Daddy Long Legs, a remake of the Jean Webster novel of the same title, was retooled to accommodate the specific talents of Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron.
American millionaire Jervis Pendleton III (Astaire) is the unknown benefactor of French orphan girl Julie Andre (Caron). He finances the girl’s education contingent that his identity never be revealed to her.
Moved by her letters, Jervis’ secretary Miss PritchardThelma Ritter advises him to go to France to visit the girl.
When he arrives, he finds that his ward has grown up rather nicely, and the two fall in love–though Julie never knows until the very end who Jerry really is.
The old story has been updated to include a “cowboy” number and a couple of Eisenhower jokes.
Highlights include a solo ballet by Leslie Caron and an Astaire routine with a set of drums.
The score includes Johnny Mercer’s hit tune, “Something’s Gotta Give.”
Oscar Nominations: 3
Art Direction-Set Decoration (color): Lyle Wheeler, John DeCuir; Walter M. Scott, Paul S. Fox
Song: “Something’s Gotta Give,” music and lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Scoring of a Musical Picture: Alfred Newman
Credits:
MPAA: G
Running time: 126 minutes.
Directed by Jean Negulesco
Written by Phoebe Ephron and Henry Ephron
Released: May 5, 1955
DVD: February 21, 2006
20th Century Fox