Overview
A delightful tale of mistaken identities and romantic mischief unfolds in a vibrant seaside town.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- carefree
- urbane
- classic movie night
- dance film evening
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a smart, cheerful Astaire-Rogers musical comedy whose infectious dance sequences and supporting performances outweigh its lightweight plot.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mimi mistakes Guy for the hired correspondent, while the divorce scheme and competing assumptions drive the comedy.
The plot explicitly functions as a framework for song and dance, culminating in the extended twenty-two-minute performance of The Continental.
Guy's stage persona, Mimi's divorce predicament, talkative supporting characters, and the film's carefree mood create sophisticated comic lightness.
Mimi needs an apparent infidelity arranged to obtain a divorce, turning restrictive divorce procedures into the engine of romantic farce.
Films like The Gay Divorcee, and why
Top Hat
shared Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musical romance, elegant dance spectacle, and playful mistaken-identity comedy
Swing Time
shared screwball romantic comedy, musical interludes, urbane wit, and sparkling Astaire-Rogers chemistry
Follow the Fleet
shared 1930s musical comedy, dance-centered romance, mistaken identities, and exuberant production numbers
Love Me Tonight
shared pre-Code Hollywood musical energy, romantic misunderstandings, and lavish choreographed performances
Movie Details
- Director
- Mark Sandrich
- Release Date
- 1934-10-12
- Runtime
- 105 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (151)
Cast
- Fred Astaire
- Ginger Rogers
- Alice Brady
- Edward Everett Horton
- Erik Rhodes
- Eric Blore
- William Austin
- Charles Coleman
- Lillian Miles
- Betty Grable
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Gay Divorcee about?
- A carefree Astaire-Rogers screwball musical turns a contrived divorce scheme and mistaken identity into an elegant showcase for romance, wit, and spectacular dancing.
- What is The Gay Divorcee like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Gay Divorcee as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Gay Divorcee violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Gay Divorcee.
- What did critics think of The Gay Divorcee?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a smart, cheerful Astaire-Rogers musical comedy whose infectious dance sequences and supporting performances outweigh its lightweight plot.
- Which films are like The Gay Divorcee?
- Films with a similar feel include Top Hat, Swing Time, Follow the Fleet, and Love Me Tonight.
- How long is The Gay Divorcee?
- The Gay Divorcee runs 105 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Gay Divorcee?
- In United States, The Gay Divorcee is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
