Follow the Fleet

Fred and Ginger go nautical in one of their sparkiest, most underrated efforts. Trading in his trademark tails for Navy whites, Astaire is a sailor on shore leave attempting to woo former dancing partner Rogers into getting the old act back together—but she’s having none of it. The divine Irving Berlin melodies score some of the duo’s most pure-pleasure routines: the dueling dance contest spontaneity of “Let Yourself Go”; the carefree slapstick silliness of “I’m Putting All My Eggs in One Basket”; and, indelibly, the bittersweet enchantment of “Let’s Face the Music and Dance,” with Ginger making it look easy in a weighted dress as the pair glide across a Deco dream world.