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The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle

Music · Romance · 1939

In 1911, minor stage comic, Vernon Castle meets the stage-struck Irene Foote. A few misadventures later, they marry and then abandon comedy to attempt a dancing career together. While they're performing in Paris, an agent sees them rehearse and starts them on their brilliant career as the world's foremost ballroom dancers. However, at the height of their fame, World War I begins.

Movie details

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle

“Dazzling entertainment rainbowed by memory's most haunting hit melodies!”

1939 Music · Romance 1h 33m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.0 / 10

Community rating

In 1911, minor stage comic, Vernon Castle meets the stage-struck Irene Foote. A few misadventures later, they marry and then abandon comedy to attempt a dancing career together. While they're performing in Paris, an agent sees them rehearse and starts them on their brilliant career as the world's foremost ballroom dancers. However, at the height of their fame, World War I begins.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

H. C. Potter

Written by

Irene Castle · Richard Sherman

Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire

Vernon Castle

Ginger Rogers

Ginger Rogers

Irene Castle

Edna May Oliver

Edna May Oliver

Maggie Sutton

Walter Brennan

Walter Brennan

Walter

Lew Fields

Lew Fields

Lew Fields

Etienne Girardot

Etienne Girardot

Papa Aubel

Janet Beecher

Janet Beecher

Mrs. Foote

Court is in session

Put The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.