A Damsel in Distress (film)
| A Damsel in Distress | |
|---|---|
 A Damsel in Distress film poster |
|
| Directed by | George Stevens |
| Produced by | Pandro S. Berman |
| Written by | P. G. Wodehouse, S.K. Lauren, Ernest Pagano |
| Starring | Fred Astaire George Burns Gracie Allen Joan Fontaine |
| Music by | George Gershwin (songs) |
| Cinematography | Joseph H. August |
| Editing by | Henry Berman |
| Distributed by | RKO Pictures |
| Release date(s) | November 19, 1937 |
| Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
A Damsel in Distress (RKO) is a 1937 English-themed Hollywood musical comedy film starring Fred Astaire, Joan Fontaine, George Burns, and Gracie Allen. With a screenplay by P. G. Wodehouse, loosely based on his novel of the same name, music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin, it is directed by George Stevens.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Everyone on staff at Tottney Castle knows that the lovely Lady Alyce Marshmorton must marry soon, so a wager is proposed as to the identity of the lucky man. With all the likely candidates already claimed, young footman Albert places a bet on a "Mr. X," someone totally out of the blue.
Lady Alyce secretly has a romantic interest in an American no one from her family has yet met. She leaves the castle one day to venture into London, where by chance she encounters Jerry Halliday. He is an American entertainer, accompanied by press agent George and secretary Gracie, but not well enough known to be recognized by Lady Alyce.
Jerry is incorrectly led to believe that the American this young lady is in love with is him. He goes to the castle, encouraged by Albert but discouraged by Keggs, a scheming butler whose money is on another beau. The closest Jerry can get to Lady Alyce is a castle tour, at least until Albert can sneak him upstairs.
False impressions abound, as Jerry also fails to recognize Lady Alyce's father, the lord of the manor. He gets slapped in the face in a Tunnel of Love, misunderstanding the young lady's intentions entirely. In the end, however, he and Lady Alyce do find a fine romance.
[edit] Overview
The film was made at George Gershwin's instigation, an enthusiasm that Wodehouse mischievously attributed[1] to the fact that his novel was about a successful American songwriter named George Bevan. George Gershwin died of a brain tumour while the film was in production.
The first Astaire RKO film not to feature Ginger Rogers, the nineteen year-old Fontaine was chosen, with Burns and Allen drafted in to provide the comedy. It soon emerged that Fontaine couldn't dance, but Stevens persuaded Astaire not to replace her with Ruby Keeler.[2] The film was the first Astaire picture to lose money, costing $1,305,000 to produce and losing $65,000.[1] The "Stiff Upper Lip" routine garnered co-choreographer Hermes Pan the 1937 Academy Award for Best Dance Direction.
[edit] Key songs and dance routines
The choreography explores dancing around, past, and through obstacles, and in confined spaces.
- "I Can't Be Bothered Now": sung by Astaire while executing a tap solo with cane in the middle of a London street and escaping on a bus.
- "Put Me to the Test": Astaire, Burns, and Allen comic tap dance with whisk brooms, a routine inspired by vaudeville duo Evans and Evans and introduced to Astaire by Burns, who quipped: "Gracie and I ended up teaching Astaire how to dance".[3]
- "Stiff Upper Lip": sung by Gracie Allen and followed by an innovative extended comic dance by Astaire, Burns, and Allen through a fairground funhouse, complete with hall of mirrors.
- "Things Are Looking Up": Astaire sings one of Gershwin's "most beautiful, yet underappreciated ballads",[1] followed by a romantic dance through the woods with Fontaine, where George Stevens artfully uses trees to hide Fontaine's terpsichorean shortcomings.
- "A Foggy Day (in London Town)": Astaire introduces what has become a standard in the Great American Songbook, sung while alternately walking and dancing solo through a wooded landscape.
- "Nice Work If You Can Get It": the film's second Gershwin standard is introduced by Astaire and chorus, followed by an Astaire tap solo, executed while confined by and playing a set of drums. It was shot in one continuous take and makes use of a very early version of the zoom lens.
- The movie also features two faux madrigals written by the Gershwins: "Sing of Spring" and "The Jolly Tar and the Milkmaid". These are performed by a group of madrigal singers, with Astaire joining in on the latter song.
[edit] Cast
- Fred Astaire as Jerry Halliday
- Joan Fontaine as Lady Alyce
- George Burns as George
- Gracie Allen as Gracie
- Reginald Gardiner as Keggs
- Constance Collier as Lady Caroline
- Montagu Love as Lord Marshmorton
- Harry R. Watson as Albert
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ a b c Mueller, John (1986). Astaire Dancing - The Musical Films. London: Hamish Hamilton. pp. 126–137. ISBN 0-241-11749-6.
- ^ Thomas, Bob (1985). Astaire, the Man, the Dancer. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 148. ISBN 0-297-78402-1.
- ^ Burns, George. Gracie: A Love Story. G.P Putnam and Sons. pp. 204–206.
[edit] External links
- A Damsel in Distress at the Internet Movie Database
- A Damsel in Distress at AllRovi
- Illustrated review (1999) by Michael Skupin at Wodehouse.org
|
|||||||||||||||||
