mmallon4 On my first viewing of Carefree, I experienced something I never thought I would with Fred and Ginger, boredom. Initially I was expecting another spectacular musical showcase, however the film is on a smaller scale (their shortest at only 80 minutes) than their previous outings and only contains a mere four musical numbers; making it more of a comedy with some singing and dancing than a full fledged musical. With several movies behind them following a similar formula, if they were going to make another then they had to do something different or things would have become stale. I wished though that Fred Astaire could have done straight comedies during his career; Carefree is the closest thing to that.None of the musical numbers in Carefree stand out as being among the best in the series. Fred Astaire's number in which he plays golf while tap dancing sounds better on paper than it does in execution. I'm sure what he's doing is no easy task yet it doesn't look all that impressive to watch. The Yam on the other hand is a pretty standard number, but heck, it's still Fred and Ginger dancing. I find the film's most interest musical number is 'I Used to be Color Blind', the most experimental in the film, shot in slow motion and allowing the viewer to see Fred and Ginger's grace in every detail.For the only time in the series, Astaire plays a character who is not a dancer by profession, but rather a psychiatrist (although they do make sure to mention he once had aspirations of becoming a dancer). I don't completely buy Astaire as a psychiatrist, but realism is not what these movies are about. Plus I'm sure the psychology on display here is of the "you are getting sleepy" variety as seen in movies. He doesn't break his professional ethics though by pursuing his patient like his stalkerish attitude towards Ginger in other films in the series, instead she wants him.Carefree belongs to Ginger, playing a character whom has been put under hypnosis, giving her the opportunity to completely goof around in a child like manner with big wide eyes, and it's pretty funny stuff. How many movies do you get to see Ginger Rogers wielding a shot gun? Everyone needs at least one movie where they get to act stupid. The comedic assets of Ralph Bellamy and Jack Carson are a big benefits to the film's witty dialogue, where much of the film's strength lies. Even if the dance numbers don't fully exceed, as a screwball comedy, Carefree grows on me, of course I am a sucker for these movies and the Astaire/Rodgers name, so good enough for me!

brtor222 While this A/R outing has some fine tender moments, it is ruined by one of the most absurd songs (YAM). No wonder FA didn't want to sing it, but GR should have refused to do it as well.The rest of the film's non-musical moments just are a bore...FA does the hypnotist act so well (with the yawn of dialogue) that I was soon out like a light.Woke up just in time to see GR get punched in her face by some thug (oops that was her finance I think!) Then she is waltzing down the aisle with FA and that's the end...she must have still been doped up! What exactly was in that anesthetic they gave her? Maybe I will give this film another chance next time I have trouble sleeping.

T Y After the exceedingly strange Michael Jackson died recently, I was reminded by a sage friend that Jackson had revived dance after a long drought, for a new generation. And I shook my head in grudging respect; he was right. The Musical, which practically dried up in the 80s was displaced to consumable single songs and dance numbers (music videos). And a new, unaware generation applauded every expansion of that format by MJ, not knowing he was traveling already-covered ground, inching ever closer to the full length movie musical. Jackson did restore respect and cachet to dance. He is not so different from Astaire.Carefree offers a comic turn from the tap dancing couple, and in a rare move Ginger pursues Fred this time. Rogers is funnier than usual in this one. It's quite short and at the 50 minute mark a dance number erupts called "the Yam." After I saw the exhilarating number "Pick Yourself Up" in Shall we Dance I had the feeling the team could not possibly do better, and trailed off watching their movies with maybe five to go. What great fun to stumble across this, and be reminded of the exalted place jubilance occupies in the world of dance.The Yam number starts quite corny, and then Astaire and Rogers begin traveling around all the rooms and obstacles in a multi-room restaurant. I love that the scale of the number keeps growing (in terms of couples), and that you don't know where they're heading next. At a time when the grotesque failings of society are glaring, the fantasy presented in musicals that some parts of society function so well that they occasionally function almost as syncopated machinery is very pleasing. The Yam is pretty cool ...in a way that a thousand dancers around a phony Venice lagoon inside a gigantic soundstage is just not. That's about spectacle, I watch A & R because the focus is on dance. The movie is blessedly free of the usual climactic love dance (which is always lame) seen in their other movies.

Neil Doyle I don't know why so many of the reviewers here have taken such a strong dislike to CAREFREE simply because they take the characters too seriously. Sure, FRED ASTAIRE doesn't show the most ethical side of a therapist but, hey, we know this is a Fred and Ginger movie, and isn't it a nice change of pace to have him playing a professional for a change, even if he is a cad? And how can anyone fault GINGER ROGERS for being goofy when this is a screwball comedy that gives her a chance to demonstrate what she could do with physical comedy--such as her uninhibited way with breaking glass while under hypnosis? It's all done in good-natured style, with the usual "other man" role for RALPH BELLAMY as the guy who never has a chance of getting the girl. Although "Change Partners" is clearly the best Irving Berlin song in the whole show, it definitely needed better showcasing than it gets here. It comes across as a weak, throwaway number as performed in the film.JACK Carson has a brief comic assignment that he handles deftly, but the film puts the spotlight on Ginger's comic abilities and it's she who has the meatiest role. Astaire, when dancing with or without Ginger, is at his usual peak of perfection, particularly in the golf course number.Summing up: Highly enjoyable, if not among the best of the pair's best films.