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.

---

Plot Keywords:

remake | new york city new york | chest | millionaire | love | 

---

Genres:

Musical | Romance

---

Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Johnny Mercer had written lyrics for Fred Astaire to expound on the "History of the Beat," but in the release print, Fred sings only the verse, not the chorus, before going into his dance routine in his office.

---

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.

---

Quotes

Julie Andre: Did he have a weakness for girls?
Jervis Pendleton III: oh no, a great strength!

---

Connections

Referenced in The Miracle (2007)

---

Soundtracks

Texas Millionaire
(uncredited)
Music by Johnny Mercer
Instrumental with Chorus
Danced by Fred Astaire

User Reviews

A few thoughts about DLL (as another reviewer termed it)

In Feb. 2013 TCM showed an excellent transfer of the film, full Cinemascope aspect ratio, relatively sharp image, better color than what I remember from viewings years ago. The full vibrant color in the dream dance sequences especially added to my enjoyment of the film; really noticed the wonderful set design/artwork. The color schemes in Caron's dream ballet seemed to predict those common in the psychedelic 1960's.

A couple of people here say Fred Astaire's wife died during filming; I'm fairly sure that is incorrect. She died in 1953, I believe, while he was filming The Bandwagon at MGM. I remember reading that Arthur Freed walked with the grieving Astaire to calm him down when he got the news. Also it's doubtful that DLL would have been filmed in 1953 and release held up til 1955. And the reason Astaire was not in White Christmas (he was to have had the part played by Danny Kaye), filmed and released in 1954, was because he was still grieving from his wife's death in 1953.

I'm sure some will disagree, but I carefully watched Caron dancing with Astaire, and saw that she was one of his weaker partners. Ballroom and tap were not her usual style and she lacks the facility and panash of Rogers, Charisse, Hayworth. I've never been impressed with Caron's dancing anyway, but she was a very talented actress, both comic and dramatic, and was always charming on screen. And Astaire is so good in their partner dances that you have to really pay attention to see she is not anywhere near his caliber in that sort of dancing.

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