The Gay Divorcee - 1934

Advertisements for the film touted Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as "The King and Queen of the Carioca" in reference to their previous film, Flying Down to Rio (1933).

Helen Broderick was asked to play the role of Hortense but was unavailable.

The bugle call at the beginning of the "Don't Let It Bother You" dance was developed from clowning during rehearsals, and became an in-joke in future Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers films.

The original musical on which this movie was based was called "The Gay Divorce", but because of objections from the censor, the title of the film was changed to "The Gay Divorcee" (one 'e' added).

This is the only film in which Fred Astaire plays a role that he originated in the Broadway stage production, which opened on Nov. 29, 1932 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre and ran for 248 performances. Although Astaire had appeared in both the 1927 Broadway musical play and later the film Funny Face (1957), the stories were entirely different, using many of the same songs.

Although "Night and Day" is the only song retained from the show "Gay Divorce" (on which the movie is based), the plotline remained basically the same on stage and film.

This was the first film to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song, "The Continental".

Oscar statuettes were won by Con Conrad (music) and Herb Magidson (lyrics) as 1934 was the first year when an Oscar for this category was introduced.

Erik Rhodes, who plays Tonetti, repeats his stage role from the Broadway musical "Gay Divorce", on which this is based.

The musical number "The Continental" lasts 17 1/2 minutes, the longest number ever in a musical until Gene Kelly's 18 1/2-minute ballet at the end of An American in Paris (1951) 17 years later.

The jumpsuit that Betty Grable wears in the "Let's Knock Knees" dance number was a garment previously worn by Dolores del Rio in Flying Down to Rio (1933).

The second (of ten) dancing partnership of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Cast of The Gay Divorcee

Fred Astaire as Guy Holden
Ginger Rogers as Mimi Glossop/Mrs. Green
Alice Brady as Aunt Hortense
Edward Everett Horton as Egbert Fitzgerald
Erik Rhodes as Rodolfo Tonetti
Eric Blore as Waiter
Betty Grable as Guest
Lillian Miles as Singer, Continental Number
Charles Coleman as Guy's Valet
William Austin as Cyril Glossop