Which 1934 musical was the first film to pair Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as stars?

The 1934 musical The Gay Divorcee was the first film to feature Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as its joint stars.

Astaire and Rogers had already appeared together in Flying Down to Rio (1933), but that film gave them supporting roles behind Dolores del Río and Gene Raymond. Their dancing in the “Carioca” number attracted attention, leading RKO Radio Pictures to build a new vehicle around them.

Directed by Mark Sandrich, The Gay Divorcee adapted the Broadway musical Gay Divorce and retained Cole Porter’s song “Night and Day.” Its extended production number “The Continental” won the first Academy Award for Best Original Song. The movie was a major success and established the pair as one of Hollywood’s defining screen teams.

A common mix-up is answering Flying Down to Rio. That is their first film together, while The Gay Divorcee is their first film as leading co-stars. They ultimately made ten films together, including Top Hat and Swing Time.