Considered by many to be the quintessential Astaire-Rogers movie, Top Hat (1935) encapsulated the dreams of Depression-ridden audiences -- the glittering world of the playful rich dancing through life in top hat, white tie and tails, "stepping out, my dear, to breathe an atmosphere that simply reeks with class...."All the ingredients are there: snappy dialogue, a roguish Fred pursuing an aloof Ginger (who thinks he's someone else), the marvelous supporting cast: the rattled Edward Everett Horton, the permanently flustered Eric Blore, the outrageous "Italian" Eric Rhodes ("I am no man. I am Bedini!"), the deprecating humor of Helen Broderick --combine all that with words and music by Irving Berlin and the amazing sets by Van Nest Polglase---and you have a real gem of a film. . . when the only special effect was talent.
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