A Damsel in Distress (1937)

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Passed
1h 41min
Comedy, Music
19 Nov 1937 (USA)
Movie

6.8 (2,503)

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A betting castle staff, and a series of misunderstandings and set-ups, leads to an American entertainer and an English damsel falling in love.

Director:

George Stevens

Writers:

Stars:

Awards:

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.
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Reviews:

Photos and Videos

Still of Fred Astaire (I), Gracie Allen (I) and George Burns (I) in A Damsel in Distress (1937)

Still of Fred Astaire (I) and Montagu Love in A Damsel in Distress (1937)

Still of Fred Astaire (I) in A Damsel in Distress (1937)

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31 photos

Cast verified as complete

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	Fred Astaire	...	Jerry Halliday
	George Burns	...	George
	Gracie Allen	...	Gracie
	Joan Fontaine	...	Lady Alyce
	Reginald Gardiner	...	Keggs
	Ray Noble	...	Reggie
	Constance Collier	...	Lady Caroline
	Montagu Love	...	Lord Marshmorton
	Harry Watson	...	Albert
	Jan Duggan	...	Miss Ruggles
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Pearl Amatore	...	Madrigal Singer (uncredited)
	Dorothy Barrett	...	Dancer in Funhouse Number (uncredited)
	May Beatty	...	Landlady (uncredited)
	Eugene Beday	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Charles Bennett	...	Carnival Barker (uncredited)
	Frank Benson	...	Attendant (uncredited)
	John Blood	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Angela Blue	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Monte Blue	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Grace Bohanon	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Myrta Bonillas	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Ralph Brooks	...	Sightseer (uncredited)
	Gertrude Carr	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Jack Carson	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	James Clemens	...	Drunk (uncredited)
	Charles Darwin	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Mary Dean	...	Singer (uncredited)
	Charles Doherty	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Kathleen Ellis	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	James Fawcett	...	Drunk (uncredited)
	Sterrett Ford	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Jack George	...	Madrigal Singer (uncredited)
	Mary Gordon	...	Cook (uncredited)
	Jack Gwynne	...	Footman (uncredited)
	Sam Harris	...	Dance Extra (uncredited)
	Thelma Hart	...	Ticket Seller (uncredited)
	Ben Jacobs	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)
	Fred Kelsey	...	Sightseer (uncredited)
	Max Linder	...	Footman (uncredited)
	Marie Marks	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Frank Moran	...	Bobby (uncredited)
	Clive Morgan	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Leonard Mudie	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Joe Niemeyer	...	Street Dancer (uncredited)
	William J. O'Brien	...	Chauffeur (uncredited)
	Elsa Peterson	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Cleo Ridgely	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Betty Rome	...	Singer (uncredited)
	Violet Seton	...	Alice's Maid (uncredited)
	Buster Slaven	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Bobbie Smith	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Jean Stevens	...	Dancer (uncredited)
	Mary Stewart	...	Dancer / Singer (uncredited)
	Hans Tanzler	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Robert Tate	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Ken Terrell	...	Drunk (uncredited)
	Ellinor Vanderveer	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	Jack Walkin	...	Drunk (uncredited)
	Cynthia Westlake	...	Bit Role (uncredited)
	John Wynn	...	Footman (uncredited)

Directed by

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George Stevens

Written by

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P.G. Wodehouse	...	(from the story by)

Ian Hay	...	(play)
P.G. Wodehouse	...	(play)

P.G. Wodehouse	...	(screen play)
Ernest Pagano	...	(screen play)
S.K. Lauren	...	(screen play)
P.J. Wolfson	...	(screenplay)

William J. Burns	...	(contributing writer)

Produced by

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Pandro S. Berman	...	producer (uncredited)
Samuel J. Briskin	...	executive producer (uncredited)

Music by

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George Gershwin
Robert Russell Bennett	...	(uncredited)

Cinematography by

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Joseph H. August

...

(photographed by)

Editing by

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Henry Berman

...

