Daddy Long Legs (1955)

This is a movie about a middle-aged millionaire (Fred Astaire) who happens upon an orphanage during a business trip. He sees a young 18 year old Leslie Caron, and is inspired by her beauty & way with children. He decides to do a good deed, and send the girl to college anonymously. Couple years go by, and he has no contact with the girl, and doesn't even really think of her until a couple employees force the issue. Well he decides to meet the girl without disclosing who he really is, and of course he falls in love. The movie is about Fred trying to decide if it's worth pursuing because of the age difference (which is a little creepy). Overall I thought this movie had it's moments, but fell short in most of the dance routines. The ballets bored the hell out of me. Even the drum routine, which might be the highlight of the film, wasn't the best routine I've seen Fred do with a drum set. "Daddy Long Legs" is far from Fred's best flick, but it's not terrible. I enjoyed the rapport that Fred & Leslie had, as well as Thelma Ritter & Fred Clark who had important supporting roles. If you want, you can watch the trailer on YouTube, and then decide if you want to watch the movie...which is also on YouTube.

I'll include some of my favorite moments from the film below, along with a few fun facts from IMDB.

History Of The Beat
"Fred Astaire's wife died during filming, and between some takes he would retreat to his trailer and cry. That's why, in some scenes, his eyes look red and swollen." - IMDB

Welcome Egghead
"Mitzi Gaynor was the studio's first choice to play Julie, but Fred Astaire personally asked for Leslie Caron." - IMDB

Sluefoot
"Fred Astaire thought the "Sluefoot" would become a huge dance craze. He was wrong." - IMDB

Something's Gotta Give
"Leslie Caron told Fred Astaire that she wanted to create her own costumes for the film. Astaire told her: "OK, but no feathers, please", recalling the utter exasperation he had with an elaborate ostrich feathered dress that Ginger Rogers insisted on wearing in Top Hat (1935), earning Rogers the nickname of "Feathers". Feathers started shedding from Rogers' dress, creating a huge distraction during filming. The shedding feathers nightmare was hilariously recreated in a dance in Easter Parade (1948) with Astaire and Judy Garland." - IMDB

"The song "Texas Millionaire" is the only time Astaire's singing voice was ever dubbed. The dub vocals were performed by Thurl Ravenscroft, known mostly for being the voice of Tony the Tiger." - IMBD