In Feb. 2013 TCM showed an excellent transfer of the film, full Cinemascope aspect ratio, relatively sharp image, better color than what I remember from viewings years ago. The full vibrant color in the dream dance sequences especially added to my enjoyment of the film; really noticed the wonderful set design/artwork. The color schemes in Caron's dream ballet seemed to predict those common in the psychedelic 1960's.
A couple of people here say Fred Astaire's wife died during filming; I'm fairly sure that is incorrect. She died in 1953, I believe, while he was filming The Bandwagon at MGM. I remember reading that Arthur Freed walked with the grieving Astaire to calm him down when he got the news. Also it's doubtful that DLL would have been filmed in 1953 and release held up til 1955. And the reason Astaire was not in White Christmas (he was to have had the part played by Danny Kaye), filmed and released in 1954, was because he was still grieving from his wife's death in 1953.
I'm sure some will disagree, but I carefully watched Caron dancing with Astaire, and saw that she was one of his weaker partners. Ballroom and tap were not her usual style and she lacks the facility and panash of Rogers, Charisse, Hayworth. I've never been impressed with Caron's dancing anyway, but she was a very talented actress, both comic and dramatic, and was always charming on screen. And Astaire is so good in their partner dances that you have to really pay attention to see she is not anywhere near his caliber in that sort of dancing.
A couple of people here say Fred Astaire's wife died during filming; I'm fairly sure that is incorrect. She died in 1953, I believe, while he was filming The Bandwagon at MGM. I remember reading that Arthur Freed walked with the grieving Astaire to calm him down when he got the news. Also it's doubtful that DLL would have been filmed in 1953 and release held up til 1955. And the reason Astaire was not in White Christmas (he was to have had the part played by Danny Kaye), filmed and released in 1954, was because he was still grieving from his wife's death in 1953.
I'm sure some will disagree, but I carefully watched Caron dancing with Astaire, and saw that she was one of his weaker partners. Ballroom and tap were not her usual style and she lacks the facility and panash of Rogers, Charisse, Hayworth. I've never been impressed with Caron's dancing anyway, but she was a very talented actress, both comic and dramatic, and was always charming on screen. And Astaire is so good in their partner dances that you have to really pay attention to see she is not anywhere near his caliber in that sort of dancing.