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"Do I look like a gentleman?"
"You look like a banker."
"But do I look like a gentleman?"
Tom (Astaire) and Ellen (Powell) Bowen are a sibling song-and-dance team. Tom is a confirmed bachelor, while Ellen has a new boyfriend every few days. After their latest show closes, their agent Irving Klinger (Wynn) tells them about a show in England.
England is preparing for the royal wedding, and Irving's brother, Edgar Klinger (also Wynn), wants them to do their show during all of the excitement. They take the offer and set sail for England. On the boat, Ellen meets Lord John Brindale (Lawford) and they are instantly smitten. After they arrive in England, Tom begins casting for their show. He meets dancer Anne Ashmond (Churchill), casts her in the show, and immediately asks her out. She is engaged, but they decide to continue seeing each other. Can Tom and Ellen find real love and success in England?
Director Stanley Donen started as a choreographer. In 1949 he made his directorial debut with On the Town, starring his friend (and co-director) Gene Kelly. Like that film, many of his subsequent films were musicals with strong dance numbers. This is Donen's second film as the director, leaving the choreography duties to Nick Castle. The film was an original story, written by Alan Jay Lerner and featured new songs by Burton Lane (music) and Lerner (lyrics).
The story is ok... but the real reason to watch this film is the dances. Fred Astaire has 2 iconic dances in the film, but every dance is phenomenal. The first iconic dance is to "Sunday Jumps" which features Astaire dancing alone in a gym and interacting with the equipment. The second iconic dance (pictured above) is to "You're All the World to Me" which features Astaire dancing on the walls and ceiling of his room. This is one of my favorite Astaire routines.
Jane Powell dances alongside Astaire in a few numbers, and takes on most of the singing. She is good here... I don't love any of the songs, but I don't fault her for that. Peter Lawford is charming and has good chemistry with Powell. Sarah Churchill doesn't dance much, despite her character being a dancer... she is ok. Donen directed Astaire again in Funny Face and Powell again in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (my favorite musical).
This film showcases Astaire's incredible talents and is worth watching for that reason. But this is far from Donen's best.
Royal Wedding (1951) 93 minutes
Director: Stanley Donen
Starring: Fred Astaire as Tom Bowen
Jane Powell as Ellen Bowen
Peter Lawford as Lord John Brindale
Sarah Churchill as Anne Ashmond
Keenan Wynn as Irving Klinger / Edgar Klinger
Albert Sharpe as James Ashmond
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