Daddy Long Legs (1955)

A wealthy American has a chance encounter with a joyful young French woman, and anonymously pays for her education. She writes letters to her mysterious benefactor, nicknaming him from the description given by some of her fellow orphans.

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	...	Ray Anthony (as Ray Anthony and his Orchestra)

Storyline

On a trip to France, millionaire Jervis Pendleton 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:

remake | new york city new york | chest | woman wears a slit dress | woman wears a veil | 

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Genres:

Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mitzi Gaynor was the studio's first choice to play Julie, as she was already under contract to Fox, but Fred Astaire personally asked for Leslie Caron.

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

Jervis Pendleton III: I can do the box step!

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Connections

Referenced in HBO First Look: The Making of 'You've Got Mail': A Conversation with Nora Ephron (1998)

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Soundtracks

International Playboy
(uncredited)
Music by Johnny Mercer
Instrumental danced by Fred Astaire and Chorus Girls

User Reviews

Masterfully choreographed, lush visual style, and charming script

This is one of the best films I've seen in quite some time. The dance sequences were used beautifully to further the story and flesh out characters. Astaire and Caron have great chemistry, overcoming the age difference of the characters. And Caron is with Astaire on every step of the dance sequences.

Unlike some dance-heavy, Astaire-vehicles (like An American in Paris in some places), this film's dance sequences do not drag down the plot or flow of the film. To the contrary, they are delightful-- and I'm generally not one for these kinds of films.

I have to say that I wasn't engaged throughout the entire film. But I really think this is more a matter of generation gap than quality of cinema. It's relatively long for a fairly simple story, and thus takes some patience to watch all the way through. However, I believe it's worth it for more thoughtful viewers and lovers of '50s films and dance.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

5 May 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Daddy Long Legs

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

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