Search Results for: blog a damsel in distress 1937

A Damsel in Distress (1937)

Fred Astaire is known for his fast footwork and graceful moves. George Burns and Gracie Allen began their careers on the radio, soon finding a place in motion pictures. “A Damsel in Distress” casts George as Fred’s press agent with Gracie as the secretary, and the combination is a winner. Jerry Halliday (Fred Astaire) is a famous movie star who hates his own press. George and Gracie (playing under their own names) have concocted a wild publicity stunt which portrays Jerry as a dashing ladies’ man, a new woman on his arm every night, romances left and right, when nothing … Continue reading →

Royal Wedding (1951)

“Royal Wedding,” starring Fred Astaire and Jane Powell, featured some of the most advanced special effects seen in Hollywood up to that point. I’ll fill you in on the details throughout the review. Tom and Ellen Bowen (Astaire, Powell) are a brother/sister dance team who have made quite a name for themselves on the New York circuit. Their next engagement will take them to London, where they will play their show during the same time span as a royal wedding, and they’re delighted to be a part of those festivities. There’s just one fly in the ointment – Ellen has … Continue reading →

Daddy-Long-Legs (1955)

When I reviewed the young adult novel “Daddy-Long-Legs” by Jean Webster last week, I recalled that a movie by the same name had been made, and I headed over to Amazon to find it. It arrived in yesterday’s mail, and I had a wonderful time last night watching it. As I expected, the movie was quite different from the book, so I don’t worry about repeating myself as I review the film. Jervis Pendleton (Fred Astaire) is a happy-go-lucky and slightly immature bachelor millionaire. He’s never been married, has never taken business very seriously, and is only kept on track … Continue reading →

Flying Down to Rio (1933)

Generally speaking, when one hears the word “wow,” one immediately thinks that the speaker is referring to something marvelous and wonderful. However, the word “wow” also can refer to something really bad. I regret to inform you that this “wow” I’m about to offer is of the latter variety. Wow. I rented “Flying Down to Rio” because it is the first movie Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers ever made together. Their star quality shines through the minute they appear on the screen – they’re the only actors in this film with any personality whatsoever. The problem is, theirs is a … Continue reading →

Finian’s Rainbow (1968)

I’m a huge Fred Astaire fan. I’m sure you’ve figured that out. But you know, I still haven’t quite decided what I think about “Finian’s Rainbow,” the last movie in which Fred Astaire had a dancing role. Finian McLonergan (Astaire) has emigrated from Ireland with his beautiful daughter Sharon (Petula Clark, who was nominated for Best Actress for this role). They are starting a whole new life for themselves in Rainbow Valley, Missitucky (of course, this is a made-up location, and a downright clever one, too!) Finian has a secret – he has a pot of gold, stolen from a … Continue reading →

Roberta (1935)

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers star as chums from back in Indiana in this adaptation of an old novel, “Gowns by Roberta” by Alice Duer Miller. Huck Haines (Astaire) has taken his band, the Wabash Indianians, on an engagement at a café in Paris, only to find that the owner thought he was hiring a band of Indians and doesn’t want them anymore. Stranded with only seventeen dollars, the band doesn’t know what to do until Huck’s friend John (Randolph Scott) tells them that he has an aunt who lives in Paris and designs women’s dresses under the brand name … Continue reading →

You’ll Never Get Rich (1941)

“You’ll Never Get Rich” is a lesser known Fred Astaire movie, this time pairing him with the lovely Rita Hayworth. Fred plays Robert Curtis, choreographer and performer in a theater run by Martin Cortland, who is a womanizer to the max. When caught by his wife, Julia, Martin uses Robert as an alibi, and Robert takes the brunt of many a tall tale. When Sheila Winslow (Rita Hayworth) joins the act, Martin goes after her, as is his tradition, and she turns him down flat, but Julia doesn’t buy it. Once again Robert comes to the rescue, pretending that the … Continue reading →