DVD The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
Digital Life Average Rating:

Rating: - Old-fashioned story, but marred by apartheid censorship.
Who doesn't enjoy looking at Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers for 2 hours? And this movie tells a nicely-paced story with old-time cinema elegance. But the most amazing part of the movie is the total cultural white-washing. The whole historical background of the movie is the black american dance-forms and music like ragtime that started breaking into the mainstream with a lot of resistance. And the Vernons hired James Reese Europe, a black bandleader and composer who wrote most of the music for the Vernons' dances. This movie would have been 100 times better if black people were allowed to play the part they really played in the Vernon saga.

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Rating: - wonderful
this movie is so sweet. After seeing eight preceeding films (all wonderful no doubt)where they squabble, it's so sweet to see them really act like a couple. The scene on the balcony of the Paris apartment, where Fred kisses her is aborable. Not to mention the acting is ducky. It would be easy to overact in a film like this but they pull it off fine. Ginger is a little scene stealer. (what else is new)

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Rating: - A mildly disappointing end to their amazing run at RKO
THE STORY OF VERNON AND IRENE CASTLE is one of the most disappointing films in the extraordinary musical partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and I frankly am utterly perplexed by the long line of five star reviews it has been getting here. Have these reviewers seen their other films? Fred Astaire is one my idols, and I have over the years seen all his musicals for an accumulated total of over 140 times, including TOP HAT nearly 20 times alone. So, my relatively low regard for this film is not a reflection of my overall regard for Fred and Ginger.

The problem with THE STORY OF IRENE AND VERNON CASTLE is that absolutely none of the things that made Astaire and Rogers so great are able to make an appearance. Instead of the brilliant and innovative dances that invigorate their films, they have to do the famous dances of the Castles. Instead of great, original songs written especially for the film by some of the legendary songwriters of all time, they do period songs that fall short of the songs of their best films. Instead of a host of great comic actors and actresses that give the film a hysterical vitality, we get a rather average cast of characters. And instead of watching with delight Fred and Ginger's comic and musical courtship, we know how this one is going to end (at least those of us who know something of the Castles). In other words, the almost limitless possibilities that energize the typical Astaire-Rogers film is missing because of the need to tell someone else's story.

It isn't that this is so much a bad film as it is a waste of Fred and Ginger's talents. You could have had far less gifted musical performers do the Castles's numbers. You could instead have worked up a completely original story for Fred and Ginger. As it is, their last RKO picture ends up being their least interesting. They did perform one more time, for MGM in THE BARKLEYS OF BROADWAY, but by then the magic was gone. That which had made them so unique and special didn't survive the horrors of WW II, and their tenth and final film seemed strangely out of place.

I wouldn't discourage anyone who hasn't seen this film not to, but I will say that one could do themselves a far greater favor by rewatching one of their classics, such as THE GAY DIVORCEE, TOP HAT, or SWINGTIME. Or even FOLLOW THE FLEET, which had a terrible story, but featured some of their very greatest dances, including the extraordinary "Let's Face the Music and Dance," arguably their greatest number together.

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Rating: - Heartfelt
A must for fans of the talented Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. I was moved to tears at times, and the next minute I was laughing. They did such a beautiful job of protraying the real Irene and Vernon Castle. The real Castle's would have been proud of the way this movie was made. Fred Astaire was such a joy to watch, and I think this is my favorite Ginger Rogers movie. She brings class and grace to her character. I would recommend this to anyone who is in search of a movie that touches the heart.