The most extensive film record–unfortunately without any dancing–dates from February 1936, when David O. Selznick brought Adele to Los Angeles film a test for Dark Victory, which wasn’t actually filmed for two more years.
The test was restored recently by the Eastman House in Rochester, New York. Curator Catherine A. Surowiec explains that Adele was considered the role of heroine Judith Traherne’s friend, novelist Alden Chase, played by Ann Andrews on Broadway when Tallulah opened in it in 1934. In 1936, Bette Davis was not yet cast as Judith. Selznick was intent on Garbo, for whom he had bought the screen rights. He eventually sold the property to Warner Brothers.
Adele performs a scene, but first sings an except from Gershwin’s “‘S Wonderful.” This clip is fascinating and I sent the link to a number of people. Laura Jacobs had thoughts:
“Her voice isn’t big. It won’t boom. It’s intimate, close to the vest, and her pitch is perfect. Adele Astaire is singing “S Wonderful,” a song she introduced in the premiere production of Funny Face, on Broadway in 1927, and she reminds us that back in the day, yes you had to hold a note but no you didn’t need to belt it. Adele Astaire, and Mary Martin and Gwen Verdon after her—these women warbled. And as any birder can tell you, the charm of the warblers knocks out the bigger birds. It’s all about inflection, the eyes, and the timing. In other words, a poetic poise. I keep looking for Fred in Adele’s face, and can only find it in her forehead. Which must mean it was something about their mind–body connection. Sister and brother, their expression emerges from a still place and never strays far from it. Which is why people always say that any still frame of Fred Astaire dancing is elegant. In this video Adele sings her song sitting on a couch, where there can be no hyperbole. Such feathered containment, lifted by breezes, is what makes both Adele and Fred so wonderful.“
Btw, Adele studied voice with Estelle Leibling, who coached many great opera divas and even taught voice to the teenaged Meryl Streep!