You Were Never Lovelier (1942) Directed by William A. Seiter
Comedy / Musical / Romance
Film Review
After their successful pairing in the hit musical comedy You'll Never Get Rich (1941),
Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth are reunited for another bout of high
class schmaltz and frothy song and dance hijinks. Whilst not the most
obvious of dancing partners, Astaire and Hayworth complement each other
perfectly and their dance routines in this film are among the most
memorable in Astaire's repertoire.
Amazingly, they would never worth together again after this film.
Jerome Kern's uplifting music gives the film its smooth velvety charm,
although it is a shame that Hayworth was not trusted to sing her own
numbers (instead she was dubbed by Nan Wynn). Whilst the plot is all
too predictable, there is plenty of fun to be had along the way, and
the glamorous lead performers make it something special. But who
is Astaire kidding when he says Hayworth has a personality like the
inside of a refrigerator?
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Film Synopsis
Robert Davis, an American dancer stranded in Buenos Aires without a
peso to his name, is desperate to find work. His friend,
bandleader Xavier Cugat, suggests that he should try to impress hotel
owner Eduardo Acuña by performing at his eldest daughter's
wedding. At the wedding reception, Robert is taken with Acuña's second eldest
daughter, Maria, but she has idealistic notions when it comes to love
and he doesn't impress her. Acuña is determined to marry
off Maria, partly because his two youngest daughters are themselves
desperate to get married. To make Maria more predisposed to
marriage, Acuña invents a fantasy lover, by sending her love
letters and flowers himself. When Robert mistakenly delivers one
of the letters, Maria jumps to the conclusion that he is her mystery
admirer and falls head over heels in love with him, much to her
father's annoyance. Robert is most definitely not Acuña's
idea of a son-in-law...
Script: Michael Fessier, Ernest Pagano, Delmer Daves, Carlos A. Olivari (story),
Sixto Pondal Ríos (story)
Cinematographer: Ted Tetzlaff
Music: Leigh Harline
Cast: Fred Astaire (Robert Davis),
Rita Hayworth (Maria Acuña),
Adolphe Menjou (Eduardo Acuña),
Isobel Elsom (Mrs. Maria Castro),
Leslie Brooks (Cecy Acuña),
Adele Mara (Lita Acuña),
Gus Schilling (Fernando),
Barbara Brown (Mrs. Delfina Acuña),
Douglas Leavitt (Juan Castro),
Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra (Themselves),
Kirk Alyn (Julia's Groom),
Stanley Brown (Roddy, Cecy's Boyfriend),
George Bunny (Flower Man),
Catherine Craig (Julia Acuña, the Bride),
Xavier Cugat (Himself),
Mary Field (Louise the Acuña Maid),
James Ford (One of Maria's Suitors),
Kathleen Howard (Grandmother Acuña),
Frank McClure (Wedding Guest),
Edmund Mortimer (Wedding Guest Getting Drink from Eduardo)
Country: USA
Language: English
Support: Black and White
Runtime: 97 min
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