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Bob Landry for LIFE Magazine, March 2, 1942
GINGER ROGERS AT HOME
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Click on the picture and zoom in to read the text:
Bob Landry for LIFE Magazine, March 2, 1942
Comments are closed.
Ginger seems to be yet another woman who suffered later due to her age and changing tastes. Still, 1952’s very funny and under-rated Monkey Business gave her an amusing role opposite Cary Grant (with an effervescent Marilyn Monroe in support. I used to resist appreciating Norma Jean but she’s so charismatic, and her fragility makes it hard to dislike her). Interestingly, Fred’s last fitting musical role – at least for me – was the following year in The Band Wagon with, of course Cyd Charisse in one of her better parts making the most of her incredible dancing and magnificent legs.
Ginger as Edwina (or Mrs. Fulton) rocks this role – doing what she does best, comedy. I know she broke up the Astaire Rogers team because she wanted serious roles but comedy was her strength and “Monkey Business” was perfect for her. I think Hawks followed up “Monkey” with “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and then he too succumbed to changing tastes, a movie like his awkward update of “Bringing up Baby” starring Rock Hudson and Paula Prentiss is best forgotten.
Man’s Favourite Sport? I only dimly remember seeing that (though I like Ms Prentiss, as well as her husband, Richard. Wasn’t Rock H in MFS with Paula?) Hawks later movies tend to be a chore for me to watch. Few things last forever (Rio Bravo and El Dorado are okay – tho’ the same film – but I don’t like the attitude, I prefer Red River with poor Montgomery).
But Bringing Up Baby is a *masterpiece*! Kate Hepburn never better and Cary Grant hilarious as David Huxley. Now, *that* is a romantic comedy none of that romcom rubbish :). “I just went *gay* all of a sudden!”, the torn dress, the golf game, Mr Peabody, Katherine’s indomitability, “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby”. Priceless. Hawks’s best from several.