A DELIGHTFUL AND FUN MUSICAL -

Daddy Long Legs (1955), based on the 1912 novel by Gene Webster, stars Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron in a delightful story about a wealthy playboy who becomes an anonymous benefactor of a young girl and tries desperately not to fall in love with her. The 1955 musical stars Terry Moore, Thelma Ritter, Fred Clark and Larry Keating.

Jervis Pendleton lll (Astaire) is on business traveling through France when he learns about Julie Andre (Caron), an improvised 18-year-old girl French orphan who needs help with an education. He decides to become her sponsor and sets her up anonymously at the same American all-girls school as his niece Linda (Terry Moore).

During this time Julie writes to her sponsor, whom she calls Daddy Long Legs. She has no family so he becomes like a surrogate father that she often pours her heart out to, but feels rejected when he doesn't answer her letters.

That's because Jervis doesn't read the letters, he has his staff Alicia Pritchard (Thelma Ritter) and Griggs (Fred Clark) reading them but not answering them.

One of the first scenes in the movie shows off Astaire's expertise at dancing and also shows off an amazing skill and agility at playing the drums and bouncing the drumsticks of the wall. This scene also sets up a lot of the theme of the story. Jervis is too busy to be busy and Griggs must handle all the decisions. Clark is delightful in his annoyance at Jervis while he sings and dances. This scene takes place in Jervis's home that shares space with the family's art gallery.

While on a trip to France, Jervis's car breaks down near an orphanage where he discovers Julie.

His impulsive nature makes him immediately decide to help her out. "She has a gift for life. I want to educate her," says Jervis, who dismisses his attorney's notion that he can't adopt an 18-year-old girl.

After two years at college Alicia forces him to read Julie's letters. Thelma is wonderful in this role as she was in most of her films. She usually played the staunch, hardnosed gal who called a spade a spade.

Jervis is impressed by Julie's devotion and decides to go down to the college and meet her. Julie knows right away that she loves him. He denies to himself he loves her, and still doesn't let her know that he's her sponsor.

College years have more singing and dancing by both Julie and Jervis, although there still aren't many dance scenes as other musicals. Since the two characters don't meet until nearly an hour into the film, it's also unusual for a romantic angle.

Astaire does a great job in the film; especially considering his wife died only days before shooting was to begin. "He wanted to postpone the film," says his daughter Ava Astaire McKenzie who is part of the DVD film commentary. "But Darryl F. Zanuck prevailed on him to go ahead."

Although she made more than 75 feature films, Terry Moore is not an especially notable actress although she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in  Come Back, Little Sheba      in 1952. She gained more notoriety for her off screen escapades, especially when she claims she became the wife of Howard Hughes.

Ray Anthony is a striking man and is lively and playful in his appearance as himself in some of the dance scenes. Johnny Mercer's score includes the 1955 Oscar-nominated hit for Best Song "Something's Gotta Give."

Caron (An American in Paris 1951) is absolutely charming and very beautiful in the movie. She only made one more musical after this film, Gigi, (1958) in which she barely danced. The only downside of Daddy Long Legs to me is the believability of Astaire and Caron as a couple. After all there was 32 years difference in their ages. But the movie stands on its own with Astaire's artistry, which is always amazing and delightful to watch.

Cinematography by Leon Shamroy is outstanding at capturing all the aspects of the locales and the energy of the dance scenes perfectly. Anyone who likes Fred Astaire will want to see this movie.

Special Features

— Commentary by Ava Astaire McKenzie (Astaire's daughter) and Film Historian/author Ken Barnes The Crosby Years with Archival Commentary by songwriter Johnny Mercer - McKenzie points out that Daddy Long Legs held a lot of firsts for her father - the first (and only) movie he did for Fox, his only role opposite Leslie Caron, first in CinemaScope and first film Johnny Mercer work lyrics and music. She talks about the song "Dream," her father's favorite.

Barnes comments seem stiff and obviously read, while McKenzie's comments flow with originality. Even so, they add wonderful insights into this movie and others related by six degrees.

— Fox Movietone News Footage - of the Hollywood, New York and London premieres  

— Still Photo Gallery & lobby cards

— Original Theatrical trailer

— Subtitles: English, French, Spanish  

Director: Jean Negulesco

Writers: Henry Ephron, Phoebe Ephron, Jean Webster (the novel)

Cast: Fred Astaire, Leslie Caron, Terry Moore, Thelma Ritter, Fred Clark, Larry Keating  

Rating: Unrated

DVD Release Date: 2/21/06

Classic Movie Guide Rating: 4 our of 5 stars

Run Time: 126  

Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Format: Color, Widescreen