Reviews

I only saw this film once back in the early 2000's, when it showed at 4am. I couldn't sleep, so I turned on the TV.

It is a typical film of the early 1930's, with many of the cast providing theatrical and silent film mannerisms, but nonetheless I loved it.

It is set on a ship and later in Vienna. Jan Kiepura sings beautifully and Martha Eggbert puts in a good performance. It is lighthearted and I laughed a lot at the comedic scenes.

Its taken me 20 years to find this hidden treasure, and I finally found it today. I'm rapt to find it and enjoyed it as much as the first viewing.

Those who don't like old movies and opera probably won't enjoy this, but others who enjoy fun, light-hearted comedy and who enjoy or at least not mind opera will, I think, enjoy this British/German production a lot.

If you like a simple movie that leaves you happy, this is the film for you.

I first saw this movie more than forty years ago. I only saw it once, but I've never forgotten it, or the wonderful part-performance of The Mikado that featured in it. I've been searching for its name for ages.

Thanks to the IMDb community, I finally learned the name of this gem and found a copy on the film archive. I just watched it last night again. It is a simple story, but it isn't over-sentimental and leaves the viewer feeling great. I enjoyed it as much last night as I did when younger.

The story is about Jimmy, who earns a living with his business partners by gambling and acting as selling agent in racehorses. No woman would ever get the better of him. He was too smart and tough.

One night, as he returns home with his business partners, he sees a poster of a beautiful dance hall girl outside a dance hall. He goes in to meet the girl with a plan of spending no more than $10 (it is the 1930's remember) but is film-flammed for all of his money. The dance hall specialises in separating men from their money and this girl is their star film-flammer.

Jimmy sets out to wreak revenge on the girl by pretending to be a talent scout and that he sees a new Broadway star in the girl. He convinces her that he will make her a star and that she will debut in a musical.

Add to that a troupe of Gilbert and Sullivan performers whose stars have waned, eking out a sad existence by running a diner. They are sad people who dream of a comeback one day. Then Jimmy tells them that he wants them for a new show and suddenly the troupe comes to life. The actors who play these troupe-players makes the movie. They are brilliant and their performance of the music is spot on.

Will Jimmy wreak his revenge, or will he repent? Will the show go on or fold after one performance?

Watch it and see.

I'm not going to relate the story. Other reviewers have done that already. But I have to say that this movie is absolutely brilliant. It deserves to win awards in all categories.

I expected to see a good film.Instead, I saw a great film. Can't think of any negatives, so I am giving it 10/10.

Why?

The script,direction and acting were excellent. So was the cinematography. It was good not to see any signs of modern structures or jet streams ruining the period.

Geoffrey Rush portrayed Australians of the period perfectly, without representing us as all ockers. Only flaw was that it seems that Lionel Logue never used profanity in front of the King and did not have him use profanity as an anti-stutter strategy. But this isn't enough of a flaw for me to score it down.

Colin Firth was totally believable as the young, severely stuttering prince. Helena Bonham-Carter was perfect as the (to be) Queen Mother and the loving wife of the future King.

Michael Gambon, although only in a small part, shone as King George V.

This movie was one of the most thrilling movies that I've ever seen. It says something that I last saw it as a child in the 1960's and that I not only remember it (as do my family), but that I remember details. Very few movies held my attention like that back then.

Fate is the Hunter, as other users have said, is intelligent and well thought out. Only one other (older) disaster movie equals it for thrill and that is The Last Voyage (the final minutes in particular).

It should be released on DVD, fully remastered picture and sound. For that matter, it would probably attract viewers at the cinema if a remastered version was released.

I don't think that a modern remake would have the same atmosphere. They would probably focus on nothing but the graphic violence of the deaths in the crash and miss out on the values such as friendship and loyalty.

I give it 10/10.

I last saw this movie more than 40 years ago. I was only a small child, but I've never forgotten it. I cried at the end, but they were tears of happiness.

While it was a typical movie of its type and period, it had something that lifted it above average. Perhaps it was the filming on location, not just sets.

The world can be such a violent and terrible place today, that we need more movies like this one that are made from the heart and for the heart.

Like the other members who have commented on this movie, I'd love to see it again.

Come on. Someone out there must have the master or a print. How about releasing it on DVD?

How many of us wish that we could throw away social and cultural obligations and be free? Most of us, I suspect. Shall we dance? is not a movie about dancing. It is about learning about ourselves, recognising what we are looking for in life and having the courage to go in search of it. Mr Sugiyama is a middle-aged member of a Japanese society where ballroom dancing is viewed as unsuitable behaviour.

One day Mr Sugiyama sees a beautiful girl leaning out of the window of a dancing acadamy. he is fascinated by her and eventually signs up for dancing lessons. He is ashamed of his dancing and afraid of ridicule. He hides the fact that he is attending dancing classes from his colleagues and family.

There is a hilarious scene in the mensroom at the office when Sugiyama and Watanabe, a workmate who also dances, are interrupted practising some dance steps. There are many other funny and warm-hearted scenes.

The ending is not a fairytale, but it leaves the viewer feeling good.

This movie helped me to understand the Japanese people a little better. It is a warm and very worthwhile film to see.