Shall We Dance (1937)

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 4 nominations total

Videos2

Top cast53

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Fred Astaire

Peter P. Peters aka Petrov

Ginger Rogers

Linda Keene

Edward Everett Horton

Jeffrey Baird

Eric Blore

Cecil Flintridge

Jerome Cowan

Arthur Miller

Ketti Gallian

Lady Tarrington

William Brisbane

Jim Montgomery

Ann Shoemaker

Shipboard Gossip Matron

Harriet Hoctor

Harriet Hoctor - Dancer

Norman Ainsley

Ship's Bartender
(uncredited)

Ben Alexander

Evans - a Bandleader
(uncredited)

Sherwood Bailey

Newsboy
(uncredited)

Matthew Boulton

Ship's Officer
(uncredited)

Harry Bowen

Johnson - the Locksmith
(uncredited)

Sidney Bracey

First Steward
(uncredited)

William Burress

New Jersey Justice of the Peace
(uncredited)

Charles Coleman

Central Park Policeman
(uncredited)

Monte Collins

Usher-Messenger
(uncredited)

Did you know

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Trivia
The scene where Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance on roller skates took about 150 takes, according to one of the VHS versions of the film.

Goofs
At the end, Linda Keene (Ginger Rogers) plans to crash Petrov's (Fred Astaire) big dance number, so she can personally serve him her divorce papers. Legally, a summons cannot be served by someone who is a party to the action.

Quotes
Linda Keene: What are the grounds for divorce in this state?
Clerk: Marriage.

Crazy credits
When George Gershwin's name appears in the credits, a bit of "Rhapsody in Blue" plays on the soundtrack.

Connections
Featured in Hollywood: The Great Stars (1963)

Soundtracks
Slap That Bass
(1937) (uncredited)
Words by Ira Gershwin
Music by George Gershwin
Sung and danced by Fred Astaire and Ensemble in engine room
Sung also by Dudley Dickerson

User reviews79

Review

Featured review

shall we skate?

Perhaps the best number in this is Fred and Ginger's dance 'n tap on roller-skates, but the terrific Gershwin score helps a lot (including 'Let's Call The Whole Thing Off', 'They Can't Take That Away From Me' and several others).

This is one of the pair's best, with the usual strong support from Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore and Jerome Cowan. A silly plot, with Astaire as a Russian ballet dancer (not really Russian, his real name is Peter P Peters!) and Rogers as a musical revue star, who meet and get embroiled in a fake marriage run-around. Horton plays Astaire's fussy manager, Blore plays a pompous hotel manager (the scene in the jail prompting the cop to ask 'what is this, a spelling bee?' is hilarious), and Cowan plays Rogers' manager (a chap distractingly named Arthur Miller).

'Shall We Dance' showcases Ginger Rogers in particular and gives her chance to shine; Fred Astaire remains the usual unattractive pest until he breaks into singing and dancing; and the finale, with a bevy of masked honeys who look like Ginger, has a certain originality. A great team at their very best.