A Damsel In Distress

This film did not do very well after Astaire/Ginger Rogers films, it was thought that Joan Fontaine was not equal to Rogers. However loved Astaire in this movie. Burns and Allen added a lot of humor to this movie, George Burns was Astaire's publicity assistant and Gracie Allen added a lot of humor to the movie. Astaire meets Fontaine by accident and unknowingly becomes part of a plot by the servants to have a lottery on who may eventually marry Fontaine. The film score was by George Gershwin and there are a lot of classic songs, Astaire introduced many songs in his films. I have purchased a cd with Astaire singing with Oscar Peterson and this is highly recommended. There is a funny sequence at a Fun House, Stiff Upper Lip with Astaire, Burns and Allen and the tap dancing by all 3 is superb. Also there is a classic sequence with Astaire and Fontaine dancing to classic Gershwin. Great dancing and tap with the 3 dancing in their rental house. Love the sequence with Astaire dancing to A Foggy Day in London Town. Another song which was introduced is Nice Work if you Can Get it. Astaire plays and dances with drums in one sequence. P.G. Woodhouse wrote the book and screen play and I have his Jeeves and Wooster series and it is very funny. Reginald Gardiner plays the scheming butler and Montagu Love is the father of Fontaine who is overwhelmed by his domineering wife. Hermes Pan is the choreographer who was present in many of Astaire's movies. Love the film.

Fred Astaire in a script by PG Wodehouse. Doesn't get any more delightful than this!

This was actually very funny. Gracie Allen and George Burns were in it and Gracie Allen shone! She is so funny and her comedic timing was perfect and George Burns was the perfect foil as a straight man. There were some lines that were hilarious. The plot was a bit too predictable. Joan Fontaine danced with Fred Astaire (which I knew was coming) and it was not good but the cast made up for wherever the movie was lacking. I watched it through twice.

My comment above was made by George Burns in his typical dry style; this film actually lost money for RKO as the audience was probably expecting Ginger. As a old film fan I am starting to collect the old musicals made during the "studio system" and found this one to be thoroughly enjoyable. Burns and Allen are excellent hoofers; many equate them simply with comedy but in vaudville Gracie and George were mostly booked as dancers. Their number with Astaire at a "British" amusement park was worth the price of this DVD, replayed the segment three times before moving on. As with most musicals the story line was so corny that it rose to a satire of old musical story lines, kind of campy. It goes without saying that Mr. Astaire turned in a great performance that is the rule with him very classy. Highly recommended. The excellent service and quality of this new "Prime" DVD proves why Amazon is my favorite source for DVD's.

Great movie to my collection.

What a great look at the best of the best of good old black and white movies set in the 20's - 30's! P. G. Wodehouse the wonder humorist of cracking comedies, books and plays wrote this great story. I felt like I was reading from his book. It doesn't get better than Wodehouse. Too bad so many people today haven't seen or read the escapades at Totleigh Towers. Fred Astaire is better than his top form but Gracie Allen stole the show. You did too George Burns. The photography is magical as a movie like this should be what it was meant to be, fantastical and full of romantic surroundings. The wit was quick and smart and sometimes silly. This great movie 'A Damsel in Distress' is a way of being in their funny world, in beautiful surroundings and forgetting our troubles. Thanks P G Wodehouse!

The movie is ho-hum. But we suspected that in advance. We ordered it because we wanted to see Burns and Allen in a couple of dance routines with Fred Astaire. These scenes did not disappoint us. And watching Astaire dance is never disappointing. But if you are looking for a good movie, you might not like this.

In George Burn's biography there's a detailed description of an intricate dance number done by the trio of George Burns and Gracie Allen and...Fred Astaire. It was in the movie A damsel in distress. I'd lost my copy and wanted to watch that scene with a greater appreciation. Two of the best ever to grace the entertainment world working with perhaps the greatest dancer of all time, Fred Astaire. How nice it is to read the description in the book and then actually watch it in the movie.