The Gay Divorcee

Egbert (!, Edward Everett Horton) confesses right at the outset that he’s a dancer at heart. He’s entirely unbothered by his obvious lack of talent, which stands in stark contrast to that of his best friend (a gliding Fred Astaire). Egbert has similarly limited success in his actual profession: as the divorce lawyer for neglected wife Mimi (a glamourous Ginger Rogers) and her aunt Hortense (a permanently absent-minded Alice Brady), he creates chaos above all. Once again, it’s impossible to overlook Horton’s comedic qualities, which carry this comedy of confusion that is full of tempo, song and dance. His characteristic call of “Oh dear! Oh dear!”, which only ushers in the next catastrophe, is deployed to this end, as is the irrepressible dance number “Let’s Knock Knees”, which is unforgettably performed in shorts and socks in sandals!