Daddy Long Legs (1955)

Director

• Jean Negulesco

Starring

• Fred Astaire
• Leslie Caron
• Terry Moore
• Thelma Ritter
• Fred Clark

Last On

15:15-17:15 Wed 27th Nov 2019 125m
BBC2

Synopsis

The fourth screen version of Jean Webster's novel, this time with a perfectly cast Fred Astaire, who literally glides his way through the tissue-thin plot about an orphan falling for her playboy benefactor. This could be tasteless, bearing in mind the vast age gap, but since it's a musical and the delightful Leslie Caron is the girl - well, in the words of the movie's Oscar-nominated song by Johnny Mercer, Something's Gotta Give. Interestingly, this was released when rock 'n' roll was at its peak, and features the great Astaire doing the Sluefoot. (Watch Astaire's face: he's not joking.) A charming, old-fashioned musical with Fred Clark, Thelma Ritter and Terry Moore providing excellent support.