:  Bachelor Mother…   After Ginger Rogers, a department store clerk, is mistaken for the mother of an abandoned baby, David Niven determines to keep the single woman and “her” baby together in this delightful romantic comedy. (1939 / 82 min. / NR)

September 23, 2015:   The Major and the Minor…  Billy Wilder directs Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland in this hilarious comedy about a woman whose plan to disguise herself as a child in order to save on train fare goes horribly awry. (1942 / 100 min. /NR)

September 30, 2015:   Storm Warning…  An incredible cast including Ginger Rogers, Doris Day, and Ronald Reagan must face the evil lurking in a small southern town. (1953 / 93 min. / NR)

I can tell you that Major And The Minor was really one of Ginger’s favorite films.  Mary White has done an excellent job in her selections.  These really are some of Ginger’s very best movies.

See you at the movies…

Paul Becker