Discuss Swing Time

In the story, a woman & man spend a lot of time together and get to be pretty close. They kiss. Then the man's fiancée shows up.

The woman is shocked, but rather than throw a hissy fit she quietly leaves the room. Nobody gets angry. Later she & the man meet, and it's a very warm honest moment.

Soon the fiancée learns about the other woman. Again nobody gets angry. Just adults understanding & accepting how unpredictable love is.

If this story were made today, there would be half a dozen arguments, a few public meltdowns, a couple lawsuits and probably a mass shooting. But here everyone handles heartbreak & loss like grownups. Has any other movie ever come close to this level of class?

6 replies (on page 1 of 1)

Jump to last post

My favourite dance couple Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers. heart_eyes

@wonder2wonder said:

My favourite dance couple Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers. heart_eyes

Pure magic, I think they mighta had something to do with the movie having so much class 😉

@BaronOfHair said:

The woman is shocked, but rather than throw a hissy fit she quietly leaves the room. Nobody gets angry

This was an indicative of an era in which audiences were too polite to call bulls-it on such a scene

Probably the case. I'm sure psycho flipouts have existed since the invention of love.

What's interesting is that these old films attempt to set an example of how people should behave (art leading life), whereas modern realism is concerned with showing how people actually behave (art imitating life).

Today we've gotten to the point where the news, and cellphone video of horrific crimes, have rendered movie realism obsolete. Or in other words, there's no need for art to imitate life anymore because life is captured & broadcast in real time. Maybe that's why the magic of old (artificial) polite society is what's refreshing to me. I've seen enough, and lived through enough, romantic flipouts that I don't need to see them staged by Hollywood. Bring back Fred & Ginger.

@rooprect said:

In the story, a woman & man spend a lot of time together and get to be pretty close. They kiss. Then the man's fiancée shows up.

The woman is shocked, but rather than throw a hissy fit she quietly leaves the room. Nobody gets angry. Later she & the man meet, and it's a very warm honest moment.

Soon the fiancée learns about the other woman. Again nobody gets angry. Just adults understanding & accepting how unpredictable love is.

If this story were made today, there would be half a dozen arguments, a few public meltdowns, a couple lawsuits and probably a mass shooting. But here everyone handles heartbreak & loss like grownups. Has any other movie ever come close to this level of class?

There are many Rom-Coms & dramas from the 30s that show plenty of fussing & fighting.

@bratface said:

There are many Rom-Coms & dramas from the 30s that show plenty of fussing & fighting.

I'm talking specifically about Swing Time. It's very refreshing. You should see it if you haven't already.

@rooprect said:

@bratface said:

There are many Rom-Coms & dramas from the 30s that show plenty of fussing & fighting.

I'm talking specifically about Swing Time. It's very refreshing. You should see it if you haven't already.

I have. It's fine, I'm just not a fan of Astaire.

Can't find a movie or TV show? Login to create it.

Global

s focus the search bar
p open profile menu
esc close an open window
? open keyboard shortcut window

On media pages

b go back (or to parent when applicable)
e go to edit page

On TV season pages

(right arrow) go to next season
(left arrow) go to previous season

On TV episode pages

(right arrow) go to next episode
(left arrow) go to previous episode

On all image pages

a open add image window

On all edit pages

t open translation selector
ctrl+ s submit form

On discussion pages

n create new discussion
w toggle watching status
p toggle public/private
c toggle close/open
a open activity
r reply to discussion
l go to last reply
ctrl+ enter submit your message
(right arrow) next page
(left arrow) previous page

Settings

Want to rate or add this item to a list?

Login