Daddy Long Legs (1955)

On a trip to France, millionaire Jervis Pendelton sees an 18 year old girl in an orphanage. Enchanted with her, but mindful of the difference in their ages, he sponsors her to college in ... See full summary »

Director:

Jean Negulesco

Writers:

Phoebe Ephron (screenplay), Henry Ephron (screenplay),

Stars:

Fred Astaire, Leslie Caron, Terry Moore

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Fred Astaire	...	Jervis Pendleton III
Leslie Caron	...	Julie Andre
Terry Moore	...	Linda Pendleton
Thelma Ritter	...	Alicia Pritchard
Fred Clark	...	Griggs
Charlotte Austin	...	Sally McBride
Larry Keating	...	Ambassador Alexander Williamson
Kathryn Givney	...	Gertrude Pendleton
Kelly Brown	...	Jimmy McBride
Ray Anthony	...	Himself (as Ray Anthony and his Orchestra)

Storyline

On a trip to France, millionaire Jervis Pendelton sees an 18 year old girl in an orphanage. Enchanted with her, but mindful of the difference in their ages, he sponsors her to college in New England. She writes him letters, which he doesn't read. After 3 years, he goes to visit her at a dance, not telling her that he is her benefactor. They fall in love, but the usual movie-type difficulties get in the way before they can get together at the end.

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Plot Keywords:

letter | orphanage | love | college | 18 year old | 

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Genres:

Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

5 May 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Daddy Langbein

Filming Locations:

Andrew Carnegie Mansion - 2 East 91st Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Recording) (magnetic prints) Mono (Western Electric Recording) (optical prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song "Texas Millionaire" is the only time Astaire's singing voice was ever dubbed. The dub vocals were performed by Thurl Ravenscroft, known mostly for being the voice of Tony the Tiger.

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Goofs

In the top-hat dance number with Jervis and Julie, she is wearing a light blue ribbon around her waste; in the poster that includes a still from that scene, the waist ribbon is red.

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Quotes

Alicia Pritchard: Mr. Griggs, a person is NOT a corporation! A person is flesh and blood... and feelings !

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Connections

Referenced in The Miracle (2007)

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Soundtracks

"International Playboy"
Music by Johnny Mercer
Instrumental danced by Fred Astaire and Chorus Girls

User Reviews

Daddy Longlegs Is Wonderful ****

Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron were such marvelous dancing partners in 1955's Daddy Longlegs.

The story line is wonderful. Astaire "adopts" a young Parisian orphan and pays for her college tuition. Throughout the years, she writes in gratitude but he chooses to ignore the letters.

Fred Clark and Thelma Ritter, two veteran movie pros, gave terrific support as workers under Astaire. The sentimental Ritter, as Alice, is able to bring the two together and the film takes on a new meaning until Caron discovers that Astaire has been her benefactor. As romance blossoms, we're happy to see that Clark and Ritter have romantic designs on each other as well.

The dance sequences have never been better. Both Astaire and Carone show their gracefulness. Fred even knew how to put-over "Something's Got To Give."