A Damsel in Distress (1937)'s comments

Do you want to let us know what you think? Just login, after which you will be redirected back here and you can leave your comments.

Siskoid

A Damsel in Distress is half a Fred Astaire musical - in which he renounces love shortly before falling in love (as usual) this time with a member of the English aristocracy with an uncertain accent (Joan Fontaine) - and half a Burns and Allen comedy full of silly lines and misunderstandings. That first element is up to Astaire's normal standards, with some nice dance sequences and a few fun songs (I always like it when he shows off his percussionist skills in a number, quite impressive). There's a very weird extended sequence on a fair ground in the middle there, which kind of gave me the spins but was a lot of fun. Some nice characters, some subtle, some broad, but you've seen one of these romcoms, you've sort of seen them all. If I put it over the top, it's because of the other ingredient brought by his comedy co-stars. Gracie Allen is just throwing one funny line after another like there's no tomorrow - she hardly has a line that's NOT a joke - and though sometimes her almost willfully obtuse shtick falls flat, it mostly sings. And Burns and Allen get up to some song and dance as well! I was in the mood for something silly, and I got exactly that.

4 years 8 months ago

ClassicLady

So nice to see George Burns and Gracie Allen in their younger days. Joan Fontaine gives her usual glamorous performance and Fred Astair is charming as ever. This may not be a Fred and Ginger movie but it sure stacks up well along side them.

10 years 9 months ago