Of the 40 films the late Fred Astaire appeared or starred in, 34 are available on videocassette, and most of his films–because they have been on tape for a while–are $20 to $30. Thirteen of the 34 get my highest rating
–four high fives.
One such film is ”Swing Time” (1936), which costars Ginger Rogers. This is Astaire`s best. It features the songs ”The Way You Look Tonight,” ”A Fine Romance” and his memorable Bojangles song-and-dance number. Nothing more needs to be said.
The other high fives are ”The Gay Divorcee” (1934); ”Top Hat” (1935); ”Follow the Fleet” (1936); ”Broadway Melody of 1940” (1940); ”You Were Never Lovelier” (1942); ”Easter Parade” (1948); ”Royal Wedding” (1951);
”The Band Wagon” (1953); ”Funny Face” (1957); ”Silk Stockings”
(1957); ”On the Beach” (1959); and ”Ghost Story” (1981).
Other Astaire movies on tape include ”Flying Down to Rio” (1933);
”Shall We Dance,” ”A Damsel in Distress” (1937); ”Carefree” (1938);
”The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle” (1939); ”Second Chorus” (1940);
”You`ll Never Get Rich” (1941); ”Holiday Inn” (1942); ”The Sky`s the Limit” (1943); ”Ziegfeld Follies” (1946); ”Three Little Words,” ”Let`s Dance” (1950); ”The Belle of New York” (1952); ”Daddy Long Legs” (1955); ”Finian`s Rainbow” (1968); ”That`s Entertainment” (1974); ”The Towering Inferno” (1975); ”That`s Entertainment Part II,” ”The Amazing Dobermans” (1976); and ”The Purple Taxi” (1977).
Now you can have your own private Astaire festival.
And then there`s the late Jackie Gleason. For a trip down memory lane with the Great One, try ”The Honeymooners: The Hidden Episodes.” These early 1950s pieces are available for $29.95 each. The skits aired on television and the story lines were the basis for the 39 episodes of ”The Honeymooners” now shown in reruns.
For the big guy`s serious side take a peek at ”The Hustler” (1961), in which Gleason plays pool shark Minnesota Fats opposite Paul Newman. Another of Gleason`s big-screen appearances was in the comedy ”Nothing in Common” with Tom Hanks. The screenplay about an advertising executive (Hanks) who tries to patch things up between his mother and his seriously ill father falls very flat.
