Carefree Reviews

Featuring more laughs than songs, this entertaining Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers comedy takes a lighthearted look at psychiatry. Astaire is Dr. Tony Flagg, whose lawyer friend Stephen Arden (Ralph Bellamy) brings his girl friend, radio singer Amanda Cooper (Rogers), in for consultation when she waffles over his marriage proposal. Exploring Amanda's dream life, Dr. Flagg tries to get at the root of his pretty patient's reluctance, but in the process she falls in love with him. Flagg, however, is convinced that her infatuation is temporary--just another patient enamored of her shrink--and he hypnotizes her to believe that she loves Stephen. Unfortunately, Flagg then realizes that he actually loves Amanda and matters become considerably complicated on the way to the final happy clinch between Amanda and the doctor. Although its story is the standard fluff, offering no insights into the process of psychotherapy, CAREFREE does boast more than a few laughs and a couple of fine Rogers-Astaire song-and-dance numbers, most notably "Change Partners and Dance with Me," which earned an Oscar nomination for Irving Berlin. The film was also nominated for Best Score. Other numbers include: "I Used To Be Color-Blind," "Since They Turned `Loch Lomond' Into Swing," "The Yam," and "The Night Is Filled With Music."