As a time-filler, this musical is okay, but far from the best of Fred Astaire's work. Teamed (unwisely) with the raucous Betty Hutton, the film plays better when they're apart than when they're sharing screen time - you just can't imagine them teaming in any stage act, then or now.
Best musical number of all in a poor selection is the Piano Dance, where Fred gets to do a routine in a bar involving dancing round and over - yes, pianos. He has to sing Jack and the Beanstalk at one point and it just doesn't seem right. As for Ms Hutton, despite her sterling work as Annie Oakley the previous year she quickly wears out her welcome in 'Let's Dance'.
Musical bits aside, this programmer flounders badly in a tedious subplot concerning Hutton's battle to keep custody of her son. Lucille Watson plays her mother-in-law the way she has played loads of mothers-in-law in previous years, but most of the others in the cast don't register.
Only recommended for keen Astaire fans, then, but approach with caution. Better than this, made a little later, was 'Belle of New York' in which Fred was teamed with Vera-Ellen and danced on a tram, then into the clouds - a far more interesting scenario than disappearing into the tunnel of love with Betty Hutton.
Best musical number of all in a poor selection is the Piano Dance, where Fred gets to do a routine in a bar involving dancing round and over - yes, pianos. He has to sing Jack and the Beanstalk at one point and it just doesn't seem right. As for Ms Hutton, despite her sterling work as Annie Oakley the previous year she quickly wears out her welcome in 'Let's Dance'.
Musical bits aside, this programmer flounders badly in a tedious subplot concerning Hutton's battle to keep custody of her son. Lucille Watson plays her mother-in-law the way she has played loads of mothers-in-law in previous years, but most of the others in the cast don't register.
Only recommended for keen Astaire fans, then, but approach with caution. Better than this, made a little later, was 'Belle of New York' in which Fred was teamed with Vera-Ellen and danced on a tram, then into the clouds - a far more interesting scenario than disappearing into the tunnel of love with Betty Hutton.