It's the turn of the century New York City. Every men is in love with Angela (Vera-Ellen). She is a committed do-gooder, but she is just too beautiful and distracting to lead the Christian charity band. Then there is rich playboy Charlie Hill (Fred Astaire). He gets all the showgirls to fall for him, but he keeps skipping out on them before the wedding. His benefactor, Aunt Lettie (Marjorie Main), is tired of writing checks to showgirls. One night, he is overwhelmed by Angela singing in the park with the band.
The meet-cute is basically him being bowled over by her presence. It's not the most inventive or funny. It could be better, but it does lead to him floating on air. Now, I want him to get in a harness and get pulled by a wire. I don't really want him in a green screen shot. Nevertheless, it is still Fred Astaire and he is the master of dancing in his environment. I do wonder when green screen was invented. A 1952 audience must be used to it by then. I imagine that it would be infinitely superior to have him dance in fake-heights like a Harold Lloyd stunt. It is still a fun idea and a great theme. I just don't want to see the seams in the green screen.
Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen are great impeccable dance partners. I'm not in love with any of the songs, but they always bring all the details to their dance steps. I get a sense that the Charlie Hill character is supposed to be younger or else there would be no reason for Aunt Lettie. It would work just as well for a fifty something Fred Astaire. Just get rid of Lettie. This was a box office bomb. I don't know why exactly. Maybe the times were changing. People can get tired of the same diet.
The meet-cute is basically him being bowled over by her presence. It's not the most inventive or funny. It could be better, but it does lead to him floating on air. Now, I want him to get in a harness and get pulled by a wire. I don't really want him in a green screen shot. Nevertheless, it is still Fred Astaire and he is the master of dancing in his environment. I do wonder when green screen was invented. A 1952 audience must be used to it by then. I imagine that it would be infinitely superior to have him dance in fake-heights like a Harold Lloyd stunt. It is still a fun idea and a great theme. I just don't want to see the seams in the green screen.
Fred Astaire and Vera-Ellen are great impeccable dance partners. I'm not in love with any of the songs, but they always bring all the details to their dance steps. I get a sense that the Charlie Hill character is supposed to be younger or else there would be no reason for Aunt Lettie. It would work just as well for a fifty something Fred Astaire. Just get rid of Lettie. This was a box office bomb. I don't know why exactly. Maybe the times were changing. People can get tired of the same diet.