DAMSEL IN DISTRESS

US, 1937, 96 minutes, Black and white.
Fred Astaire, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Joan Fontaine, Reginald Gardiner, Ray Noble, Constance Collier.
Directed by George Stevens.

Damsel in Distress is a bright Fred Astaire musical from 1937, with a Gershwin score, including A Foggy day in London Town and Nice Work If You Can Get It. Director George Stevens had directed Astaire and Ginger Rogers in Swingtime. This time the heroine is played by the young Joan Fontaine - who has only a few moments of dancing, a backup to Astaire. However there is dancing from George Burns and Gracie Allen - as well as. an opportunity to remember the comedy routines of this famous couple, George Burns the straight man comedian, Gracie Allen with her daffy chatter and jokes. Reginald Gardiner and Constance Collier give strong support. The plot is frothy, an entertainer in London, his encounter with a British daughter of nobility, the misunderstandings, the courtship, the happy ending. The film is Hollywood's interpretation of London - but it does it in an entertaining way that, despite the passing of the years, still stands up as light entertainment.

1. Popularity of Fred Astaire in the 30s? Screen presence? Singing and dancing? His partners?

2. Black and white photography, Hollywood British settings, London, the British countryside, castles?

3. Song and dance routines, Fred Astaire's expertise? Backed by Joan Fontaine? George Burns and Gracie Allen dancing? (The Oscar to Hermes Pan for the choreography of the Funhouse sequence?)

4. The title, chivalry, Alyce as the heroine, Gerry as the American knight to rescue her?

5. Fred Astaire style, Gerry, his background? Agent? Working with George Burns and Gracie Allen? Comedy routines, song and dance routines? The chance encounter with Alyce? The clash with Keggs? the boy writing the letter, his going to the mansion? The encounter with Alyce's father and thinking him the gardener giving him the tip, the later talk? The misunderstandings? The Funhouse sequence? Alyce slapping him, the article in the paper, misunderstandings? The happy ending? Astaire and his debonair style, dancing, acrobatics?

6. Joan Fontaine as heroine, the taxi, at home, her father and aunt, Reggie? falling in and out of love? The attraction to Gerry, the funhouse, the slap, the aftermath, the article, misunderstandings, the song and dance routines?

7. Alyce's father, sensible, the touch of the common people? The contrast with the aunt and her snobbery, attitudes towards Reggie and his Swingtime music? The opera and the choirs?

8. Reggie, the silly ass Englishman, with Alyce, with Gracie in the ghost train? The proposal and his being left standing?
9. Keggs, the English butler, British manner, clashes with Gerry, with the boy? With Lord Marchmont? His manoeuvrings, comeuppance? The boy and his intervening, clash with Keggs?

10. George Burns and Gracie Allen, their timing, verbal routines, song and dance? The enhancing of the film with the comedy team?

11. A popular example of musical comedy film making of the 30s?