Not one of Freds best, although there are moments of entertainment if you skip the plot. The dancing is, as always, in a Fred Astaire film, the highlight. The songs are not memorable except his signature I WANT TO BE A DANCIN MAN. Vera Ellen makes a great partner and their numbers together are worth watching. Wish the plot were more plausible. The Marjorie Main character knows and helps the Vera Ellen character at a shelter, but her nephew, Astaire, doesn't know about it? The DVD transfer is marvelous, the costumes exceptional and the dancing wonderful, so it does deserve at least 3 stars for that. They could have omitted the "dancing in the air" bit. That brought the movie way down. I know it's fantasy, but please!!
Review of The Belle of New York
