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The Sky's the Limit

  • 19431943
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
Fred Astaire and Joan Leslie in The Sky's the Limit (1943)
ComedyMusicalRomance
Flying Tiger Fred Atwell sneaks away from his famous squadron's personal appearance tour and goes incognito for several days of leave. He quickly falls for photographer Joan Manion, pursuing... Read allFlying Tiger Fred Atwell sneaks away from his famous squadron's personal appearance tour and goes incognito for several days of leave. He quickly falls for photographer Joan Manion, pursuing her in the guise of a carefree drifter.Flying Tiger Fred Atwell sneaks away from his famous squadron's personal appearance tour and goes incognito for several days of leave. He quickly falls for photographer Joan Manion, pursuing her in the guise of a carefree drifter.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Edward H. Griffith
  • Writers
    • Frank Fenton(original screenplay)
    • Lynn Root(original screenplay)
    • S.K. Lauren(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Fred Astaire
    • Joan Leslie
    • Robert Benchley
  • Director
    • Edward H. Griffith
  • Writers
    • Frank Fenton(original screenplay)
    • Lynn Root(original screenplay)
    • S.K. Lauren(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Fred Astaire
    • Joan Leslie
    • Robert Benchley
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 37User reviews
    • 12Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos16

    Fred Astaire and Joan Leslie in The Sky's the Limit (1943)
    Fred Astaire and Joan Leslie in The Sky's the Limit (1943)
    Fred Astaire and Joan Leslie in The Sky's the Limit (1943)
    Fred Astaire and Joan Leslie in The Sky's the Limit (1943)
    Clarence Muse in The Sky's the Limit (1943)
    Joan Leslie in The Sky's the Limit (1943)
    Fred Astaire and Joan Leslie in The Sky's the Limit (1943)
    Fred Astaire, Robert Benchley, and Victor Potel in The Sky's the Limit (1943)
    Fred Astaire in The Sky's the Limit (1943)
    Fred Astaire in The Sky's the Limit (1943)
    Fred Astaire and Joan Leslie in The Sky's the Limit (1943)
    Fred Astaire and Joan Leslie in The Sky's the Limit (1943)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Fred Astaire
    Fred Astaire
    • Fred Atwell aka Fred Burton
    Joan Leslie
    Joan Leslie
    • Joan Manion
    Robert Benchley
    Robert Benchley
    • Phil Harriman
    Robert Ryan
    Robert Ryan
    • Reginald Fenton
    Elizabeth Patterson
    Elizabeth Patterson
    • Mrs. Fisher
    Marjorie Gateson
    Marjorie Gateson
    • Canteen Hostess
    Freddie Slack
    Freddie Slack
    • Freddie Slack - Leader of His Orchestra
    Freddie Slack and His Orchestra
    • Freddie Slack's Orchestra
    Fred Aldrich
    Fred Aldrich
    • Pilot
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Andersen
    Robert Andersen
    • Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Bobby Barber
    Bobby Barber
    • Canteen Waiter
    • (uncredited)
    Brandon Beach
    • Officer at Dinner
    • (uncredited)
    Brooks Benedict
    Brooks Benedict
    • Dinner Guest
    • (uncredited)
    Joseph E. Bernard
    Joseph E. Bernard
    • Third Bartender
    • (uncredited)
    Eric Blore
    Eric Blore
    • Jackson - Phil's Butler
    • (uncredited)
    Buck Bucko
    • Cowboy
    • (uncredited)
    Roy Bucko
    Roy Bucko
    • Cowboy
    • (uncredited)
    Georgia Caine
    Georgia Caine
    • Charwoman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Edward H. Griffith
    • Writers
      • Frank Fenton(original screenplay)
      • Lynn Root(original screenplay)
      • S.K. Lauren(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Fred Astaire cut his shins and ankles on the broken glass generated during "One for My Baby".
    • Goofs
      Fred Astaire plays a WWII fighter pilot, although he was 44 years old at the time. A typical age for a WWII fighter pilot was half that. Most 44-year-old men who were serving in WWII did so from behind a desk.
    • Quotes

      Joan Manion: You know, purely in a sociological way, you interest me. A little.

      Fred Atwell: Well, it's a beginning, isn't it?

      Joan Manion: Don't get me wrong! What interests me is this passion you seem to have for having your picture taken.

      Fred Atwell: Let's talk it over.

      [to bartender]

      Fred Atwell: I'll have the same, please.

      Joan Manion: You know, I'm supposed to be taking pictures of celebrities.

      Fred Atwell: Couldn't I be the fellow who never gets his name mentioned? The one they call 'a friend'? You know: 'Ginger Rogers - and friend.'

    • Connections
      Featured in Great Performances: The Fred Astaire Songbook (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      My Shining Hour
      (uncredited)

      Music by Harold Arlen

      Lyrics by Johnny Mercer

      Sung by Joan Leslie (dubbed by Sally Sweetland)

      Danced by Fred Astaire, Joan Leslie

    User reviews37

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    One more for the road
    Very few people have heard of it, but this is really one of my favorite Fred Astaire movies. In part because Fred does one of the best angry dance scenes that I've ever seen. He stumbles drunken, singing One More for my Baby, and smashes glass with his feet. He sways to the rhythm and leaps up on the metal bar to tap smash shattering glass. If you're lucky enough to see this movie keep in mind, that's real glass, not sugar glass like you normally see in movies. This was during WWII and sugar was rationed. Fred and Joan Leslie have a number of lovely romantic dance scenes. The background plot of WWII provides, well, a plot. By turns funny and bittersweet, a great dance movie.
    helpful•27
    3
    • fresne
    • Oct 12, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 13, 1943 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Lookout Below
    • Filming locations
      • RKO Studios - 780 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • RKO Radio Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $871,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 29 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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