Every Rom Com 58: Top Hat

Join Every Rom Com as we begin our Musicals series with the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers classic “Top Hat”! We talk about the early days of musicals, and how Astaire revolutionized the genre; we discuss Rogers’ own genius and how she stuck by a costuming choice that elevated one of cinema’s most iconic scenes; and we discuss whether there may have been a gay subtext at play in scenes between hilarious character actors Edward Everett Horton and Eric Blore! All this and much more as we dive into a movie that’s sure to become part of your rotation if it isn’t already an old favorite! We’re joined for this episode by the wonderful and knowledgeable Poppy of the Confessions of A Closet Romantic podcast! 

0:00-10:03  Introduction to the Musicals Series, Our Favorite Musicals

Find Poppy’s Podcast Here:

https://www.confessionsofaclosetromantic.com/ 

Follow Poppy On Twitter:

https://twitter.com/poppy_confesses 

10:03-16:37 TRAILER, Basic Info, Interesting Facts

Full Trailer From YouTube Channel “Lorelle Shorten” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHyJfvlhP-s 

Sources For Many Interesting Facts:

The Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers Book by Arlene Croce 

“Top Hat” DVD Commentary

16:37-21:24 General Opinion

21:24-35:40 Cast & Crew In-Depth

More Info On Fred Astaire:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Fred-Astaire 

More Info On Ginger Rogers:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ginger-Rogers 

https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/164119%7C61650/Ginger-Rogers/#biography 

For a bit more on Irving Berlin, you can listen to Every Rom Com episode 52  on “White Christmas”: https://www.everyromcom.com/podcast-1/episode/4ec870a3/every-rom-com-52-white-christmas 

35:40-41:31 Brief Intro To Early Hollywood Musicals

41:31-52:34 Opening Of The Movie, Edward Everett Horton And Eric Blore, Is There A Gay Subtext In “Top Hat”?

Some Sources I Used For Evidence Of Gay Subtext:

https://www.bustle.com/wellness/why-is-it-called-a-blow-job 

https://www.outinperth.com/on-this-gay-day-actor-edward-everett-horton-was-born/ 

52:34-1:01:35 No Strings (I’m Fancy Free), The Meet Cute

1:01:35-1:12:25 Jerry Pursues Dale, Isn’t This A Lovely Day (To Be Caught In The Rain)

1:12:25-1:20:06 Misunderstandings And Hijinks

1:20:06-1:27:32 Top Hat White Tie And Tails

1:27:32-1:35:28 Arrival In Venice, More Misunderstandings And Hijinks

1:35:28-1:47:59 Cheek To Cheek

1:47:59 SPOILERS BEGIN

1:47:59-1:55:51 Even More Misunderstandings And Hijinks

1:55:51-2:05:32 The Piccolino, End Scenes, Final Thoughts

2:05:32-2:18:32 Double Feature Recommendations