Product Details

• Actors: Irene Dunne, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott, Helen Westley
• Directors: William A. Seiter
• Writers: Alice Duer Miller, Allan Scott, Dorothy Yost, Glenn Tryon, Jane Murfin
• Format: NTSC
• Language: English, French, Russian
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: December 31, 1992
• Run Time: 106 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301978528
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #286,411 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When Huck Haines (Fred Astaire) and his jazz band of Wabash Indianians find themselves stuck in Paris without a paying gig, it's up to his buddy John (Randolph Scott) to appeal to his aunt, the legendary dressmaker Roberta (Helen Westley), for help. He also finds a Russian princess (Irene Dunne) working in the shop and a down-home American girl (Ginger Rogers) masquerading as a Polish countess because it's the best way to get a singing job. Roberta was the third RKO collaboration between Astaire and Rogers, and it's one of the more tepid, with too much time spent on 1930s Parisian fashion and the romance between Dunne and Scott. Dunne gets top billing and the best Jerome Kern ballads ("Yesterdays," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"), but as the second-banana couple Astaire and Rogers still get a tap battle, a romantic duet, and plenty of comic banter. In short, the Fred and Ginger magic is there, but not nearly enough of it. For more, watch the films immediately preceding and succeeding, The Gay Divorcee and Top Hat. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gee, That's Swell!, April 12, 2000

By 

"laddie5" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roberta [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Whatever you have heard or read to the contrary, this is the best Rogers/Astaire movie. The music is wonderful, the plot is painless, and the dances are the best these two ever did -- particularly "I'll Be Hard to Handle," recorded live so you hear Ginger's breathless laughter. She was never again as beautiful or as sexy as she is here; her five-second skip-dance to the window to hear Fred's orchestra is greater than most performers' entire careers. Endlessly re-seeable and enjoyable.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CLASS ACT FROM 1934, November 20, 2001

By 

"scotsladdie" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roberta [VHS] (VHS Tape)

When ROBERTA (the name of a chic fashion designer) was produced, Irene Dunne was the queen of the RKO lot, and the film was built around her. Dunne sang - with her own voice - YESTERDAYS, LOVELY TO LOOK AT & SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES. Astaire and Rogers dance to LOVELY TO LOOK AT & I WON'T DANCE; he and Ginger both sang and danced to the high-spirited I'LL BE HARD TO HANDLE. If there are weak points in the film, they would include the blandness of Scott's personna and a too-long fashion show at the finale. Notice the pretty blonde model who shows off a very expensive gown with ostrich feathers - it's 24 year-old Lucille Ball!! The Otto Harbach-Jerome Kern musical ROBERTA caused a sensation on Broadway when it opened in the fall of 1933, due mainly to its enchanting song SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES. The original broadway cast included Bob Hope(!), Fred MacMurray and Sydney Greenstreet (!!); it enjoyed a 295-performance run.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fred & Ginger's Best Movie!, August 31, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Roberta [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Jerome Kern's classic songs like "I'll Be Hard To Handle", "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes", "I Won't Dance", and "Lovely To Look At" are only part of the reason that I like Roberta. Even though Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers were not the main focus of this movie they stole the show with thier dancing and comedy. Many people say that this was not Fred & Ginger's best film but I disagree. No matter what anybody else thinks I still say that Roberta is "Lovely to look at"!