That partnership, and the choreography of Astaire and Hermes Pan, helped make dancing an important element of the Hollywood film musical. The Astaire-Rogers series are among the top films of the 1930s. They include The Gay Divorcee (1934), Roberta (1935), Top Hat (1935), Follow the Fleet (1936), Swing Time (1936), Shall We Dance (1937), and Carefree (1938). Six out of the nine musicals he created became the biggest moneymakers for RKO; all of the films brought a certain prestige and artistry that all studios at the time were looking for. Their partnership elevated them both to stardom; as Katharine Hepburn reportedly said, "He gives her class and she gives him sex appeal.". Thus, Astaire easily received the rare benefits of a percentage of the film's profits, something extremely rare in actors' contracts at that time; and complete autonomy over how the dances would be presented, allowing him to revolutionize dance on film. The only other entertainer to receive this treatment at the time was Greta Garbo.
Dance commentators Arlene Croce and John Mueller consider Rogers to have been Astaire's greatest dance partner, while recognizing that some of his later partners displayed superior technical dance skills, a view shared by Hermes Pan and Stanley Donen.[10] Film critic Pauline Kael adopts a more neutral stance, while Time magazine film critic Richard Schickel writes "The nostalgia surrounding Rogers-Astaire tends to bleach out other partners.".
Mueller sums up Rogers' abilities as follows: "Rogers was outstanding among Astaire's partners not because she was superior to others as a dancer but because, as a skilled, intuitive actress, she was cagey enough to realize that acting did not stop when dancing began ... the reason so many women have fantasized about dancing with Fred Astaire is that Ginger Rogers conveyed the impression that dancing with him is the most thrilling experience imaginable." According to Astaire, "Ginger had never danced with a partner before. She faked it an awful lot. She couldn't tap and she couldn't do this and that ... but Ginger had style and talent and improved as she went along. She got so that after a while everyone else who danced with me looked wrong."
However, Astaire was still unwilling to have his career tied exclusively to any partnership, having already been linked to his sister Adele on stage. He even negotiated with RKO to strike out on his own with A Damsel in Distress in 1937, unsuccessfully as it turned out. He returned to make two more films with Rogers, Carefree and The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle and, when both lost money, Astaire left RKO, while Rogers remained and went on to become the studio's hottest property in the early forties. They were reunited in 1949 for their tenth and final outing in The Barkleys of Broadway.
A Fine Romance
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A fine romance, my friend, this is
We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes
But you're as cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes
A fine romance, you won't nestle
A fine romance, you won't wrestle
I've never mussed a crease in your blue serge pants
A fine romance, my good fellow
You take romance, I'll take jello
You're calmer than the seals in the Arctic Ocean
At least they flap their fins to express emotion
A fine romance, with no quarrels
With no insults, and all the morals
You're just as hard to land as the Ile de France
I never get the chance
This is a fine romance
A fine romance, with no kisses
A fine romance, my friend, this is
True love should have the thrills that a healthy crime has
We don't have half the thrills that "The March of Time" has
A fine romance, with no clinches
A fine romance, with no pinches
You never give the orchids I send a glance
No, you like cactus plants
This is a fine romance
The song "A Fine Romance" by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers is a sarcastic and witty commentary on their relationship. The lyrics suggest that the couple's romance is anything but fine because it lacks passion and intimacy. The first verse of the song suggests that the couple should be passionate like "a couple of hot tomatoes" but instead, the man is as "cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes." The next verse talks about how he won't "nestle" or "wrestle," and the woman has never even had the chance to "muss" his pants. The third verse compares his lack of emotion to "the seals in the Arctic Ocean." The final verse suggests that true love should be thrilling like a healthy crime, but they don't even have half the thrills that "The March of Time" has.
Line by Line Meaning
A fine romance, with no kisses
This relationship lacks intimacy and affection.
A fine romance, my friend, this is
Ironically, this relationship is not fine at all.
We should be like a couple of hot tomatoes
We should be passionate and full of fire.
But you're as cold as yesterday's mashed potatoes
Unfortunately, you are emotionally distant and unresponsive.
A fine romance, you won't nestle
You do not show any affection or desire for physical closeness.
A fine romance, you won't wrestle
You do not engage in any kind of play or excitement in this relationship.
I've never mussed a crease in your blue serge pants
I have never had the opportunity to cause any disruption or excitement in this mundane relationship.
I never had the chance, this is a fine romance
There is no chance for anything exciting or passionate to happen in this relationship.
A fine romance, my good fellow
This non-passionate relationship is not enjoyable.
You take romance, I'll take jello
You do not value the passion and excitement in a relationship, while I do.
You're calmer than the seals in the Arctic Ocean
You are extremely reserved and show little emotion or enthusiasm.
At least they flap their fins to express emotion
Even seals, which are known for their stoicism, show more emotion than you.
A fine romance, with no quarrels
This relationship lacks any kind of real communication or emotional depth.
With no insults, and all the morals
There is no passion or excitement, but at least we maintain our moral obligations towards one another.
You're just as hard to land as the Ile de France
It is difficult to get you to show any real emotion or enthusiasm in this non-passionate relationship.
I never get the chance, This is a fine romance
This relationship is extremely dull and stagnant, leaving no room for passion or excitement.
True love should have the thrills that a healthy crime has
Real love should have passion and excitement, even if that means taking risks like in a crime.
We don't have half the thrills that "The March of Time" has
This relationship is so boring and lacking in passion that we cannot even compare to a factual news program like "The March of Time".
A fine romance, with no clinches
There is no physical affection or closeness in this relationship.
A fine romance, with no pinches
There are no playful moments or even moments of discomfort in this relationship.
You never give the orchids I send a glance
Even when I try to show you affection or appreciation, you do not acknowledge it or show gratitude.
No, you like cactus plants
Instead of appreciating the beauty of flowers and the gesture behind it, you prefer emotionally barren objects like a cactus.
This is a fine romance
Sarcastically, this is not a fine romance at all.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@chrisnorman9980
This will never be outdated - it’s timeless.
@frannieo1707
I hope heaven is an art deco ballroom, with Fred Astaire waiting in top hat, tux. white tie and tails.
@the1920sand30s
That would be lovely Frannie :-) Thank you for watching and commenting, it's much appreciated! Have a nice weekend, Stu
@TomoyoTatar
IT BETTER BE!
@suanl004
It's funny, sweet, and something else you don't see nowadays - ADORABLE! 😇
@TheMuseSway
I will always love Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. They're my favorite musical, dancing duo <3.
@noodle2453
I swear they’re just so perfect
@kurtsherrick2066
They were magic together. Last Saturday to get my mind Focused I watched Fred and Ginger all day. Back to a time when of real Stars. Today people just don't get it. I am thankful my parents let me stay up late and watch old movies with them.
@richardgornalle4536
These two are brilliant together. Screen magic.
@Tonetwisters
How could you dance with Ginger Rogers and hold her in your arms ... and NOT fall in love with her?