VHS : You Were Never Lovelier (B&W)

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Rating:

- My Favorite Astaire
I grew up watching all of Fred Astaire's movies & fell in love with him. I really do love all of the Astaire/Rogers movies, especially Top Hat & Shall We Dance- they are my favorites, but this movie has always been my favorite. Not only is the dancing fantastic, as always, but I love the story, Rita Hayworth is excellent, & the music of Xavier Cugat (including the role he plays), all of it combined makes this movie (in my opinion) the greatest Astaire movie. I LOVE the soundtrack!!!

Rating:

- Rita the Love Goddess
She was Fred's favorite dance partner.
Good good movie if you are a Rita fan.

Rating:

- Musical/Dancing
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this film, brought back good memories of the smooth dancing of Fred Astaire and parthers. I would like to see the films with his other dance partners, particularly Ginger Rogers.

Rating:

- Dearly Beloved
This sparkling 1942 film, the second and last teaming of Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth, is a jewel in the crown of Columbia musicals. Although Astaire regretted that his films with Hayworth were never shot in color due to the studio's wartime budget, it's glorious in its black and white presentation. Rita's wardrobe will arouse envy and admiration in female viewers, as I'm sure it did upon its original release.

Dancer Robert Davis (Astaire) wishes to work for crusty Buenos Aires business man Eduardo Acuna (Adolpe Menjou), but Davis puts his foot in his mouth far too often at the wedding of Eduardo's eldest daughter Julia. The next daughter Maria (Hayworth), is to marry next, but she has no prospects at the moment and is in no hurry. That is not the case with her two younger sisters (Leslie Brooks and Adele Mara), who want to marry their "tennis playing Romeos" (one of whom, is Larry Parks, uncredited, who went on to costar with Hayworth in "Down To Earth" in 1947). But Papa decrees that Maria must wed first, but her disinterest in the young men around her does nothing to hasten matrimony. So he comes up with an inspired idea - creating a secret admirer, who writes Maria romantic notes and sends her orchids. He then decides to hire a fellow to impersonate his creation, hoping that his daughter will fall for him. When Robert inadvertently ends up delivering the next order of orchids to the Acuna house, Maria spies him from above and thinks that he is her secret admirer. Eduardo grudgingly allows Maria to believe Davis is her suitor, and the hoofer finds himself falling for her and discovering that there is an old-fashioned gal underneath her ice princess exterior. The truth ultimately is exposed but true love conquers all in a wonderful, exhilarating romantic finale.

The dance numbers are sensational - "The Shorty George" is my favorite. "Dearly Beloved" and "I'm Old Fashioned" are wistfully enchanting, and there is tremendous comic relief throughout - Gus Schilling as Eduardo's nervous secretary Fernando nearly steals the scene from Astaire and Menjou. Jerome Kern's score and Xavier Cugat and his orchestra is a perfect accompaniment to "You Were Never Lovelier".

Astaire and Hayworth were every bit as accomplished a team as Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Both of their performances seem so effortless and it's clear that they worked well and had tremendous respect for each other. Hayworth is as always, breathtakingly beautiful.

If you are a fan of musicals, this is an essential.

Rating:

- More of Fred at his best .
No introduction needed for this movie.
The MAN does more of it all for our eyes to feast on.
WE are all very fortunate Mr Astair shared so much of himself with us.

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