The Pleasure of His Company (1961)

San Francisco debutante, Jessica Poole, is marrying Napa Valley cattle rancher, Roger Henderson, and hopes her peripatetic father, "Pogo" Poole, whom she hasn't seen for years, comes to the... See full summary »

Director:

George Seaton

Writers:

Cornelia Otis Skinner (play), Samuel A. Taylor (play)

Stars:

Fred Astaire, Lilli Palmer, Debbie Reynolds

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Fred Astaire	...	Biddeford 'Pogo' Poole
Debbie Reynolds	...	Jessica Poole
Lilli Palmer	...	Katharine Dougherty
Tab Hunter	...	Roger Henderson
Gary Merrill	...	James Dougherty
Charles Ruggles	...	Mackenzie Savage
Harold Fong	...	Toy
Elvia Allman	...	Mrs. Mooney
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lynne Martin	...	Young Woman

Storyline

San Francisco debutante, Jessica Poole, is marrying Napa Valley cattle rancher, Roger Henderson, and hopes her peripatetic father, "Pogo" Poole, whom she hasn't seen for years, comes to the wedding. He arrives, disrupting the household of his ex-wife, Katharine, and her long-suffering husband, and befriending their cook, Toy. At first it seems that Pogo is set on breaking up the engagement, making up for years of neglect by wining and dining Jessica, showing up Roger as a hick, and enticing her to come to Europe with him. Then it seems his real goal is to win back Katharine's heart: why else would he have two tickets to Paris booked on a plane leaving right after the reception?

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Plot Keywords:

rancher | san francisco california | football player | cowboy boots | father daughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

It's a pleasure...and it's all yours!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Designer Edith Head appears in the opening scene of the movie (one of a select few appearances in film) directing alterations to Jessica's wedding dress at I. Magnin & Company, a luxury department store in San Francisco, California.

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Goofs

When asked by James, Mr. Sanford tells him that Popo's plane leaves at 6:30. However, when everyone arrives at the airport to see Pogo off, the sign at the departure gate clearly shows the departure time as 4:30.

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Quotes

Roger Henderson: Mr. Savage, you know her well. She will come out of this won't she?
Mackenzie Savage: Uh, not unchanged. She'll never be the same.
Roger Henderson: Why?
Mackenzie Savage: And the serpent said unto Eve, enjoy yourself - and she was never the same. It's not accurate but it's apt.

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Connections

Featured in Edith Head: The Paramount Years (2002)

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Soundtracks

Lover
(uncredited)
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Sung briefly by Fred Astaire
Danced by Fred Astaire and Lilli Palmer

User Reviews

charming, delightful, witty

American Movie Classics channel has just started showing this 1961 flick, and I can't speak too highly of it. A charming domestic comedy with some real dramatic tension, the film boasts a superb cast with the venerable Fred Astaire (yes, of course he dances...), the elegantly funny Lilli Palmer, and a befuddled Gary Merrill. Charley Ruggles as grampa positively steals the show as a sort of geriatrically comic Greek chorus; his brief rejoinders and observations always perfectly set off a scene. The production values, as well, are sumptuous; today's movies don't look as good as this 40-year-old number (the Technicolor process has it all over contemporary processes). Sparkling dialogue and wonderful acting make this story of a playboy father's disruptive effects on his daughter's impending wedding a delightful must-see. I just can't figure it out; how can a movie without no swear words, no violence, no nudity, and not a single sex scene be so captivating???

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Italian

Release Date:

1 June 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

In angenehmer Gesellschaft

Filming Locations:

2700 Vallejo Street, Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Perlberg-Seaton Productions, Perlsea Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1