MovieChat Forums > Follow the Fleet (1936) Discussion > Let's face the music...

Let's face the music...

posted 17 years ago by onepotato2
7 replies | jump to latest

...and dance.

Wow, what a beautiful dance number. It gave me chills. The concluding Astaire Rogers numbers in their movies ususally don't impress me as much as earlier numbers (Swingtime - I think 'Pick Yourself Up' is better than 'Never Gonna Dance')

I think this one is different because:
- the somber tone. A & R are freed up from being smiling entertainers and really inhabit these characters! They get to be two down and out albeit very well-dressed figures
- the metropolitan set, her heavy beaded dress
- it's one of irving berlin's most haunting, beautiful melodies

[–] cnb 17 years ago

Yes--they really make you want to know the fate of those nameless characters. (In fact, I wrote a bit of a fan fic about that!)

[–] Eric-1226 17 years ago

Wow, what a beautiful dance number. It gave me chills.

Agreed. Totally. It was (and still is!) a very moving song and dance number. Every time I hear that song I can't get it out of my head for a few days. lol And it's especially haunting when you factor in the parallels to the then-current Great Depression going on, when most people in society were so down and out. This song really hit all the right chords.

Here's a clip on Youtube of the entire "Let's Face the Music and Dance" scene from the movie Follow the Fleet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvN1MHxgDgQ

And here's another clip on Youtube of Frank Sinatra doing his version of the song, quite a bit more up-beat and jazzy sounding than the movie version, but still very good to listen to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvYrEVI6Zfo&NR=1

Let's Face The Music And Dance lyrics:

There may be trouble ahead
But while there's music and moonlight and love and romance
Let's face the music and dance

Before the fiddlers have fled
Before they ask us to pay the bill and while we still have the chance
Let's face the music and dance

Soon we'll be without the moon, humming a different tune and then
There may be teardrops to shed
So while there's moonlight and music and love and romance
Let's face the music and dance

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] skiddoo 13 years ago

That heavy beaded dress was remarkably see through when the light was behind it. I was reminded of when Lady Diana learned about not posing for the cameras with the light behind her.

[–] steven_torrey 12 years ago

The song and dance is also featured effectively in PENNIES FROM HEAVEN--Steven Martin/Bernadette Peters.

[–] charcas67 12 years ago

The tone of the dance and the story remind me a bit of the Lullaby of Broadway number from Gold Diggers of 1935--alientation in the city. Though Let's Face the Music has a bit more hope than Lullaby. But both are works of art that end movies that are rather fluffy.

[–] Moss-37 11 years ago

When ever I hear this tune,I think of Angela Rippon dancing to it in a Morcombe and wise Christmas special.