Classics From The Vault, our new series aimed at rarely-screened Hollywood fare, returns  to the Fox Theatre on Tues, Aug. 24 at 7PM with a look at the musical.

Top Hat (1935)
Directed by Mark Sandrich
Starring Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers
Music by Irving Berlin

In Top Hat (1935), Jerry (Fred Astaire) falls hopelessly in love with Dale (Ginger Rogers) and pursues her all over London while rehearsing for a new show opening in the west end. Part screwball, part romance, Top Hat features celebrated Irving Berlin tunes like “No Strings,” “Cheek to Cheek,” and “Top Hat, Coat & Tails.” The most successful of the Fred and Ginger collaborations, the dancing, as Roger Ebert wrote, “reaches such perfection as is attainable.”

Upon its release in late August, 1935, the Toronto Star claimed that when better musical pictures are made, “Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers will make them. At least that’s the consensus of audience opinion at the Uptown theatre, where the lavishly produced new Astaire-Rogers comedy Top Hat, is being held for an extended run.”

It adds: “In this picture, the stars who score so decisively in Flying Down to Rio, The Gay Divorcee and Roberta, sing, dance and romance their way to a new triumph which even overshadows their past successes. One of the potent reasons for the tremendous popularity of Top Hat is the musical score by Irving Berlin. the king of popular song writers wrote al of the melodies and lyrics for the picture and in doing so turned out six hits that are acclaimed as the cathiest of his entire brilliant career. The stars introduce the new ballroom dance, the ‘Piccolino.'”

Top Hat was held over for four weeks — a rare occurence in those pre-multiplex days of high Hollywood turnover — joining the ranks of other early 1930s hits like City Lights (1931) and Mutiny on the Bounty (1935).

But this screening at the Fox is a one-time deal, so don’t miss out! It will be preceded by an assortment of shorts and cartoons from the mid-’30. Because we’re fancy like that.

Introduction by film critic, Toronto Star columnist and all-around gent, Geoff Pevere.

Admission is $7/members & $10/non-members.

Presented by The Fox Theatre (2236 Queen St. E) and SilentToronto.com!