Cast and Crew:  Irving Berlin (Lyrics and Music); Max Steiner (Musical Director)

What It’s About: Dancer Jerry Travis (Fred Astaire) demonstrates his latest steps to his producer Horace Hardwick (Edward Everett Horton) in his hotel room, annoying model Dale Tremont (Ginger Rogers) in the room below.  Dale comes up to complain and sparks fly despite the pair’s initial annoyance at one another.  The hitch comes when Dale thinks single Jerry is actually married Horace and just another husband on the make…

Why Watch it Today?:  Fred Astaire was born on this date in 1899.  Top Hat was the second film he made with Ginger Rogers and features the expected great dancing, music, sets and costumes.  Even if the romance plot is a little over cooked, the comic supporting players hit it out of the park.

Other Choices:  Astaire also starred in former Movie of the Day Easter Parade.