The Best 30s Dance Movies

Ranker Film
September 16, 2015 454 votes 98 voters
Voting Rules
Vote up your favorite dance films that were released in the 1930s.

Whether you’re talking drama, fantasy or musical comedy, the dance number has long been a Hollywood staple. On this list of the best ‘30s dance movies you’ll find classic musical films in every genre. Included on this poll of the top dance movies from the 30s are The Wizard of Oz (where the main characters dance down the yellow brick road), The Great Ziegfeld (which recreates the great showman’s Broadway style), and Gone with the Wind (which features several grand balls). Also here you’ll find six of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers’ films including Top Hat, Shall We Dance and Roberta.
 

So, which of the movies on this list of good 30s dance films got your toes tapping? Vote up the top ‘30s dance movies and make sure to add any we might have missed.

Photo: Metaweb / CC-BY
Ranked by
  • Top Hat
    1

    Top Hat

    Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edward Everett Horton
    34 votes
    • Released: 1935
    • Directed by: Mark Sandrich
    The story centers on wealthy Dale Tremont (Ginger Rogers), on holiday in London and Venice. She assumes that American entertainer Jerry Travers (Fred Astaire) is the husband of her friend Madge ...more

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  • Follow the Fleet
    2

    Follow the Fleet

    Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott
    22 votes
    • Released: 1936
    • Directed by: Mark Sandrich
    Sailors "Bake" Baker (Fred Astaire) and "Bilge" (Randolph Scott) have just docked in San Francisco. For Bake, the goal is to get back together with his former flame and onetime dance partner, Sherry ...more

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  • Shall We Dance
    3

    Shall We Dance

    Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Eric Blore
    28 votes
    • Released: 1937
    • Directed by: Mark Sandrich
    Peter P. Peters (Fred Astaire) is an American ballet dancer working in Paris. After happening across a photograph of tap-dance sensation Linda Keene (Ginger Rogers), Peters falls instantly in love ...more

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  • The Wizard of Oz
    4

    The Wizard of Oz

    Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger
    34 votes
    • Released: 1939
    • Directed by: Victor Fleming
    When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz. They follow the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City to ...more

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  • Swing Time
    5

    Swing Time

    Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Victor Moore
    26 votes
    • Released: 1936
    • Directed by: George Stevens
    Dexterous and risk-taking Lucky Garnett (Fred Astaire) pursues dancing and gambling with equal verve. Engaged to the pretty Margaret Watson (Betty Furness), Lucky gets pre-wedding nerves, which leads ...more

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  • Gold Diggers
    6

    Gold Diggers

    Joan Blondell, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell
    23 votes
    • Released: 1933
    • Directed by: Mervyn LeRoy
    Things get tough for Carol (Joan Blondell) and her showgirl pals (Ruby Keeler, Aline MacMahon) when the Great Depression kicks in and all the Broadway shows close down. Wealthy songwriter Brad (Dick ...more

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