THE DANCING CASTLES

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22804, 1 September 1939, Page 5

THE DANCING CASTLES

Astaire-Rogers Film at State

Fred Astaire antf Ginger Rogers are paying the past a compliment. In “The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle,” beginning to-day at the State, they show the people of to-day what two famous dancers did for the people of 25 and 30 years ago. Vernon and Irene Castle were the most famous dancers of the war years. Their story is one of success and sadness and it is re-enacted by Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in a way to revive the fame of two artists forgotten by some and unknown by many of this generation. The film, which has been warmly received overseas, begins with Vernon Castle and Irene Foote meeting at New Rochelle. In a show at New York Irene is disgusted with Vernon’s dancing, which she had believed was firstclass. She persuades him that he can do better and soon the team is formed —efficient entertaining and married.

They go to Paris for an engagement, and there Vernpn learns that he is not to dance with Irene, but is to play his original slapstick role, and he refuses to go on. In their sparsely furnished apartment, Vernon, attempting to cheer up Irene, coaxes her to dance. To avoid disturbing the tenant below, they dance on their toes (Castle Walk). As they finish the routine, they are applauded by Maggie Sutton (Edna May Oliver), their downstairs tenant and a theatrical agent. She gets Vernon and Irene an engagement at the Cafe de Paris. Their success is phenomenal. Before long they are international toasts. Clothes, cigarettes, books, and novelties are named after them. The whole world takes up the Castle Waite, the Castle Walk and other famous Castle steps. The outbreak of war in 1914 interrupts their careers and leads to the sad ending of their story. Irene Castle herself helped in the making of this RKO Radio film, which is directed by H. C. Potter.