Vivacious Lady (1938)
Directed by George Stevens

Film Review

Keen to broaden her repertoire as her long association with Fred Astaire was drawing to its end, Ginger Rogers was given ample opportunity to hone her comedic talents in this lively farce in which she is effectively partnered with another of Hollywood's fondly remembered legends, James Stewart.  The film certainly lives up to its title, with Rogers leaving us in no doubt just who the vivacious lady is meant to be in just about every scene, brightening up what could easily have been a flat run-around comedy had a lesser talent been cast in her place.  Stewart is just as energised, untiringly funny in one of his earliest leading film roles, his self-effacing everyman persona providing the perfect complement to Rogers' feisty social outsider, both actors playing comedic versions of the character types that would pretty well define their respective careers.

George Stevens directs the film with his usual gusto, perhaps over-emphasising the comedy in some scenes but generally get good mileage out of the enjoyably chaotic script.  Stevens was by this stage in the career proving to be one of Hollywood's leading comedy directors, starting out with Laurel and Hardy and later helming what is considered one of the best Astaire-Rogers vehicles, Swing Time (1936).  Even bigger successes were to come in the next two decades - Woman of the Year (1942), A Place in the Sun (1951) and Shane (1953) - so in retrospect Vivacious Lady feels like a modest footnote in Stevens' distinguished career.  A footnote it may be, but, thanks to the inspired pairing of Rogers and Stewart, it is an enormously entertaining one.

Admittedly, the well-worn plot may be a tad familiar (there is an uncanny overlap with Rogers' later film Kitty Foyle), but the sheer abundance of perfectly executed comedy situations more than makes up for this.  Among the highlights is a hilarious slap sequence in which Rogers gives as good as she gets when an irate Frances Mercer lays into her, and a memorable scene in which Rogers and Stewart attempt an awkward goodbye whilst doing their best not to bring down a wall-bed.  The humour may be a little scattergun and the storyline isn't perhaps as taut and imaginative as it might be, but overall Vivacious Lady is a rewarding non-stop romp, easily one of Ginger Rogers' funniest films.

Film Synopsis

At the request of his overbearing father, Peter Morgan, a university professor, is sent to Manhattan to bring back his playboy cousin Keith.  Peter finds his errant cousin in a swanky night club, where he falls instantly for an attractive singer, Francey.  In no time at all, Peter and Francey are married and on the train back to Peter's hometown.  The next obstacle is to find a way to break the news to Peter's father that he has married - it doesn't help that he already has a society fiancée, Helen.  As he bides his time, waiting for the most opportune moment, Peter enrols Francey in his class as a botany student.  When Peter's father, who happens to be the president of his university, discovers the truth he is incensed and demands that Peter gets a divorce, or else lose his post.  Peter decides that his wife is more important to him than his job, but Francey has already made up her mind to leave town...