British Film Institute and Alfies Antique Market announce All That Sass season

British Film Institute and Alfies Antique Market announce All That Sass season celebrating career of Ginger Rogers.

Image: Ginger Rogers, © BFI National Archives

The British Film Institute (BFI) and Alfies Antique Market have announced a new season named All That Sass to celebrate the career of Ginger Rogers. The season will take place at the BFI from 27 March - 30 April 2023 and will feature the BFI re-release of Top Hat, along with screenings of classic musicals such as The Barkleys of Broadway and Gold Diggers of 1933.The programme will celebrate Rogers' versatility in moving between musical, comedic, and dramatic roles and her ability to play each convincingly. The season will feature a variety of Rogers' roles, including comedic turns in Monkey Business and Roxie Hart and dramatic roles in Storming Warning and Black Widow. There will be talks, introductions, and courses to explore Rogers' career and legacy.

Image: Shall We Dance. © BFI National Archive.

Bennie Gray, the founder of Alfies Antique Market, praises Hollywood for creating a glamorous fantasy world of movies during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Gray highlights the work of Ginger Rogers, whose ethereal beauty and sparkling talent contributed to the feel-good atmosphere of Hollywood's golden age. Gray notes that Alfies Antique Market shares this power to transport people into a world of escapism, which is not only limited to movies but also vintage clothing and antique objects. Gray believes that Rogers' genius is relevant today, as people are in need of occasional escapes from the grim reality of life, and what better way to do so than through the magic of Rogers' movies and the glamour and nostalgia of the 1930s film and fashion.

Image: Barkleys of Broadway. © BFI National Archives

Alfies Friends, Family & Fans Screening at BFI

On 16 April, a special screening of the BFI re-release of Top Hat will be held at BFI Southbank for Alfies Antique Market’s Friends, Family and Fans, as well as screening at selected cinemas UK-wide. On 8 April, Fred & Ginger Day will be celebrated with an illustrated talk on the magic of Fred and Ginger by Miles Eady and screenings of three films. There will also be a free Introduction to Ginger Rogers for members of the 25 & Under scheme on April 12th, and a four-week course, City Lit at the BFI: Ginger Rogers and All That Sass, will accompany the season, exploring the life and films of the actor.

Date: 27 March - 30 April 2023. Location: BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8XT. Click here to purchase tickets. Using Alfies promo code ALFIE241.