You Were Never Lovelier (1942)

The Acunas, a rich Argentine family, have the tradition that the daughters have to get married in order, oldest first. When sister #1 gets married, sisters #3 and #4 put pressure on Maria, ... See full summary »

Director:

William A. Seiter

Writers:

Michael Fessier (screenplay), Ernest Pagano (screenplay),

Stars:

Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth, Adolphe Menjou

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Fred Astaire	...	Robert Davis
Rita Hayworth	...	Maria Acuña
Adolphe Menjou	...	Eduardo Acuña
Isobel Elsom	...	Mrs. Maria Castro
Leslie Brooks	...	Cecy Acuña
Adele Mara	...	Lita Acuña
Gus Schilling	...	Fernando
Barbara Brown	...	Mrs. Delfina Acuña
Douglas Leavitt	...	Juan Castro
Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra	...	Themselves

Storyline

The Acunas, a rich Argentine family, have the tradition that the daughters have to get married in order, oldest first. When sister #1 gets married, sisters #3 and #4 put pressure on Maria, sister #2, because they have their husbands picked out already. But Maria hasn't yet met a man she likes. Eduardo Acuna, believing that men aren't romantic enough these days, sends his daughter flowers and anonymous love letters, creating a "mystery man" for her to fall in love with. He intends to pick out an appropriate beau for her later, to fill the role. But Robert Davis, an American dancer looking for work, stumbles into the picture. Maria falls for him, but the father does not approve.

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Plot Keywords:

sister | love letter | secretary | marly horse | orchestra | 

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Taglines:

HAYWORTH--never lovelier! ASTAIRE--never more exciting! KERN'S MUSIC--never more inspired!

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 November 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tuesday's Orchids

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character played by Fred Astaire says he is from Omaha, Nebraska- Astaire's real-life birthplace.

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Goofs

Four boys enter in the Mr. Acuña's house with flowers and notes from Robert to Maria. The second to enter has his left arm hanging. In the next shot, when they are seen side by side, all of them are holding the flowers with their both hands.

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Quotes

Mrs. Delfina Acuña: I wish you wouldn't speak while I'm interrupting.

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Connections

Featured in The Lady with the Torch (1999)

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Soundtracks

"Los Hijos de Buda"
(uncredited)
Written by Rafael Hernández and Noro Morales
Excerpts played for the Audition Dance
Played by Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra and danced by Fred Astaire

User Reviews

Fred and Rita: the Perfect Mismatch

I assume the title is referring to Rita Hayworth and not dancin' Fred; it has to be said that Hayworth really is enjoying the luminous beauty and healthy sheen of a creature in their absolute prime here. Beside her, Astaire - who, had he attempted a career in movies without those flashing feet, would have been consigned to the role of gawky comedy sidekick instead of elegant leading man - looks skinny and prematurely old. Until he starts dancing, of course, and then they look like they were made for each other.

When the two of them aren't dancing, Adolphe Menjou keeps stealing the picture as Rita's over-protective father who writes anonymous love letter to his own daughter in the hope that she will fall in love with her fictitious beau. Yeah, it's one of those ridiculous Hollywood plots that the studios felt obliged to squeeze in between the musical numbers. I wonder if audiences in the 40s found them as crass as we do today? Anyway, the plot - what there is of it - follows it's predictable course, but nobody really watches these movies for its plot, and this film's greatest strength today is that it transports us back to a Hollywood that no longer exists; a Hollywood that oozes chic glamour and style, and offers escape to those romantics to whom plot and characterisation are secondary concerns.