There's a terribly sad story behind the filming of this movie, so if you find Fred's performance a little lackluster or if you notice his eyes are red and puffy, please give him a break and don't criticize him. I'll never understand why actors and actresses who are grieving agree to finish their current picture. Fred's adoring wife died during the production, and he tried to buy himself out of his contract but the studio wouldn't hear of it.
For such a delightful story, Daddy Long Legs had a terrible pall of sadness to taint it. Leslie Caron plays the sweet, innocent schoolgirl with the mysterious benefactor, but instead of the charming turn of the century setting of the original novel, it's updated to suit modern times. I really don't like the change, since much focus is placed on the generation gap between her and Fred. She speaks in slang, dances the jitterbug (which is a total waste of her talents) and has to show Daddy-O how to be hep with atrocious jazz songs. Does the elegant Astaire really belong in that environment?
No, he doesn't. And you don't have to watch this movie if you don't want to. You can support him and his broken heart in other ways, by reading biographies or watching him at his best. I'm sure he never watched this movie, either.
For such a delightful story, Daddy Long Legs had a terrible pall of sadness to taint it. Leslie Caron plays the sweet, innocent schoolgirl with the mysterious benefactor, but instead of the charming turn of the century setting of the original novel, it's updated to suit modern times. I really don't like the change, since much focus is placed on the generation gap between her and Fred. She speaks in slang, dances the jitterbug (which is a total waste of her talents) and has to show Daddy-O how to be hep with atrocious jazz songs. Does the elegant Astaire really belong in that environment?
No, he doesn't. And you don't have to watch this movie if you don't want to. You can support him and his broken heart in other ways, by reading biographies or watching him at his best. I'm sure he never watched this movie, either.