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Fred Astaire, Leslie Caron, Terry Moore, Thelma Ritter, Fred Clark ... see more see more... , Charlotte Austin , Larry Keating , Kathryn Givney , Kelly Brown , Sara Shane , Numa Lapeyre , Ann Codee , Steven Geray , Percival Vivian , Joseph Kearns , Larry Kent , Charles Anthony Hughes , Ralph Dumke , Damian O'Flynn , Kathryn Card , Tim Johnson , Harry Seymour , Olan Soule , J. Anthony Hughes , George Dunn , Gertrude Astor , Janice Carroll , Elizabeth Patterson , Ray Anthony Orchestra , Helen Van Tuyl , Carleton Young , David Hoffman , Paul Power , Paul Bradley

This last remake (thus far) of the Jean Webster novel Daddy Long Legs was extensively revised to accommodate the talents of Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron. Fragments of the basic plot remain: American ... read more read more...millionaire Astaire is the unknown benefactor of French orphan girl Caron, financing the girl's education on the proviso that his identity never be revealed to her. Moved by Caron's letters of thanks, Astaire's secretary Thelma Ritter advises Astaire to go to France to visit the "child". When he arrives, he finds that his ward has grown up rather nicely, and the two fall in love--though Caron never knows until the very end who Astaire really is. The old story has been updated to allow for an elaborate "cowboy" number and a couple of Eisenhower jokes. Highlights include a solo ballet by Caron and a wonderful Astaire routine involving a set of drums. The score for Daddy Long Legs is unremarkable save for Johnny Mercer's hit "Something's Gotta Give". ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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68% liked it

2,721 ratings

G, 2 hr. 6 min.

Directed by: Jean Negulesco

Release Date: May 5, 1955

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DVD Release Date: February 21, 2006

Stats: 152 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (152)

  • jjnxn
    July 29, 2007
    jjnxn
    fine performances, especially thelma ritter and fred clark and great music but much too long.
  • crazydannielle16
    November 22, 2008
    crazydannielle16
    Some cute song and dance numbers.
  • Doctor0Quinzel
    July 3, 2008
    Doctor0Quinzel
    A good film. A nice musical, with some good numbers, one of the better Astaire films.
  • PhotoDork
    May 18, 2011
    PhotoDork
    Not ont the of Astaire favorites. The Dance were to long and some were a little out there. But it was made in the 60's so that made some scents.
  • TonyPolito
    February 16, 2011
    TonyPolito
    Not much mid-Century meat here other than Fred Astaire hoofin' it, alluring Leslie Caron ... plus a couple of strong Johnny Mercer numbers.

    The plotline/action doesn't once get deeper than the basic book, that being a middle-aged mid-Century man's ultimate fantasy. Astaire's a ... read more50ish gazillionaire running his corporate conglomerate from behind a big fat desk atop some Manhattan skyscraper. Then he chances into funding a 16-year-old French orphan's Boston College experience (anonymously). Then when she's 19 (and 'fair game') he, of course, turns the letch hanging around the freshman formal to get a gander (anonymously). Then he, of course, turns up to court and woo her (using a pseudonym, of course). The wooing is then interrupted by cold feet and wistful longing ... until graduation day ... of course.

    In the end, of course, the two woo quite successfully. No surprise since, as the jeweler in the film says, "It's been our experience that a diamond of that quality never comes back."

    This is a dance vehicle and so the viewer shouldn't expect much more. Well, actually the viewer SHOULD expect more, since there's a bit too much vapid story and a bit too little song and dance. "Dream (When You're Feeling Blue)" and "Something's Gotta Give" are the best tunes. The former merely lilts in the background'; Fred & Leslie duet the latter, throats 'n' toes, and it's pretty pedestrian. The most interesting dance number is actually a solo Astaire in a hokey cowboy spur-clickin' number. Caron's "girl-loses-man malaise dream" dance number plays out far too high-brow and 'modern' for 1955 popcorn-munchers.

    The best part of the romancing is Caron's incredible ability to convincingly portray a very young girl delectably caving to the advances of a much older man. When Astaire cracks a wry smile toward Caron after she accepts his proposal, it looks a lot less like his acting out romantic satisfaction ... and a lot more like his admiration and acknowledgment of her talented delivery to the camera.

    Color by DeLuxe; CinemaScope. Visually, the film has survived time well. The color composition ramps up within the dance costumes and numbers but, in terms of cinematography, there's nothing else special here.

    RECOMMENDATION: For Astaire completists ... and anyone who needs a second dose of Caron's stagecraft after viewing "Gigi." Everyone else can simply advance directly to "Go" and collect $200.
  • wizikitheguru
    June 24, 2010
    wizikitheguru
    Even though Fred Astaire isn't with ginger roberts in this movie I still find this movie completely wonderful!
  • jam233
    August 2, 2009
    jam233
    Cute musical, nothing really outstanding about it though. Slightly above average. Leslie Caron is well cast, some great musical numbers and some rather bland ones as well.
  • periwinklepetticoats
    April 18, 2008
    periwinklepetticoats
    I like Fred Astaire and this is an okay film. The Characters should have been cast differently and perhaps the film would have made more sense
  • heislife7
    August 26, 2007
    heislife7
    This was my first movie that I saw with Fred. He became and still is my #1 favorite actor of all time. I love all his movies!
  • iumuggle
    August 3, 2007
    iumuggle
    Somethings Gotta Give stands out in this movie as the best part by far. Astaire again, a little bit older but still fantastic dance/ singer / actor

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Critic Reviews

March 26, 2009
Variety

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March 25, 2006
New York Times

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Don Druker
January 1, 2000
Don Druker, Chicago Reader

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Frank Swietek
March 30, 2007
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion

No review available.

January 26, 2006
Time Out

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Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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