Fred Astaire was one of the most celebrated actors, dancers, and musicians of his time. When he danced, the whole audience got goosebumps: It was like he was floating over the floor. From his career on Broadway to his films, he was a true star.
But he shined his brightest when he had an equally amazing partner to dance with. That partner was Ginger Rogers. "Backwards and in high heels" is a phrase that most think of when they hear Rogers' name, as she did absolutely everything that Astaire did, but of course in the opposite direction — quite the feat!
This pair made a total of ten films together over a span of 16 years — from 1933 to 1949. While each film ranged in success at the box office, as well as the popularity among fans, they are all an important part of cinematic history.
Do you agree with the rankings below? Which was your favorite Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film? Let us know in the comments and please SHARE with your family and friends on Facebook!
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10. Roberta (1935)
This was the third Astaire-Rogers film to ever be made, and the musical number "Lovely to Look At" was nominated for a Best Song Oscar in 1935.
9. Flying Down To Rio (1933)
While Rogers and Astaire weren't the top-billed actors in this film, it was the first one that the dynamic duo was paired up for. The most memorable part of this film is definitely the airplane wing dance scene at the end of the film, which required advanced special effects for the time.
8. The Story Of Vernon And Irene Castle (1939)
This was the only film starring the duo that didn't have any of the regular screwball comedy, the only musical biography, and (spoiler alert!) the only one where Astaire's character dies in a tragic ending to the film.
7. The Barkleys Of Broadway (1949)
This was the film that reunited these two stars after ten years of not filming together, and their only film to be done in Technicolor.
6. Follow The Fleet (1936)
Astaire performed a stride piano version of "I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket" as an introduction to the full musical number. The song reached number two on the U.S. Hit Parade.
5. The Gay Divorcee (1934)
This was the second movie the duo filmed together. While many of the Cole Porter songs from the original stage version were cut, "Night and Day" was not — certainly a very memorable moment from the film.
4. Shall We Dance (1937)
This was the seventh of the pair's musicals, and it featured the famous "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" satirical ballet.
3. Carefree, 1938
Astaire believed that the romance in his films should be represented by the dancing that he and Rogers did together as more of a symbolic gesture. But in this film, he agreed to the long, romantic kiss at the end of the music number, "I Used To Be Colorblind," to make up for all of the kisses that he hadn't given Rogers during all their years performing together.
2. Swing Time (1936)
While there are many reasons that critics argue this should take the number one spot on the list of Astaire-Rogers films, one of the most convincing is that it featured the original song, "The Way You Look Tonight," which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song that year.
1. Top Hat (1935)
For the famous "Cheek to Cheek" dance, Ginger Rogers insisted on wearing a dress made of ostrich feathers because of the lovely way they moved when she twirled around. Astaire was furious when he saw how feathers were shedding everywhere with each twist and turn. But by the end of it, he came around. Despite this little tiff, the film is considered to be the best that Astaire and Rogers ever filmed together. This was their best-performing picture in the box office, and is widely recognized as the finest piece of work that they put out together.
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