TEAM BROKEN.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19799, 1 February 1936, Page 17 (Supplement)

TEAM BROKEN.

FRED ASTAIRE—GINGER ROGERB. AMERICAN PUBLICITY METHODS. Recent advice from Hollywood states that the Ginger Rogers Fred Astaire dance team (seen in Hamilton this week in “Top Hat”) is to be broken up. The writer states : “ The Ginger Rog-ers-Fred Astaire team is definitely to be broker! up. Their employers, Radio Pictures, believe that fllmgoers have seen enough of them together. “ Ginger recently appeared alone in “ In Person.” Fred will have a new partner next August. “ She will be Harriet Hoctor. Broadway stage dancer who has just been playing in “ The Great Ziegfeld.” After many reports of the alleged breaking-up of successful trim teams in recent years we are inclined to be rather sceptical with regard to further reports and look upon them merely as the last resort in American publicity methods. Following on the statement (false of course) that Wheeler and Woolsey had definitely parted we had Stan Laurel bidding a long farewell to his confrere, Oliver Hardy. The last week's programme in Hamilton, coupled with the fact that the pair will appear in “ The Bohemian Girl ” gives the lie to the news of their parting. Victor MeLaglen could not keep away from Edmund Lowe for long in spite of anything their publicity agents said. In fact the only team that seems to have managed a successful “breaking-up” has been the Janet Gaynor-Charles Farrell combine which has not been seen on the Hamilton screens for a considerable time. If the latest advice contains an element of truth it is far from good news, for the pair worked well together, and as comedians they brightened more than one film which might otherwise have been very mediocre, if the report of their parting is not true it will be an even greater pity, because sensational American publicity has lost anj serious attention it ever commanded in this country, and, instead of assisting the stars concerned, it tends to jeopardise their popularity. The contention of Radio Pictures that the public have had their fill of the As-taire-Rogers combine hardly seems to have any justiIcation. “ Roberta drew large crowds wherever it was shown, and the more recent “Top Hat ” continues to treat the box office to “turn away” business at every showing. It would seem that the producers. having Harriet Hoctor on their hands, want to get her started in a big way and find that the only way of doing it is to feature her with a dancer of proved ability and popularity. The experiment may be a success,, but from Fred Astaire's point of view it seems risky. If the film public do not appreciate Miss Hoctor the effect will certainly be injurious to her famous partner.