YOU WERE NEVER LOVELIER
US, 1942, 97 minutes, Black and white.
Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, Adolphe Menjou, Adele Mara, Isobel Elsom, Gus Schilling, Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra, Larry Parks.
Directed by William A. Seiter.
You Were Never Lovelier is a successful follow-up to You'll Never Get Rich, for the starring of Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. The film is reminiscent of the R.K.O. musical comedies that featured Astaire in the '30s. It is set in a Never- Never Argentina, with American and European businessmen, American shows, Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra.
Rita Hayworth is a lively heroine. Adolphe Menjou provides some comedy. There are pleasant Jerome Kern numbers including the Oscar-nominated 'Dearly Beloved'.
1. An enjoyable musical comedy - 1930s and 1940s style? Impact later? A Fred Astaire vehicle?
2. Production values: the atmosphere of Argentina, affluent interiors, homes, parties, the choreography for the dancing? Jerome Kern's songs and their insertion into the plot?
3. Fred Astaire as Robert Davis, looking for work, liking the races, the encounter with Acuna, the clash, the friendship with Xavier Cugat, the antagonism by Acuna, delivering the flowers to Maria, her mistaking him for the unknown suitor, his following Acuna’s advice, the contract, the dating Maria, their falling in love, songs and dances, the misunderstandings, the finale with the explanation, his courting her as Lochinvar? A dapper Astaire character?
4. Rita Hayworth's beauty and glamour as Maria, lively, cold, with men, the second daughter, the wedding, her freezing Robert, attitude towards her father, her sister's anxiety, her being flattered by the flowers and the cards, infatuated with Robert, songs and dances, inviting him to the party, the reaction to the truth, her being courted over again? Glamorous heroine?
5. Acuna and his crankiness, his cousin as his secretary being irritated and wanting some revenge? His treatment of his daughters? His collaboration with his sister-in-law for writing the cards? Antagonism towards Robert, using him, the complications, changing plans, the revelation of the truth and his wife's reaction, the happy situation and his mellowing?
6. His wife and her scattiness, her suspicions? His sister-in-law, and her aplomb, care for Maria? Her husband and his jealousy? The daughters wanting to get married, their suitors?
7. The musical sequences, Xavier Cugat, the quality of Astaire's dancing, Rita Hayworth as partner? The songs - especially 'Dearly Beloved' and the title melody? The Shorty George routine?
8. Pleasant Hollywood musical comedy and its part in the tradition of the Hollywood comedy?
