Friday, September 12, 2014

Daddy Long Legs 1955


Daddy Long Legs


     This film is based on a novel by Jean Webster.  Jervis Pendelton is a very wealthy man on a trip to France.  His car goes into a ditch and he walks to a local residence to see if he can borrow a car.  They do have a car but it’s very old.  Jervis learns the home is an orphanage and he observes 18 year-old Julie Andre working with the children.  He is astonished at how amazing she is and he talks the owner of the home about her.  When he returns to New York, he arranges to sponsor her at a New England college.  Julie doesn’t know who her benefactor is but she writes letters that he doesn’t read.  After three years, his secretary talks to him about the letters and advises him to visit Julie.  Julie thinks her benefactor doesn't care anything about her but he didn't know about the letters.
     Jervis doesn’t tell Julie he is her benefactor and he uses the excuse that he is at the college to visit his niece.  This is true but he’s really there to see what Julie is like now that she is older and been at the college.  There are updates to the novel to include musical scenes and dancing in the film because of the talents of Astaire and Caron.  The movie is still interesting even if you don't watch the dancing.  3* (This movie is OK)

126 min, Musical directed by Jean Negulesco with Fred Astaire, Leslie Caron, Terry Moore, Thelma Ritter, Fred Clark, Charlotte Austin, Larry Keating, Kathryn Givney, Kelly Brown, Ray Anthony.

Note:  Imdb 6.7 out of 10, 65% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Leonard Maltin review on TCM 2.5* out of 4*. 





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