Shall We Dance (1937)

Director:

Mark Sandrich

Writers:

Allan Scott (screenplay) and
Ernest Pagano (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

7 May 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Hot Feet !

Plot:

A budding romance between a ballet master and a tapdancer becomes complicated when rumours surface that they're already married.

Plot Keywords:

Ballet | Dancer | Ship | Ocean Liner | Gossip

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 nominations

Cast

Fred Astaire	...	Petrov
Ginger Rogers	...	Linda Keene
Edward Everett Horton	...	Jeffrey Baird
Eric Blore	...	Cecil Flintridge
Jerome Cowan	...	Arthur Miller
Ketti Gallian	...	Lady Denise Tarrington
William Brisbane	...	Jim Montgomery
Ann Shoemaker	...	Matron Spreading Gossip
Harriet Hoctor	...	Herself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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)
Jean De Briac	...	Show Producer (uncredited)
Dudley Dickerson	...	Engine Room Singer (uncredited)
Pauline Garon	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Douglas Gordon	...	Steward (uncredited)
Helena Grant	...	Passenger Starting Gossip (uncredited)
Charlie Hall	...	Ship's Bartender (uncredited)
Eddie Hall	...	Man on Stairs with Blonde (uncredited)
Jane Hamilton	...	Woman (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Passenger Walking Dog (uncredited)
Sam Hayes	...	Dispatcher (uncredited)
Charles Irwin	...	Fire Drill Steward (uncredited)
Tiny Jones	...	Flower Woman (uncredited)
Lew Kelly	...	Policeman at Jail (uncredited)
George Magrill	...	Room Steward (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Marie Marks	...	Woman (uncredited)
Alphonse Martell	...	Doorman (uncredited)
Torben Meyer	...	Show Producer (uncredited)
Frank Moran	...	Process Server (uncredited)
Mantan Moreland	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Henry Mowbray	...	Radio Officer (uncredited)
Leonard Mudie	...	Room Service Waiter (uncredited)
Vesey O'Davoren	...	Ship's Bartender (uncredited)
Jack Rice	...	Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Matty Roubert	...	Elevator Operator (uncredited)
George Savidan	...	Errand Boy (uncredited)
Rolfe Sedan	...	Ballet Master (uncredited)
Mary Stewart	...	Dancer and Singer (uncredited)
Spencer Teakle	...	Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Pete Theodore	...	Linda's Dancing Partner (uncredited)
Richard Tucker	...	Mr. Russell - Attorney (uncredited)
Marek Windheim	...	Ballet Master (uncredited)
Sam Wren	...	Charlie (uncredited)
Emma Young	...	Tai (uncredited)

Directed by
Mark Sandrich

Writing credits
Allan Scott		(screenplay) and
Ernest Pagano		(screenplay)
P.J. Wolfson		(adaptation)
Lee Loeb		(story) and
Harold Buchman		(story)
Anne Morrison Chapin		contributor to treatment (uncredited)
James Gow		contributor to screenplay construction (uncredited)
Edmund H. North		contributor to screenplay construction (uncredited)

Produced by
Pandro S. Berman	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
George Gershwin
Robert Russell Bennett		(uncredited)
Nathaniel Shilkret		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
David Abel		(photographed by)
Joseph F. Biroc		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
William Hamilton

Art Direction by
Van Nest Polglase

Makeup Department
Mel Berns	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
J.R. Crone	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Argyle Nelson	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Carroll Clark	....	associate art director
Darrell Silvera	....	set dressing

Sound Department
Hugh McDowell Jr.	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Vernon L. Walker	....	special effects (as Vernon Walker)

Camera and Electrical Department
J. Roy Hunt	....	camera operator (uncredited)
John Miehle	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Cliff Shirpser	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Irene	....	gowns: Miss Rogers
Edith Clark	....	wardrobe attendant (uncredited)

Music Department
Nathaniel Shilkret	....	musical director
Robert Russell Bennett	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Hal Borne	....	musician: rehearsal pianist (uncredited)
Joseph A. Livingston	....	music arranger (uncredited)

Other crew
Harry Losee	....	ballet stager
Hermes Pan	....	ballet stager
Harry Cornbleth	....	stand-in: Fred Astaire (uncredited)
Eddie Hall	....	stand-in: Edward Everett Horton (uncredited)
John Huettner	....	stand-in: Edward Everett Horton (uncredited)
Marie Osborne	....	stand-in: Ginger Rogers (uncredited)
Paul Rochin	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Harry Timms	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures (A Pandro S. Berman Production)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1937) (USA) (theatrical)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• Chapel Distribution (2009) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Continental Home Vídeo (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Emerald (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (1994) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Turner Home Video (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Stepping Toes (USA) (working title)
Watch Your Step (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

109 min | Argentina:116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Australia:G | Finland:S | USA:Unrated | UK:U (video rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #2994) | UK:U (original rating)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

The song, "Hi-Ho," was written for this movie as an opening number, but was dropped because of the expense of filming it. It was published in 1967. The song "Wake Up Brother and Dance" was also written for the movie and published in 1937 with the other songs, but it was dropped to make room for the title song. It appeared in the movie Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) with the title "Sophia."

Quotes:

Peter P. Peters: I told you, I haven't even met her. But I'd kinda like to marry her... I think I will.

Movie Connections:

Featured in AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Let's Call The Whole Thing Off

Perfect

As a classic movie buff,I can honestly say that this is one of the greatest movies Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire ever made together. The story line is light, however, you must remember that this movie was made in the middle of the Depression, a time when people needed a light story(hence the major reason why Musicals were made in the first place). This movie is in my top 4 favorite Astaire/Rogers musicals, along with Top Hat(1935),Swing Time(1936), and Follow The Fleet(1936).I urge everyone to see those as well. The songs in this movie are wonderful,particularly "They All Laughed" and "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off."