(edited by)

Art Direction by

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Van Nest Polglase

Makeup Department

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Mel Berns

...

makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management

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J.R. Crone	...	production manager (uncredited)
Albert S. Rogell	...	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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W. Argyle Nelson

...

assistant director (as Argyle Nelson)

Art Department

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Carroll Clark	...	associate art director
Darrell Silvera	...	set dresser

Sound Department

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Earl A. Wolcott	...	recordist (as Earl A. Wollcott)
John Aalberg	...	sound technician (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Vernon L. Walker

...

special effects

Stunts

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Ken Terrell

...

stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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J. Roy Hunt

...

camera operator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Claire Cramer	...	wardrobe (uncredited)
Eugene Joseff	...	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department

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Victor Baravalle	...	musical director
George Bassman	...	additional arrangements
Robert Russell Bennett	...	orchestral arrangements by (as Russell Bennett)
Ira Gershwin	...	lyrics by
Ray Noble	...	additional arrangements
George Parrish	...	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Hermes Pan	...	dance director
Fred Astaire	...	choreographer (uncredited)
Angela Blue	...	assistant choreographer (uncredited)
Harry Cornbleth	...	stand-in: Fred Astaire (uncredited)
John Dawson	...	stand-in: Ray Noble (uncredited)
Fred Fuller	...	stand-in: Montagu Love (uncredited)
Olive Hatch	...	stand-in: Constance Collier (uncredited)
Frank Hemphill	...	stand-in (uncredited)
Charlotte Hoag	...	stand-in: Joan Fontaine (uncredited)
Ben Jacobs	...	stand-in: Reginald Gardener (uncredited)
Jessie Lee	...	stand-in: Gracie Allen (uncredited)
Harry Matthews	...	stand-in: Fred Astaire (uncredited)
Dorothy Panter	...	stand-in: Joan Fontaine (uncredited)
Bruce Preston	...	stand-in: George Burns (uncredited)

Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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RKO Radio Pictures (presents)

Distributors

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RKO Radio Pictures (1937) (United States) (theatrical) (as An R K O Radio Picture)
RKO Distributing Corporation of Canada (1937) (Canada) (theatrical)
RKO Radio Pictures (1937) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (as RKO Radio Pictures, Ltd.)
RKO Pictures (Australasia) (1937) (Australia) (theatrical)
Filmituonti (1938) (Finland) (theatrical)
Kinografen (1938) (Norway) (theatrical)
RKO Radio Pictures (1938) (Belgium) (theatrical)
RKO Radio Pictures (1938) (Sweden) (theatrical)
C&C Television Corporation (1955) (United States) (tv)
Yleisradio (YLE) (1969) (Finland) (tv)
PolyGram Video (1997) (United Kingdom) (video)
Cornerstone Media (2010) (United Kingdom) (video)
Warner Home Video (2011) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
Odeon Entertainment (2012) (United Kingdom) (DVD)

Special Effects

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Other Companies

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International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (this picture made under the jurisdiction of)
Motion Picture Producers and Distributors Association of America (approved: certificate no. 3583)

Storyline

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Plot Summary	Lady Alyce Marshmorton must marry soon, and the staff of Tottney Castle have laid bets on who she'll choose, with young Albert wagering on "Mr. X". After Alyce goes to London to meet a beau (bumping into dancer Jerry Halliday, instead), she is restricted to the castle to curb her scandalous behavior. Albert then summons Jerry to Alyce's aid in order to "protect his investment". Written by Diana Hamilton Plot Summary
Plot Keywords	remake actress-shares-first-name-with-character song singer singing See All (78) »
Taglines	It's Smooth! It's Smart! It's Snappy! New Songs! New Steps! New Laughs! See more »
Genres	Comedy Music Romance
Parents Guide	Add content advisory for parents »
Certification	Australia:G Brazil:Livre Finland:S France:Tous publics Iceland:L Netherlands:AL Norway:A (cinema rating) Sweden:Btl United Kingdom:U United States:Passed (National Board of Review) United States:Approved

Additional Details

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Also Known As	Demoiselle en détresse (France) Senyoreta en desgràcia (Spain, Catalan title) Señorita en desgracia (Spain) Das kleine Malheur (Austria) En jomfru i nød (Norway) See more »
Runtime	101 min
Country	United States
Language	English
Color	Black and White
Aspect Ratio	1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix	Mono (RCA Victor System)
Filming Locations	RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »

Box Office

Budget

$1,035,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia	When Fred Astaire learned that Gracie Allen was nervous about dancing with him on-stage, he reportedly made a point of tripping and falling in front of her the first day on the set to put her at her ease. See more »
Goofs	This movie is based in England where vehicles drive on the left, but all the vehicles are left-hand drive, which obviously is what side they drive on in the US. See more »
Movie Connections	Featured in The Fabulous Musicals (1963). See more »
Soundtracks	I Can't Be Bothered Now See more »
Quotes	Gracie: [Gracie answers the telephone] It's a Hawaiian. George: A Hawaiian? Gracie: Well he must be. He says he's Brown from The Morning Sun. See more »

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