Shall We Dance (1937) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film unfolds across three key locations: a ballet company in Paris, an Atlantic ocean liner traveling to New York, and Broadway-style venues in New York City. The story begins in the refined world of Parisian ballet before shifting to the glamorous shipboard society, then pivots to the theatrical spotlight of New York as the characters navigate fame and romance.

• paris
• new york
• ocean liner
• locations
• setting

Shall We Dance explores three interconnected themes: romance between Petrov and Linda Keene complicated by fame and deception, the manipulative power of publicity in shaping celebrity images, and performance as both art form and social currency. The film shows how dance functions as a means of expressing desire, controlling narratives, and achieving social standing.

• romance
• publicity
• performance
• dance
• themes
• fame

Petrov (also going by Peter P. Peters) is an American ballet dancer who disguises himself as a stern Russian virtuoso. He is the film’s romantic lead who uses his assumed identity to get close to Linda Keene, then navigates a web of publicity and lies to win her genuine affection. His dual identity drives much of the film’s comedy and romantic tension.

• petrov
• fred astaire
• character
• dancer
• russian disguise

Linda Keene is a famous tap dancer portrayed by Ginger Rogers. She is initially dismissive of Petrov but warms to him during the ocean voyage. Her celebrity status makes her deeply wary of scandal, and she ultimately enters a secret marriage to protect her reputation when forged bedroom photos threaten her career.

• linda keene
• ginger rogers
• character
• tap dancer
• celebrity

The film presents publicity as a powerful but manipulative force. Characters stage photographs, engineer tabloid campaigns, and fabricate fake marriages to control public perception. The comedy derives from how these manufactured scandals spiral out of control, with the film offering a satirical commentary on how media manipulation can shape, and distort, celebrity relationships.

• publicity
• media
• tabloid
• scandal
• press manipulation

Dance serves as the film’s central currency of prestige and expression. The plot contrasts classical ballet with modern jazz movements, representing tradition versus innovation. Beyond artistic performance, dance becomes a tool for characters to pursue love, assert control, and achieve social standing, a theme that culminates in show-stopping musical numbers.

• dance
• ballet
• jazz
• performance
• musical numbers

Jeffrey Baird is the bumbling ballet company owner played by Edward Everett Horton. He secretly resists blending classical ballet with modern jazz, maintaining a serious public persona while quietly enabling the publicity stunts that drive the plot. His comedic bumbling provides lighter relief throughout the film.

• jeffrey baird
• edward everett horton
• character
• ballet company owner

Arthur Miller is Linda Keene’s manager, portrayed as a ruthless and calculating figure who covertly engineers publicity campaigns and fake scandals. He uses deception as a tool to manipulate public perception, protecting or advancing his client’s career through calculated media manipulation.

• arthur miller
• manager
• publicity
• character
• manipulation

Shall We Dance is a 1937 musical set squarely in the interwar era, reflecting the glamour and social conventions of that period. The film’s depiction of transatlantic travel, Broadway entertainment, and the early influence of media publicity captures the cultural moment of late 1930s American entertainment industry.

• 1930s
• time period
• interwar era
• 1937
• historical context

Petrov and Linda Keene are the film’s romantic couple, though their relationship develops through deception and misunderstanding. Petrov initially approaches Linda under his false Russian identity, but genuine affection grows during the ocean voyage. Their romance is tested by the fabricated scandal of secret marriage and Linda’s existing engagement to Jim Montgomery, ultimately resolving through theatrical reconciliation.

• petrov
• linda keene
• romance
• relationship
• love story

The title references both the literal dance performances central to the film and the metaphorical 'dance' of romance and social maneuvering. It captures the film’s playful tone, where characters 'ask' each other to engage in a sophisticated interplay of love, deception, and public performance, a dance that unfolds across Paris, the ocean liner, and New York stages.

• title meaning
• dance metaphor
• shall we dance significance