The Frame

Second-rate vehicle for Fred Astaire. He and Burgess Meredith play college buddies (note that Astaire was in his forties at the time) who play together in a band. When both of them are forced to graduate–apparently they’ve been failing on purpose to continue getting lucrative college engagements–they both go after a spot in Artie Shaw’s orchestra. Along to help is Paulette Goddard, who becomes their manager and the wedge that drives them apart, as they both fall in love with her. There’s some good music from Shaw, if you like big band, far too little dancing from Fred, and a believability factor of around 0.5. I didn’t hate it; there’s not enough there to hate.
Below Average