The agile foot of Fred Astaire and the pleasing personality of Ginger Rogers lead the way in Hollywood's excellent adaptation of the New York stage show. In line with their usual incomprehensible actions, the movie moguls decided to add the personal touch to the film's title, and so "Gay Divorce" became "The Gay Divorcee." But since this is the only evident whimsy of those much-berated entrepreneurs, the film turns out to be a gay, fast-moving, and really humorous show, which is far and above the ordinary musical comedy film.

Featured in the picture is the new dance which according to reports is scheduled to sweep America, following in the steps of its illustrious sire, the Carloca. "The Continental" as it is danced by Mr. Astaire and Miss Rogers will probably not be seen on many dance floors, but the phrase "we kiss while we're dancing" should win many followers. Without the straining of muscles and gritting of teeth that is usually a characteristic of tap-dancers, Mr. Astaire whirls about the floor with apparently effortless grace. He also exhibits a surprisingly pleasing singing voice, which many people usually overlook in favor of his pedal activities.

The plot, which concerns Miss Rogers' efforts to win a divorce from her geol-Edward Everett Horton and Alice Brady, make the most of these occasions. The climax comes when, through a misunderstanding, Mr. Astaire shows up in Miss Rogers' apartment early in the morning as her co-respondent, shortly followed by a professional home-wrecker, a musical and toothy young Italian. Through the combined efforts of the professional and the amateur and a helpful waiter Miss Rogers finally succeeds in freeing herself from her husband and dancing off to happiness with Mr. Astaire.

In addition to Miss Brady the Theatre Guild provides two other excellent members of the supporting cast in Eric Blore and Warren Munsell, who assist capably in some of the most humorous moments. Mr. Blore was particularly effective as the amiable English waiter.

If any would-be visitors to the Memorial are afraid lest they be forced to sit through several of those typically Hollywood dance numbers in which beautiful mermaid-chorines do tricks in huge swimming pools and twist themselves into complex geometrical patterns, we wish to assure them joyfully that here at last is a musical comedy in which that form of torture has been eliminated. And we also will assure them that "The Gay Divorcee" is easily the most entertaining musical film in many months. S. M. B.