*Swing Time*, the 1936 musical comedy starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, weaves a complex narrative centered on themes of love, deception, and the transformative power of dance. The story introduces John "Lucky" Garnett, a gambler and dancer on the verge of marrying Margaret Watson. However, his dance troupe, reluctant to see him retire, conspires to sabotage the wedding. This initial act of mischief sets in motion a series of events that lead
Lucky to New York City, where his life takes an unexpected turn upon meeting Penny Carroll, a dance instructor. The film meticulously develops the evolving relationship between Lucky and Penny, exploring the complications arising from Lucky's prior engagement and the genuine connection that forms between the two dancers.
Sabotage, Serendipity, and a Significant Sum
The film opens with Lucky's impending marriage to Margaret Watson. His fellow dancers, not wanting him to leave their act, deliberately interfere with the wedding. "Pop" Cardetti, a member of Lucky's troupe, takes Lucky's trousers to be altered, specifically to have cuffs sewn on. However, the tailor refuses the modification, and Pop returns with the trousers unaltered. Meanwhile, the others initiate a crap game. A phone call from Margaret's father, announcing that he has sent everyone home, is intercepted. When Lucky finally arrives, late for his own wedding, his troupe places bets that he will not get married. To appease Margaret's father, Judge Watson, Lucky claims he was "earning" $200. The judge, however, sets a higher bar, demanding Lucky earn $25,000 to prove his serious intentions. At the train station, Lucky's troupe takes all his money, leaving him only with his lucky quarter, as he failed to marry Margaret. Lucky and Pop then board a freight train bound for New York.
In New York, Lucky's path crosses with Penny Carroll when he attempts to get change for his lucky quarter to buy cigarettes for Pop. A cigarette machine unexpectedly dispenses a cascade of coins. Lucky and Pop try to repurchase the quarter from Penny, but she is unreceptive. Pop discreetly retrieves the quarter from her purse when she drops her belongings, leading Penny to mistakenly believe Lucky stole it. Determined to apologize, Lucky follows Penny to her workplace, a dance school, and enrolls in a lesson. Their initial lesson, featuring the song "Pick Yourself Up," is disastrous, prompting Penny to advise him to "save his money." Her boss, Mr. Gordon, overhears this and fires her. He also dismisses Mabel Anderson for complaining about Pop eating her sandwich. To demonstrate Penny's teaching abilities, Lucky dances with her, convincing Gordon to reinstate Penny and arrange an audition for her with the owner of the Silver Sandal nightclub.
Romantic Entanglements and a Race Against Time
Lucky and Pop check into the same hotel where Penny and Mabel reside. Lucky's attempt to win a tuxedo for the audition by playing strip piquet fails, causing them to miss the audition. Penny, understandably upset, is eventually mollified by Mabel's intervention after Lucky and Pop picket her apartment door for a week. She agrees to a second audition. At the Silver Sandal, bandleader Ricardo Romero, who harbors romantic intentions towards Penny, refuses to play for them. The club owner is powerless to compel him, having lost Romero's contract in a bet with Club Raymond. At a casino, Pop warns Lucky that he is close to winning the $25,000 required by Margaret's father, prompting Lucky to remove his bet from the table. The club owner then wagers Ricardo's contract on a cut of the cards. Observing Raymond's intent to cheat, Pop intervenes by cheating himself, securing the contract for Lucky.
Despite becoming dance partners with Penny, Lucky avoids spending time alone with her, unable to confess his engagement to Margaret. Mabel orchestrates a trip to the country, where Lucky resists the temptation to embrace Penny in a snow-covered gazebo, leading to the song "A Fine Romance." Pop inadvertently reveals the truth about Margaret. Back at the remodeled Silver Sandal, Penny rejects another proposal from Ricardo. Mabel dares Penny to kiss Lucky, which they do behind a dressing room door. Pop's sleight of hand becomes known to Raymond, who insists on competing with Lucky for the contract, but loses. Margaret arrives, and Lucky asks her to meet him the following day. Penny, heartbroken by Lucky's indecision, agrees to marry Ricardo. Lucky finds her in the deserted club, where he sings "Never Gonna Dance," transitioning into a poignant dance with Penny to "The Way You Look Tonight." The next day, Margaret informs Lucky she intends to marry someone else. As everyone laughs, Pop announces Ricardo and Penny's impending wedding. A frantic rush to intervene ensues, culminating in the re-enactment of the trouser gag. While waiting for a nonexistent alteration, Ricardo struggles with baggy pants, leading to infectious laughter that prompts Penny to call off the wedding, ultimately choosing Lucky.
