In Person

I've always wanted to see this movie, because it contains two extremely obscure and fabulous songs, "Don't Mention Love To Me" and "Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind", written for this film by Oscar Lavant and Dorothy Fields. There's a 1935 Brunswick 78 by Kay Thompson of these two rare tunes, and they're just about as good as any songs of the depression era.

I finally got a VHS of this rather rare movie, and I was floored by how wonderfully mediocre it is. It moves at a fast pace and the acting is just fine. The screenplay is more than a bit silly.

If I have a vote, I would get Warner Bros to include this in a Ginger Rogers DVD collection.

It's absolutely a worthwhile film to watch and own.

I am going to rate this a little higher than some of the other reviewers. The plot here is less awkward than the creaky plot mechanics of the 1936 Astaire/Rogers "Swing Time" (which, despite the artificiality of the "are cuffs on formal trousers in season?" plot device, is nevertheless a masterpiece). Most fans of musicals would agree that "Swing Time" rates a 10. "In Person" has at least one great song-and-dance number -- "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" with music by legendary Oscar Levant and lyrics by Dorothy Fields (among Fields's hundreds of songs is the Oscar-winning "The Way You Look Tonight" in "Swing Time"). Ginger looks sexily charming even with the fake buck teeth and the glasses. This film is not on the level of "Swing Time," but at least it has a less annoying plot.

This simple rom-com has to do with a popular actress, Carol Corliss (Ginger Rogers), who has been traumatized by overworking and an unruly mob, and so goes out in public in disguise. Her psychiatrist is trying to overcome her agoraphobia by gradually exposing her to the outside world. When she meets Emory Muir (George Brent) by happenstance, and overhears that he is taking a vacation at a remote cabin, she asks him to take her along. He agrees, not knowing of her stardom.

When they get to the cabin, he treats her indifferently, even when he discovers her true identity. Though she resists at first, she falls into a domesticity, obviously concerned about his feelings toward her. The romance hinges on believing that there is a spark between them, but there is little heat on the screen. Later, when they return to "civilization", they are forced to confront their feelings.

Ginger sings three songs and dances within the context of her stardom, but the core of the film is her portrayal of the non-star, when she uses the pseudonym Clara Colfax. There is a wackiness to the storyline that suggests screwball, but it never really rises to that level.

For my money, the best part of the film is her final song and dance, which is part of a film within the film. And it's not even a great song. There is the glamour that she exudes with virtually every film with Astaire.

As for George Brent, his character deprives him of any real chance to be adorable or dashing. He does a fine job, but one wonders how much difference it would make if the role were in the hands of someone like Astaire or even Jack Carson.

Movie star Carol Corliss (Ginger Rogers) has developed a fear of large crowds. She starts putting on her buck teeth plain Jane disguise to hide her identity. Emory Muir (George Brent) saves her from a crowd, but only knows her from her false identity.

Ginger Rogers shows that she can do more than dance backwards in heels with Fred Astaire. This starts with a great premise, but gets a bit convoluted in the cabin. The whole therapy thing is a mess. It seems to be an excuse to be stupid. Anyways, the movie needs to end with two specific scenes. It does neither. Instead, she solves her condition and the movie loses that part of the tension. The bickering just feels manufactured and then there are the hillbillies.

George Brent is imported from Warner Brothers to co-star with Ginger Rogers in In Person. Ginger is a movie star who is craving a little peace and quiet away from her adoring public. She gets that, but she also gets psychologist Brent along for the ride. All without her knowing of course. She just thinks of Brent as a he man outdoors type and he pretends he doesn't know she's a big movie star.

Ginger has some good scenes learning how to rough it in the woods, but the film overall is rather silly. The best thing it has going for it are some musical numbers for her in it without Fred Astaire. Alan Mowbray as her leading man and a stuffed shirt to boot stands out in the supporting cast.

Ginger's legion of fans should like this.