Some commentators have detected a certain stiffness in Caron, especially in her upper body. " Something's Gotta Give": Astaire was grateful to his friend Mercer for composing this now-famous standard, as he felt that the film lacked a strong popular song.The band leader in this scene is Ray Anthony. Astaire inserts a short and zany solo segment, and the chorus join in toward the end. "Sluefoot": This is a boisterous and joyous dance with Astaire and Caron involving sharp leg movements.The third routine is a gentle romantic dance with Caron, who performs graceful ballet steps while Astaire glides admiringly around her. As an international playboy, he tangoes his way through a flock of women, including Barrie Chase, later to be his dance partner in all of his television specials from 1958 to 1968. As a Texan, he performs a comic square-dance routine to a short song dubbed by Thurl Ravenscroft, the only time in his career that Astaire's voice was dubbed. "Daydream Sequence": Astaire appears in three guises: a Texan, an international playboy and a guardian angel based on images of him described in letters from Caron."Daddy Long Legs": An off-screen female chorus sings this attractive number while Caron muses fondly at a blackboard cartoon sketch of Astaire.As this was the first number to be filmed, some commentators have speculated that it was affected by Astaire's grief at his wife's death. "History of the Beat": This is an Astaire song-and-dance solo using drumsticks performed in an office environment, recalling the " Nice Work If You Can Get It" routine from A Damsel in Distress (1937) and the "Drum Crazy" number from Easter Parade (1948).Astaire mentioned in his biography that "one day at rehearsals I asked her to listen extra carefully to the music, so as to keep in time." Even so, Caron ran into some problems making the film, her last dance musical, which she attributed to her early musical training. As usual, Astaire adapted his choreography to the particular strengths of his partner, in this case ballet. Roland Petit designed the much-maligned "Nightmare Ballet" number. As his first film in Cinemascope widescreen–which he was to parody later in the "Stereophonic Sound" number from Silk Stockings (1957)–Daddy Long legs provided Astaire the opportunity to explore the additional space available, with the help of his assistant choreographer Dave Robel.
Key songs/dance routines Īstaire had previously attempted to integrate ballet into his dance routines in Shall We Dance (1937). Although replacements were sought for Astaire's role as too much money had already been spent on the production, he resumed and completed the film.
She died in September, putting Astaire in a state of grief and stalling his work on the film. Production was halted in July 1954, as Astaire's wife Phyllis became ill from lung cancer. Caron was then loaned to Fox by MGM, with whom Caron was still under contract. While Zanuck still envisioned Gaynor for the main female role, Astaire insisted on casting actress and dancer Leslie Caron. The project would not be realized until Zanuck met Fred Astaire and was inspired to make Daddy Long Legs a musical film. Zanuck envisioned a remake, this time seeking to star singer-actress Mitzi Gaynor. Percival Vivian as Professor (uncredited)Ģ0th Century Fox bought the rights to Jean Webster's original Daddy Long Legs in 1931, releasing two versions of the film, one starring Janet Gaynor and one with Shirley Temple.Olan Soule as Assistant Manager (uncredited).Ray Anthony as Himself (as Ray Anthony and His Orchestra).Larry Keating as Ambassador Alexander Williamson.Despite their wide age difference, they fall in love. Several years later, he visits her at school, still concealing his identity. She writes letters to her mysterious benefactor, whom she calls Daddy Long Legs (based on her fellow orphans' description of his shadow), but he never writes back. He anonymously pays for her education at a New England college. Wealthy American Jervis Pendleton III has a chance encounter at a French orphanage with cheerful 18-year-old resident Julie André.
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