Wealthy American, Jervis Pendleton has a chance encounter at a French orphanage with a cheerful 18-year-old resident, and anonymously pays for her education at a New England college. She writes letters to her mysterious benefactor regularly, but he never writes back. Several years later, he visits her at school, while still concealing his identity, and—despite their large age difference—they soon fall in love.
Fred Astaire
Jervis Pendleton III
Leslie Caron
Julie Andre
Terry Moore
Linda Pendleton
Thelma Ritter
Alicia Pritchard
Fred Clark
Griggs
Charlotte Austin
Sally McBride
Larry Keating
Ambassador Alexander Williamson
Kathryn Givney
Gertrude Pendleton
Kelly Brown
Jimmy McBride
Ray Anthony
Himself
Gertrude Astor
Art Gallery Patron (uncredited)
Barrie Chase
Blonde dancer (in "International Playboy") (uncredited)
James Cromwell
Extra (uncredited)
Lisa Montell
College Girl (uncredited)
Leslie Parrish
College Girl (uncredited)
Pat Sheehan
College Girl (uncredited)
Sara Shane
Pat
Evelyn Rudie
Codene, Orphan Girl
Liliane Montevecchi
College Girl
Diane Jergens
College Girl
Ann Codee
Madame Sevanne
Kenner G. Kemp
Airport Passenger
Forbes Murray
Art Gallery Patron
William H. O'Brien
Hotel Waiter
Bert Stevens
Graduation Attendee
Suzanne Alexander
College Girl
Helen Van Tuyl
College Dean
Jean Moorhead
College Girl (uncredited)
Director
Jean Negulesco
Novel
Jean Webster
Screenplay
Phoebe Ephron
Screenplay
Henry Ephron
November 24, 2023
6
"Jervis" (Fred Astaire) comes from a distinguished line of American millionaires who is travelling through France one day with his savvy factotum "Griggs" (Fred Clark) when he alights on the orphaned "Julie" (the hugely charming Leslie Caron) who is teaching young kids with a contagious enthusiasm that encourages the wealthy man to facilitate her education at one of the colleges he just about owns in New England. She is excited about the prospect, but in best "Great Expectations" tradition, is unaware of the identity of her benefactor. She's grateful though, and regularly writes to him - letters that "Griggs" files rather than shares. This all becomes even more complicated when the girl becomes frustrated at the lack of responses and when two meet and begin to fall in love. "Something's Gotta Give" is the standard featured here, but there are plenty of other lively and perfectly choreographed numbers from two stars who gel well on screen together. Clark steals the show for me, his curmudgeonly but wily role well complemented by the occasional appearance of Thelma Ritter's "Alicia" and though it is certainly far too slow to get going - and is generally too long as well - the dynamic works well enough to keep a smile on your face for much of this gently simmering love story that has something of the "Cinderella" story to it.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00