DADDY LONG LEGS
US, 1955, 126 minutes, Colour.
Fred Astaire, Leslie Caron, Terry Moore, Thelma Ritter, Fred Clark.
Directed by Jean Negulesco.
Daddy Longlegs is a big, long, colourful production, one of the early Cinemascope musicals. It is a vehicle for Fred Astaire and he's joined by the excellent dancer, Leslie Caron. There is comedy from Fred Clark and Thelma Ritter. The film is based on a very popular novel by Jean Webster, which had been filmed in 1931 with Janet Gaynor and Warner Baxter. It is the romantic story of an orphan who falls in love with her older benefactor. Direction is by Jean Negulesco, who directed a number of romantic comedies at this time. A popular American musical.
1. How attractive a film, musical comedy, piece of Americana?
2. The classic status of the novel, in America, a musical adaptation, appropriate?
3. The technical side: he 50's use of Cinemascope, colour, sets? Fantasy?
4. The quality of Johnny Mercer's songs, Fred Astaire's dancing, Leslie Caron's dancing? The focus on the dancing in the fantasies and the collage of various styles of dancing, the college dance, the romantic dances?
5. The particularly American setting: dreams, wealth, fantasies and their fulfilment? The overtones of the fairy tale, the rich man, his hobbies, skill? Assumptions of American superiority? The Pendleton museum, tradition? the phone calls and business acumen? The Templeton staff? The satire on this business world in the dialogue and attitudes of Miss Prichard?
6. Fred Astaire's interpretation of Jervis and Autumn? Type, capacity for work, relaxing with his music? Attitudes towards his relation? His irresponsibility and carefree attitudes? Business sense, the trip to France, the car episode, seeing Julie and his negotiations? His type? The change with Julie? Acting in a fairy tale and transforming Julie's life? How was he transformed?
7. The Cinderella overtones of Julie's being taken from France to America? A charming young girl, work at the orphanage, background? Her being transformed into an American? The changes in her, American opportunities?
8. The importance of her seeing the unknown benefactor, a Daddy Long Legs? The importance of the letters, the style of reading them, the information over the years? Her experience? Longing and loneliness? The attitude of Miss Pritchard? The way that they put pressure on Jervis to read the letters? The effect on him? His contriving to meet Julie?
9. The humour of the visit with Gertrude, the attractiveness of the participation in the dance? Julie's visit to New York and the romantic overtones, falling in love? The ambiguity with the American ambassador overhearing, his leaving and disappointing Julie?
10. The sub-plot of Lynda and Jimmy McBride? and his overseas job? The complications via the ambassador?
11. Lynda as an attractive minor character, solving all the difficulties with her marriage?
12. The happy ending, the return to the Pendleton gallery, the revelation of the truth, the romantic dance? In contrast with Julie's search and the mutual fantasising of what the Daddy Long Legs was really like, the search for him?
13. Attractive entertainment, healthy fantasy, hopes and optimism?
