| A Damsel in Distress | |
|---|---|
 A Damsel in Distress film poster | |
| Directed by | George Stevens |
| Screenplay by | P. G. Wodehouse Ernest Pagano S. K. Lauren |
| Based on | A Damsel in Distress 1919 novel byP. G. Wodehouse 1928 play by Wodehouse andIan Hay |
| Produced by | Pandro S. Berman |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Joseph H. August |
| Edited by | Henry Berman |
| Music by |
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Production company | |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,035,000[1] |
| Box office | $1,465,000[1] |
A Damsel in Distress is a1937 American English-themed Hollywoodmusicalcomedy film starringFred Astaire,George Burns,Gracie Allen andJoan Fontaine. Loosely based uponP.G. Wodehouse's 1919novel of the same name and the 1928 stage play written by Wodehouse andIan Hay, it has music and lyrics byGeorge andIra Gershwin. The film was directed byGeorge Stevens, who had also directed Astaire inSwing Time (1936).
The staff at Totleigh Castle know that the lovely Lady Alyce Marshmorton must marry soon and wager on whom the groom will be. With all of the likely candidates already claimed, youngfootman Albert places a bet on a "Mr. X", someone totally out of the blue.
Lady Alyce has a secret romantic interest in an American whom family has not met. She leaves the castle one day to venture into London and encounters American entertainer Jerry Halliday, who is accompanied bypress agent George and his secretary Gracie.
Jerry is incorrectly led to believe that he is the American whom Lady Alyce loves. He visits the castle, encouraged by Albert but discouraged by Keggs, a scheming butler whose money is on another suitor.
Jerry fails to recognize Lady Alyce's father, thelord of the manor. He is slapped in the face in aTunnel of Love, misunderstanding Lady Alyce's intentions. In the end, the pair find romance.
A Damsel in Distress was the first of Fred Astaire's RKO films to not featureGinger Rogers, and 19-year-old Joan Fontaine was cast in the female leading role. It soon emerged that Fontaine could not dance, but director George Stevens persuaded Astaire to not replace her withRuby Keeler.[2] The film was Astaire's first to fail to return a profit, costing $1,035,000 to produce and losing $65,000.[1][3]
Charley Chase was originally supposed to appear in the film as Jerry’s valet. However, he withdrew because of his poor health and his part was rewritten forBurns and Allen.[4]
The sequence in thefunhouse garneredchoreographerHermes Pan the 1937Academy Award for Best Dance Direction.Carroll Clark was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Art Direction.
OrchestratorRobert Russell Bennett and conductorVictor Baravalle had previously worked together on the original stage production ofShow Boat, as well as the1936 film version.
The film was nominated for theAmerican Film Institute's 2006 listAFI's Greatest Movie Musicals.[5]
The choreography explores dancing around, past and through obstacles, and in confined spaces.
In a contemporary review forThe New York Times, criticFrank S. Nugent wrote: "For a chap who has just been deprived ofGinger Rogers as a co-star,Fred Astaire is bearing up astonishingly well ... He probably misses his dancing partner a little—he'd have to say so any way—but there's no evidence that he has been brooding over the loss. In fact, there were times when we suspected him of enjoying this gallivanting around with a new leading lady. Not that we blame him, either;Joan Fontaine is mighty attractive gallivantee, even if she can't dance."[8]